Jaime Jaquez Jr. Reflects on Draft Night Encounter

Picture this: you’re drafted into the NBA and meet your girlfriend on the same night. That’s exactly what happened to Heat Forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. when Miami selected him with the 18th pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. However, the night took a turn when Tequila came into play.

During a recent appearance on the “Straight to Cam” podcast, Jaquez shared how he met Dominique Ruotolo in New York right after the draft. He recalls how she suggested grabbing pizza before realizing he’d had a bit too much tequila.

“So, I met her on draft night. It was surreal; I felt like I was living a dream,” Jaquez recounted. “I literally bumped into her, just like you see in movies. We started chatting, having a good time, and getting to know each other.” He continued, “Then, she said, ‘Let’s get out of here, maybe grab some pizza?’ and I was all for it.”

However, the fun hit a wall as soon as Jaquez got into his rideshare. “Once I got into the Uber and the loud music faded away, I realized I couldn’t manage pizza. I just needed to go home,” he said.

Confused, Ruotolo asked, “What do you mean?” Jaquez responded, “I’m not okay.” She then inquired, “Wait, what do you mean? Can I come to your hotel?”

Ruotolo, a model for Wilhelmina Miami, helped Jaquez back to his hotel, where his brother was sleeping. “She took me to my room, and my brother looked at me and asked, ‘What’s going on?’ I made a beeline for the bathroom,” Jaquez explained. “Let’s just say things didn’t go well, and she was understandably shocked.”

He shared a story about a friend named Justin who, while trying to help, got Ruotolo’s number for him. “She wasn’t too thrilled, saying, ‘Yeah, I think I need to leave. I don’t even know who you are. Thanks, but no thanks,'” Jaquez recalled.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, he texted her the next morning, apologizing for the situation. “I said, ‘Hey, sorry about last night. Thanks for helping me out.'” Ruotolo replied, “Of course. No problem. We’ll be alright.”

After about three months of living separate lives, Jaquez decided to reach out. “I hadn’t spoken to her, and I was doing my thing while she was doing hers,” he said. When he returned to Los Angeles, a friend suggested inviting her out. “I remembered she went to USC, so I reached out, and she came, bringing a friend.”

“She forgave me for my less-than-stellar moments, and that’s how we began to bond,” Jaquez added. Ruotolo, who was a talented triple jumper, transferred from the University of Oregon to USC, where she earned national recognition and a Pac-12 title.