C. J. Bruton

NBL Player Infobox
name = C. J. Bruton


nickname =
position = Guard
height = 188cm
weight = 88 kg
team = New Zealand Breakers
nationality = Australia
nationality_2 = United States
birth_date = birth date and age|1975|12|13
birth_place = Wichita, Kansas, U.S.
first_nbl_game = 1994
last_nbl_game =
games_played = 304 [http://www.nbl.com.au/default.aspx?s=bullets_playerprofile&profile=65 NBL Stats]
junior_association = Perry Lakes
college = Indian Hills Junior College
previous_clubs = Perth Wildcats 1994
Brisbane Bullets 1998
Wollongong Hawks 1999-2000
Canberra Cannons 2002-2003
Sydney Kings 2004-2006
Brisbane Bullets 2007-2008
championships = 2004, 2005, 2007
career_highlights =
NBL's Most Improved Player (1999)
Current Boomers Squad Member

All NBL Second Team (2007/08)

Calvin Thomas Bruton Jr., commonly known by the name C. J. Bruton (born December 13, 1975 in Wichita, Kansas, U.S.), is an Australian professional basketball player in the National Basketball League. Bruton moved to Australia at the age of three when his father Calvin Bruton, Sr. moved to Australia to play for the Brisbane Bullets in 1979.

Bruton has played for numerous NBL teams over his career. He debuted with the Perth Wildcats in 1994, which made him ineligible to play in the NCAA and so upon returning to the USA he competed in the NJCAA for Indian Hills Junior College. While there he won an NJCAA National Championship with Indian Hills JC and was named as an NJCAA All-American. In 1997 he was selected by the Vancouver Grizzlies in the NBA Draft, but was not signed by the team.

Upon returning to the NBL in 1998, Bruton played for the Brisbane Bullets for one season before heading to Wollongong to play for the Hawks until 2000. Bruton then played for the Canberra Cannons with his father, Cal Bruton, as head coach. In 2003 the Canberra Cannons folded and instead of relocating with the club to Newcastle, Bruton began a successful stint with the Sydney Kings. In his time in Sydney Bruton would win two championships and co-captain the Kings with Jason Smith. This successful tenure also lead to him being selected in the Boomers squad for the 2004 Olympic Games and the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

In 2006 Bruton had an unsuccessful try-out with the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers, and attended the veterans training camp with fellow aussie Chris Anstey. This try-out almost forced him to miss the 2006 basketball world championships. He did eventually compete in the championships.

Bruton has since returned to the Brisbane Bullets for the 2006/07 NBL season and was a member of the Boomers squad for the 2006 FIBA World Championships.

In 2006 he was named as head coach for the QABL South West Metro Pirates.

In 2008, Bruton was selected to play as a member of the Boomers at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.He currently plays for the New Zealand Breakers.

Family

Bruton is married to dancer Jessica Strong. He is also the son of Calvin Bruton, Sr., former player and hall of fame inductee of the NBL and former head coach of the West Sydney Razorbacks.

Links

* [http://www.aussiebball.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=120 CJ Bruton Profile]

References