Andy Van Vliet

Andy Van Vliet (born 27 July 1995) is a Belgian basketball player who plays power forward and center for Trefl Sopot in the Polish Basketball League (PLK). He played college basketball for the University of Wisconsin and the College of William & Mary.

Andy Van Vliet
No. 81 – Trefl Sopot
PositionPower forward/center
LeaguePLK
Personal information
Born (1995-07-27) 27 July 1995
Brasschaat, Belgium
NationalityBelgian
Listed height7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
Listed weight231 lb (105 kg)
Career information
High schoolCanarias Basketball Academy (Spain)
College
NBA draft2020: undrafted
Playing career2014–present
Career history
2014–2015Antwerp Giants
2020–2021Šiauliai
2021–2023Bnei Herzliya
2023–presentTrefl Sopot
Career highlights and awards
  • Third-team All-CAA (2020)

Early and personal life

Van Vliet was born in Brasschaat, Belgium, and his hometown is Antwerp, Belgium.[1][2][3] He speaks Dutch, French, English, and German.[4] He is 7' 0" (213 cm) tall, and weighs 231 pounds (105 kg).[2][5]

He played as an amateur for the Antwerp Giants on its B team in 2013–15.[6][2][4] Van Vilet would make brief appearances with the senior team mainly during the 2014–2015 season including games against Enisey and Trabzonspor in the EuroChallenge. Van Vliet also played on the Belgian Youth National Basketball Team, and competed in the European Championship on its U16, U18 and the U20 team in July 2015.[2] He averaged 5.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game during the 2015 European Championship.[2]

Van Vliet attended Canarias Basketball Academy in Spain for high school.[7]

College career

Van Vliet first attended the University of Wisconsin, where he studied Sociology and played for the Badgers in the Big Ten Conference.[3][8] He was the sixth 7-footer in team history.[9] In his freshman season in 2015–16, he sat out the season after the NCAA ruled him ineligible for not enrolling in college within a year of his high school graduation.[10][11]

In his sophomore season in 2016–17, Van Vliet played only 3.4 minutes a game, during which he averaged 1.3 points and 1.4 rebounds.[2] In his junior season in 2017–18, he averaged 3.4 points and 1.4 rebounds per game.[2]

After transferring from Wisconsin to the College of William & Mary ('20), where he earned a degree in kinesiology and played for the Tribe in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA), Van Vliet sat out his junior season in 2018-19 as a redshirt due to NCAA transfer rules.[12][2][8]

In his senior season in 2019–20, Van Vliet ranked second in the CAA in blocks per game (1.3), third in defensive rebounds (7.3), fourth in overall rebounds (8.7), fifth in field goal percentage (.461), and 13th in scoring (13.2).[2][8] He ranked 17th nationally in defensive rebounds, 61st in overall rebounds, and 77th in rebounds per game.[2][8] He was named CAA Player of the Week on November 18.[2] He was named All-CAA Third Team.[2]

Professional career

In 2020 he started his professional career with BC Šiauliai in the Lithuanian Basketball League, averaging 11.1 points, 5.8 rebounds (10th in the league), and 0.6 blocks per game.[13][6]

In 2021 Van Vliet joined the Israeli team Bnei Herzliya Basket in the Israeli Basketball Premier League, for whom he played both power forward and center.[14][15][5][16]

On August 1, 2023, he signed with Trefl Sopot of the Polish Basketball League (PLK).[17]

International play

In 2020 Van Vliet was called up to the Belgian Lions national basketball team for the first time.[16]

References
  1. Potrykus, Jeff (March 21, 2016). "Andy Van Vliet's family, friends safe back home in Brussels". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
  2. "Andy Van Vliet - 2019-20 - Men's Basketball". William & Mary Athletics.
  3. "Andy Van Vliet | Men's Basketball". Wisconsin Badgers.
  4. Johnson, Dave (January 8, 2020). "He traveled from Belgium to Wisconsin to play basketball. But this 7-footer found a home at William & Mary". The Virginian-Pilot.
  5. "Andy Van Vliet Player Profile, Bnei Ofek Dist Hertzeliya, News, Stats". Eurobasket.
  6. "Andy Van Vliet Player Profile, William & Mary, NCAA Stats, International Stats, Events Stats, Game Logs, Bests, Awards - RealGM". basketball.realgm.com.
  7. "Andy Van Vliet, Wisconsin Badgers, Power Forward". 247Sports.
  8. "Andy Van Vliet College Stats". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com.
  9. "ANDY VAN VLIET". madison.com. November 8, 2017.
  10. "Reserve F Andy Van Vliet transferring from Wisconsin". USA TODAY. March 14, 2018.
  11. Radcliffe, J. R. (April 16, 2018). "Former Badgers basketball player Andy Van Vliet finds new landing spot". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
  12. Jim Polzin (March 14, 2018). "Andy Van Vliet to transfer from Wisconsin". Wisconsin State Journal.
  13. "Antwerpenaar Andy Van Vliet gaat voor het Litouwse Siauliai basketten". Het Nieuwsblad. August 7, 2020.
  14. "Andy van Vliet International Stats". Basketball-Reference.com.
  15. "ISRAEL BASKETBALL SUPER LEAGUE | 2021-22 Season | Bnei Ofek Dist Herzeliya | Andy Van Vliet". basket.co.il.
  16. "Belgian Lion Andy Van Vliet schittert in Israël". Het Nieuwsblad. January 4, 2020.
  17. "Andy Van Vliet pod kosz Trefla". plk.pl (in Polish). August 1, 2023. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
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