The Orlando Magic are taking a long look at a player who took the scenic route to the pros. Jakobi Heady, a 6-foot-5 guard who played at four different colleges — including two stints at Bethune-Cookman — has earned a tryout with the NBA club, a move that has fans and analysts tracking the rare HBCU-to-NBA pipeline closely.
Heady didn’t arrive via the typical one-and-done or blue-blood transfer. He grinded through junior college at Wabash Valley College, then bounced from Bethune-Cookman to Central Michigan and back to the Wildcats for his final season. Along the way, he proved he could score at every level, and his senior year numbers — 18.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.5 steals per game — were his most efficient yet, with shooting splits of 52% from the field and 41% from three.
Bethune-Cookman announced the tryout in a social media post last week, a nod to the school’s pride in seeing one of its own get a crack at the league. The Wildcats are coached by former NBA All-Star Reggie Theus, who knows a thing or two about what it takes to stick in the pros. Heady was the veteran leader of that team, and his production in the SWAC — where he led Bethune-Cookman in scoring as a junior and again as a senior — made him one of the conference’s most feared offensive players.
What makes this opportunity notable isn’t just the feel-good story. The Magic are an ascending team, coming off back-to-back playoff appearances and looking for young, versatile wings who can defend and knock down shots. Heady fits that mold as a three-level scorer who also crashes the offensive glass — he led the Wildcats in offensive rebounds and free-throw attempts last season.
His career highlight reel includes a 35-point explosion against Ohio, a 25-point, five-steal night against Trinity Baptist, and a 24-point, 10-rebound double-double against Alabama State. But the tryout will hinge on how his game translates against NBA-level athletes. Orlando hasn’t confirmed a timeline for a decision, and Heady will likely need to impress in scrimmages and drills to earn a training camp invite or a two-way contract.
For an HBCU grad, the path to the league is still narrow — but Heady’s journey shows that persistence, a willingness to transfer, and consistent production can open doors. If he makes the roster, he’d join a short list of recent HBCU alumni in the NBA, a group that includes Robert Covington and Kyle O’Quinn. Whether or not he sticks, the tryout alone is a win for Bethune-Cookman and the SWAC, proving talent can be found far from the Power Five spotlight.
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