Jaylen Wells' rise from Division II to the NBA reached a major milestone on Thursday when he was selected with the No. 39 overall pick by the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Grizzlies needed a wing and needed shooting off the bench, and that made Wells an intriguing option. He'll have a chance to compete for minutes off the bench but will likely be someone who could develop into a rotation player in the future. Memphis drafted GG Jackson with the No. 45 pick a year ago, and he's already developed into a key contributor.

So there's no telling exactly what role Wells will have with the Grizzlies.

He is the second Grizzlies draft pick in 2024 after Memphis took Purdue center Zach Edey with the No. 9 pick in Wednesday's first round.

Here are five things to know about Wells.

Jaylen Wells started out at Division II

The Sacramento native began his collegiate career with Sonoma State in Division II. He was dominant in 2022-23, averaging 22.4 points and 8.7 rebounds per game during his final season for the Seawolves. He was named CCAA Player of the Year.

He was named a third team All-American that season, and that helped him land at Washington State after he entered the transfer portal.

Jaylen Wells played one season at Washington State

Wells averaged 12.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game in 2023-24. He shot up draft boards and ultimately earned himself a spot with the Grizzlies after being selected No. 39.

It's an impressive rise for someone who was certainly not on the draft radar a year ago.

Jaylen Wells wants to improve his offensive versatility

Wells was in the green room for Thursday's draft in New York and posed for a photo with NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum after he was picked. He spoke with ESPN's Cassidy Hubbarth and said he plans to become a more versatile player in Memphis.

"I showed I can really shoot it this year," he said. "I feel like I can do a little more and have a full range of scoring ability."

Jaylen Wells wasn't on his high school's varsity team until his junior year

Far from the rangy wing he grew into, Wells was 5-foot-8 as a high school freshman and didn't make his high school's varsity team until he was a junior in high school, according to the Press Democrat.

But he thrived after that, averaging 28 points per game as a senior and earning all-state recognition in California.

Still, he didn't end up with major offers from Division I schools and began his collegiate career with Sonoma State.

Jaylen Wells was part of a historic season for Washington State

The Cougars had struggled in the Pac-12 for the better part of two decades but made the NCAA Tournament in 2024 for the first time since 2008.

And it didn't stop there. Washington State beat Drake in the first round before falling to Iowa State in the second round. Wells had 17 points and nine rebounds in the first-round win.

Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on X @thejonahdylan.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: 5 things to know about Grizzlies' 2nd-round NBA draft pick Jaylen Wells