Former Mountain Brook High School star Trendon Watford returned to the NBA on Thursday when he signed with the Brooklyn Nets.

The Nets announced Watford’s signing without disclosing details of the deal. NetsDaily.com reported Watford had signed a one-year contract.

Watford became a free agent on June 30 when he was released by the Portland Trail Blazers. Watford was released one day before his $1,836,096 salary for the 2023-24 season would have become guaranteed.

Watford caught on with the Trail Blazers as an undrafted rookie in 2021 after he’d averaged 16.3 points and 7.4 rebounds for LSU in the 2020-21 season.

In two seasons with Portland, the 6-foot-9 forward averaged 7.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 18.6 minutes across 110 games, with 22 starts.

At Mountain Brook, Watford earned first-team All-State recognition three times as the Spartans won the AHSAA Class 7A boys’ basketball championship in each of his final three seasons.

The Alabama Sports Writers Association chose Watford as the state’s Mr. Basketball in 2018 and 2019 as he set the ASHAA career rebounds record with 1,909.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.