- Rick Rickert
Rick Rickert (born on
February 11 ,1983 inDuluth, Minnesota ) is an American-bornbasketball player. He is a2001 graduate of Duluth East High School where he was a basketball star and highly recruited college prospect. [ [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/college/recruiting/brick_top100 Recruiting Rankings] CNNSI.com]Career
Rick played collegiately for the
University of Minnesota , where after averaging 15 points and 5 rebounds per game in 2001-2002 [ [http://www.sportsstats.com/jazzyj/greats/03/rickert.htm Rickert's college stats] sportsstats.com] he became the first Gopher player ever to win the Big Ten Freshmen of the Year award. [ [http://www.hoopshype.com/draft/rick_rickert.htm Freshman of the year] hoopshype.com] After averaging 16 points and 6 rebounds his sophomore season Rickert declared for the2003 NBA Draft .Despite his own beliefs that he would be taken in the first round, [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/nbadraft/d03/story?id=1573479 ESPN.com - 2003 NBA Draft: College seniors score first-round knockout ] ] Rickert was not drafted until 26th pick in the 2nd round, or 55th overall by the
Minnesota Timberwolves . They sent him to play for Slovenia in the Euro League. Since then, Rick has played for: Krka Novo mesto - Slovenia (Euroleague), Timberwolves (NBA), Ashville Altitude (D-League), Panallenios, Athens Greece (Euro League), Lleida Spain (Euro League), Fayettville Patriots (D-League), Detroit Pistons (NBA), Colorado 14ers (D-League), D-League All Star Team who traveled to China representing the U.S. in the world tournament (D-League), and New Zealand Breakers (Australian Basketball League).While Rickert was with the Timberwolves, Kevin Garnett punched Rick during a pick-up game while, leading to stiches and a chipped tooth. [ [http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/32979/20040901/garnett_punches_player_during_pickup_game/ Garnett punches player during pickup game] Washington Post] In 2007, Rick signed to play with the
New Zealand Breakers inAustralia 's NBL. In June 2008, Rick re-signed with the New Zealand Breakers. He is coming off of a season averaging 20 points and 11 rebounds.Awards
NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS, AUSTRALIAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE: 2007-08
*Australian Basketball League All Star COLORADO 14ERS NBDL:2006-07
*NBDL All Star, played in Las Vegas All Star Game
*NBDL All Star World Games Player/Representative TEAM KRKA: SLOVENIA, EURO LEAGUE: 2003-04
*Adriatic League All Star Team
*Leading Scorer for KRKA UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA: 2002-03
*All-Big Ten First Team by coaches
*All-Big Ten Second Team by media
*All-Big Ten Academic
*Selected Playboy All AmericanUNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA: 2001-02
*Big Ten Freshman of the year
*All-Big Ten Second Team by coaches
*All-Big Ten Second Team by mediaHIGH SCHOOL: 2000-01
*McDonald’s High School All-American
*Mr. Basketball in the state of Minnesota
=References=
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