The Atlanta Hawks have officially completed the signing of free agent guard Trent Forrest to a bilateral contract.
Forrest participated in 60 matchups (half a dozen starting appearances) for the Utah Jazz as a dual-purpose athlete throughout the 2021-22 season, posting averages of 3.3 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 12.8 minutes on the court (.490 FG%, .792 FT%). When given the opportunity to start, the 6-4 guard recorded 9.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in 28.4 minutes of play, showcasing shooting percentages of .611 from the field, .429 from beyond the arc, and .889 from the free-throw line. The Jazz achieved a 4-2 record with Forrest in the starting lineup. Notably, during a victory over Denver on February 2, 2022, Forrest achieved a career-best 18 points on 6-7 shooting from the field, along with two rebounds, a tied career high of eight assists, and one steal during his 39-minute tenure as a starter.
Following his undrafted status in the 2020 NBA Draft, Forrest inked a two-way deal with the Jazz before the onset of the 2020-21 season, and subsequently for the 2021-22 campaign as well. He eventually transitioned to a standard NBA contract on April 10, 2022. Across his two-year stint, Forrest has participated in 90 games (including six starts), maintaining lifetime averages of 3.1 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 11.9 minutes of play (.478 FG%, .851 FT%). Moreover, he has made appearances in four playoff matches.
Hailing from Florda State, Forrest contributed to 137 games (69 starting roles) during his collegiate journey, amassing figures of 8.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.6 steals in 25.4 minutes of game time (.462 FG%, .748 FT%). As he wrapped up his Seminole career, he stood as the program’s record holder for most victories with 104 triumphs. Additionally, he ranked third in steals (224) and games played (137), while securing the fifth spot in total assists (455) and the tenth position in free throws made (336). Originating from Chipley, Florida, the player was honored with a selection to the 2019-20 All-ACC Second Team and All-ACC Defensive Team. Furthermore, he was recognized for his academic accomplishments by securing a spot on the All-ACC Academic Team for each of his years at Florida State (2017-20).
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