Miami Heat rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. has taken the NBA World by storm in his debut season. Part of a star-studded draft class including Victor Wembanyama and Brandon Miller, Jaime managed to stand out with his competitiveness and unique skill set. He was selected 18th overall by the Miami Heat in the 2023 draft and quickly became an integral part of the team. While many would consider Jaquez’s NBA success a fluke, it was evident from his resume that the 23-year-old was destined for greatness.

Let us dive deeper into Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s life and see how the former UCLA star turned into the future of the storied Miami Heat franchise.

The Mexican roots of Jaime Jaquez Jr.

Jaime is of Mexican descent but was born in Irvine, California, on February 18, 2001. His family has lived in America since his grandfather moved from Mexico decades ago. Jaime grew up in Camarillo where he attended the Camarillo High School. Despite spending most of his life in America, Jaime stays connected with his Mexican roots. He represented the Mexican National Team in the 2019 Pan American Games in Peru. Jaime enjoyed the perks of dual citizenship as he was also a part of the 2017 USA Basketball Men’s U16 National Team training camp.

Last year, Jacquez created history by becoming the first Mexican player to get selected in the first round of the NBA draft.

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Who are Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s parents?

Although Jaime is the first NBA star from his family, he comes from a long line of basketball players. His grandfather, Ezequiel, was a dual sports star in High School and College. He played basketball and baseball at Oxnard’s Santa Clara High School and continued his interest at Ventura Community College. He narrowed his focus on playing just basketball after transferring to Northern Arizona University. Ezequiel’s athletic genes got passed on to Jaime’s parents.

His parents, Jaime Jaquez Sr. and Angela Jaquez carried Ezequiel’s legacy as they both became college basketball stars at Concordia University. Jaime’s parents met in college and fell in love soon after. The couple always tried to pass on their parents’ wisdom to Jaime and his siblings. “My mom and dad, they demonstrated to us kids… and I try to do the same, that you have to work hard… I’ve instilled that in my kids, as my mom and dad instilled that to me.” Jaime Jaquez Sr. said.

Jaime Jr. is the oldest of three siblings. His younger sister Gabriela Jaquez is following in the NBA rookie’s footsteps as she currently is a star Forward at UCLA. His brother Marcos Jaquez has taken a different route and is a football defensive lineman at Camarillo High School. The three third-generation athletes are carrying their family’s legacy by excelling at multiple sports.

Who is Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s girlfriend?

Apart from achieving rampant success in the NBA, Jaime Jaquez Jr. is also taking immense strides in his personal life. He got into a relationship with USC star Dominique Ruotolo less than a year ago. They made their relationship public a while ago and have even been spotted together at several events and parties. Ruotolo was Jaime’s date to the 14th Annual Miami HEAT Gala and also posted a heartwarming message for the Miami Heat rookie on his 23rd birthday, “Happy Birthday to my love. Literally my best friend and the best human I’ve ever met. luh u tons. My Goldie locks & pooks.”

Apart from being Jaime’s girlfriend, Dominique is a star in her own right. She is a highly accomplished track and field athlete at USC. She ranks 10th on USC’s indoor triple jump list and 6th on the All-time Outdoor triple jump list. Dominique has also collected several accolades, including the 2017 USA U20 bronze medal and the 2021 PAC-12 Championship.

Jaime Jaquez Jr. High School and College Career

Jaime has been dominating the basketball landscape since he was in high school. He excelled under head coach Michaeltore Smith’s guidance for four years at Camarillo High School. After averaging a whopping 31.7 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in his senior year, Jaquez became the Number 8 High School prospect in California, according to ESPN. He led Camarillo to a 25-4 record in his Senior year, winning the Coastal Canyon League title and clinching the top seed in the CIF Southern Section Division 2AA playoffs.

After a successful High School career, Jaquez continued his dominance in college and became an instant superstar at UCLA. He averaged 13.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2 assists in the Bruins uniform and finished in the Top 10 of UCLA’s career points and steals list. Jaime became the first UCLA player since Ed O’Bannon in 1995 to lead the team in rebounds for three consecutive seasons (2021-2023). He also proved his mettle in the NCAA tournament by entering UCLA’s Top 10 in points scored and minutes played in the prestigious tournament.

The next chapter for Jaime Jaquez Jr.

After leaving his mark at the collegiate level, Jaime Jaquez Jr. has quickly established himself as one of the most talented young stars in the NBA. He averaged 11.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in his rookie season. Jaquez also put up a dominant 21 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists performance in the play-in game against Chicago to lead the Miami Heat into the playoffs in Jimmy Butler’s absence.

Very few players can survive and thrive in Miami’s rigorous ‘Heat Culture’ and Jaquez has proven that he is one of those players. Hopefully, he will continue to elevate his game and find similar success in the NBA as he has throughout his life.