Nik Caner-Medley

Nik Caner-Medley

Position	Forward
Height	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Weight	230 lb (100 kg)
League	ACB Euroleague
Team	Power Electronics Valencia
Born	October 20, 1983 (1983-10-20) (age 28) Beverly, Massachusetts
Nationality	American
High school	Deering High School
College	Maryland
Draft	Undrafted, 2006
Pro career	2006–present
Career history	Artland Dragons (2007) Sioux Falls Skyforce (2007) Kalise Gran Canaria (2007-08) Cajasol Sevilla (2008-09) Estudiantes Madrid (2009-11)
Awards	All-ACB Team 2010–11

Nik Caner-Medley (b. October 20, 1983, Beverly, Massachusetts) is a professional basketball player, currently with Power Electronics Valencia of Spain's ACB. He was named Maine Gatorade Player of the Year, and "Mr. Basketball" as a senior at Deering High School. He averaged 35.6 PPG as a senior and 26.8 PPG as a junior, both good for first in the state. Caner-Medley went on to play four seasons at the University of Maryland.

High school career

Nik graduated from Deering High School in Portland, Maine in 2002. Among his achievements were NHSCA Boys Basketball Athlete of the Year, Maine's Mr. Basketball and the Maine Gatorade Player of the Year. A remarkable scorer as a senior, he tallied a school-record 51 points against South Portland, scored 47 points in consecutive games, had one game with 46 and another with 44 during his final high school campaign.

He led the Rams to back-to-back Western Maine titles and led the state in scoring in back-to-back seasons with a 36.5-point average in 2002 and a 26.8-point clip in 2001. He still holds the title of Deering's career scoring leader with 1,641 points and also led the Southern Maine Athletic Association (SMAA) as a senior with 15.7 rebounds, along with 4.2 steals per game and 4.6 assists.

Collegiate career

Nik became the first true freshman to start regularly at Maryland since Steve Blake in 1999-00, totaling 18 starts in 31 games. As a small forward, he averaged 5.9 ppg and 3.5 rpg in his first collegiate season and averaged 6.0 ppg and 2.0 rpg in the Terps' three NCAA Tournament games despite missing most of the Michigan State match on March 28, 2003 after injuring his ankle. Among his post-season contributions was the 12 points and two rebounds in the NCAA Tournament opening win over UNC Wilmington.

As a sophomore, he was a Terp starter in all 32 contests, finishing third on the team in scoring with 12.2 points per game and was the Terps' high-scorer in eight games. His standout performance sparked the Terps in a win at No. 1 Florida on December 10, 2003 where he registered 22 points with six points in overtime and set or tied then-career bests in field goals attempted (16), 3-point field goals (3), 3-point field goals attempted (7), rebounds (13, previous career-high was eight) and minutes played (43). He later earned the Maryland Basketball "Clutch Performance of the Year" Award for his effort against Florida.

During his junior year, Nik led the Terrapins in scoring (16.0 ppg), minutes (1,008), starts (31) and 3-point field goals made (43). He posted a double-figure scoring total in 27 of 32 games, recorded 10 games of 20 points or more and was Maryland's top scorer in 13 games. On January 15, 2005, he contributed a career-high 35 points to Maryland's win over Temple, in which he made 14-for-21 FG to eclipse his previous career-high by 12 points. He averaged a team-high 16.9 ppg in ACC contests, finished third on the team in rebounding (6.2 rpg) and second in steals (43), and notched four double-doubles on the season. He earned BB&T Classic all-tournament honors in December and was named ESPN.com National Player of the Week for his performance against Duke on January 31, 2005.

Following the season, Nik was named to the All ACC 3rd team. Before his senior year Nik scored in double-figures in each of the Terps' games during their tour of Italy. Nik again led the Terps in scoring at 15.3 ppg (16.3 during ACC competition), and tallied 6 rbs, and 2 apg. He shot 83% FT and 36% from the 3 point line. At the conclusion of the season, he was named team MVP and 3rd team All ACC. Nik finished his senior year #11 all-time in games played for Maryland, #8 in minutes, #13 in points scored (he was in the top ten of players with games of 30+ points), #18 in rebounds, #6 in assists by a forward or center (#27 overall), #11 steals, #13 blocks, #10 in 3s and #13 steals. Nik was one of only five Maryland players (Walt Williams, Johnny Rhodes, Laron Profit and Terence Morris) to score over 1500 points, grab 500+ rebounds, record more than 200 assists, 100 steals, 100 3s and 50 blocks during his career at Maryland.

Professional career

Nik was signed as a free-agent by the Detroit Pistons after the 2006 NBA draft. He played with them in the 2006 Las Vegas Summer League until a stress fracture in his foot forced him to the sidelines for five months. After extensive rehabilitation Nik fully recovered and signed with the Artland Dragons of the BBL1 in Germany in February 2007.

The Artland Dragons reached the league championship for the first time in club history during his stint with the team. Back in America he played for the Sacramento Kings in the 2007 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. He did not make an NBA roster, but on November 1, 2007 was selected sixth in the NBA Developmental League draft by the Sioux Falls Skyforce. In December 2007, despite averaging 22 points and 11.5 boards a game, Nik left the NBADL to pursue an opportunity overseas with Kalise Gran Canaria of the ACB, the top Spanish league.

In 2008 Caner-Medley again tried his luck in the NBA Summer League, this time with the Los Angeles Lakers. Unable to make the roster, he played the 2008-2009 season for the ACB's Cajasol Sevilla. He finished the year third in the league rebounding, posting an average of eight a game.

In the summer of 2009 Caner-Medley earned a spot on the Los Angeles Clippers' Summer League team in Las Vegas. He had two double-doubles in five games.^[1] He then signed for Estudiantes Madrid.^[2]

In July 2011 he signed with Power Electronics Valencia for one season with an option for a second year.^[3]

References

1. ^ "Blake Griffin to play summer league ball for Clippers". Associated Press. http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/article/2009-07-01/blake-griffin-play-summer-league-ball-for-clippers. Retrieved 2009-07-07. 
2. ^ "Estudiantes ficha a Nik Caner-Medley: máxima intensidad". club estudiantes official site. http://www.clubestudiantes.es/frontend/clubestudiantes/noticia.php?id_noticia=4303&id_seccion=6. Retrieved 2009-11-11.  (Spanish)
3. ^ PE Valencia announces Nik Caner-Medley

External links

• The Official Nik Caner-Medley Bio Page at University of Maryland
• The Official Nik Caner-Medley Draft NY06 Prospect Profile
• The Official Nik Caner-Medley Bio Page at Kalise Gran Canaria (Spanish)
• The Official Nik Caner-Medley Bio Page at ACB (Under Construction)(Spanish)
• The MVP best player of the 20th time 2008 (Spanish)

Persondata
Name	Caner-Medley, Nik
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	October 20, 1983
Place of birth	Beverly, Massachusetts
Date of death
Place of death