Michael Paul Beasley, Jr. (born January 9, 1989) is an American professional
basketball player for the
Minnesota Timberwolves of the
National Basketball Association (NBA). He plays both
forward positions, and shoots his jump shot left-handed, though he is also
ambidextrous. Beasley played
college basketball for
Kansas State University for one year before declaring for the NBA draft on April 14, 2008. He is regarded as one of the greatest
freshman college basketballers of the 2000s.
High school
Beasley was born in
Frederick, Maryland. While growing up in Maryland, Beasley played for one of the country's most successful
AAU youth teams at the time, the
PG Jaguars. Beasley won multiple national championships with this team alongside future fellow blue-chip recruits
Kevin Durant (
Texas) and Chris Braswell (
UNC Charlotte). Beasley later moved on to play AAU ball for DC Assault's 17 & Under team, playing alongside such players as former KSU teammate Ron Anderson,
Nolan Smith (
Duke), Chris Wright (
Georgetown), Austin Freeman (Georgetown), and Julian Vaughn (Georgetown). During this time Beasley also attended a number of high schools including
Bowie High School (
Bowie, Maryland), National Christian Academy (
Fort Washington, Maryland), The Pendleton School (a section of the
IMG Academy in
Bradenton, Florida),
Riverdale Baptist School (
Upper Marlboro, Maryland),
Oak Hill Academy (
Mouth of Wilson, Virginia),...
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