Withers was born in Greensboro, North Carolina.[2][3] He was raised in Greensboro by his single mother Kattodda, never meeting his biological father. She brought up him and his three siblings.[4]
Withers attended Northeast Guilford High School in McLeansville, North Carolina, where he was a member of the basketball, football, tennis and track and field teams. He was named All-Mid State Conference as a junior and senior, when he was also named the conference most valuable player.[5]
College career
Withers played four seasons of college basketball for the Queens Royals. He played in 14 games as a freshman in 2014–15. That increased to 32 games in 2015–16, where he averaged 10.4 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.[6]
As a junior in 2016–17, Withers played in 34 games and 32 of them, averaging 13.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. He was subsequently named second-team South Atlantic Conference (SAC).[6]
As a senior in 2017–18, Withers was named an All-American by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), becoming the first Royal to receive the honor since 2004. He led the team in scoring, rebounding, and blocked shots, averaging 13.6 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game. He was also named first-team All-SAC, second-team All-Region (D2CCCA) and an All-State selection (NCCSIA). The team went 32–4, compiling the program's best record, and won the Southeast Regional title to advance to the Elite Eight of the 2018 NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament for the first time since 2003. In the national quarterfinals, Withers had 26 points, seven rebounds and five assists to help Queens make its second all-time appearance in the national semifinals, tying for the deepest postseason run in program history.[7][8]
In his four years with the Royals, Withers had 1,356 points (seventh all-time) and 766 rebounds (third all-time). In 113 career appearances (third all-time) and 95 starts, Withers compiled 15 double-doubles and twice recorded a career high of 29 points in a game.[7]
Professional career
Grand Rapids Drive (2018–2020)
On October 11, 2018, Withers signed with the Grand Rapids Drive of the NBA G League.[7] He started 37 games for the Drive in the 2018–19 season, averaging 6.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.8 blocks in 25.8 minutes per game.[9]
Withers played for the Detroit Pistons in the 2019 NBA Summer League and then signed a contract with the Pistons on July 23.[9] He was waived by the Pistons October 17, 2019.[10] He subsequently returned to Grand Rapids for the 2019–20 season and averaged 10.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 42 games.[11]
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