SAN FRANCISCO >> Jaylen Wells hasn’t had much time to reflect on his journey from Sonoma State to the Memphis Grizzlies, but he hasn’t forgotten how the small Bay Area college has shaped his career.

When Wells took the court as a member of the Rising Stars team in Sunday night’s All-Star Game, he couldn’t be more proud to represent Sonoma State, where he played two years before transferring to Washington State. The 6-foot-8 forward has been vocal in his support for Seawolves athletes and coaches after the school announced last month that it was going to cut the athletics department entirely this summer.

“This means everything,” Wells said at last week’s Rising Stars practice. “It’s a full-circle moment being so close to Sonoma State, being around family and being so close to home.

“... My agent was telling me that a year and a half ago, I was playing against Cal Poly Pomona, and no offense to them, but now I’m playing against Luka Doncic. It kind of puts everything in perspective.”

Wells paid homage to the Seawolves by wearing a custom pair of blue Sonoma State sneakers during Friday’s Rising Stars tournament at Chase Center and again Sunday night during the NBA All-Star tournament after his Team C won the Rising Stars event. Wells and his squad, which included the Warriors’ Trayce Jackson-Davis, lost in the semifinal to Shaq’s OGs, who were led by Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard, James Harden and Jaylen Brown.

Wells, who scored five points in Friday night’s semifinal, was a standout for the Seawolves where he won the California Collegiate Athletic Association Player of the Year after averaging 22.4 points per game in 2022-2023. He then helped Washington State reach the NCAA Tournament in his lone season in Pullman.

The Folsom product was drafted by Memphis in the second round of last year’s NBA draft. Known for his defense and ability to score in bunches, Wells is a key contributor for the Grizzlies as he averages 11.2 points per game.

Since Sonoma State announced its intentions to cut all athletic programs due to major budget trouble, Wells is aiming to shine a light on the issue in hopes of helping save the sports at his alma mater.

He continued that mission Monday when he went up to the school’s Rohnert Park campus and held a press conference to share his spotlight with the Seawolves who are set to lose their opportunities.

“I’m not sure entirely how I’m able to help, but that’s just what I’m trying to do — put it out there as much as possible,” he told reporters Monday at the Seawolves’ facility.

Wells’ star Memphis teammates Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. have shown support for Sonoma State athletes on social media after the school’s announcement took many by surprise.

“There wasn’t really much of an opportunity for them to fight back against this,” Wells said. “Just hoping they give us more time to find a solution for it.”