Corey Kispert

Corey James Kispert (born March 3, 1999) is an American professional basketball player for the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Gonzaga Bulldogs, where he was a consensus first-team All-American as a senior.

Corey Kispert
Kispert with the Washington Wizards in 2021
No. 24 – Washington Wizards
PositionSmall forward / shooting guard
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (1999-03-03) March 3, 1999
Edmonds, Washington, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight224 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High schoolKing's (Shoreline, Washington)
CollegeGonzaga (2017–2021)
NBA draft2021: 1st round, 15th overall pick
Selected by the Washington Wizards
Playing career2021–present
Career history
2021–presentWashington Wizards
Career highlights and awards
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats  at Basketball-Reference.com

High school career

Kispert grew up in Edmonds, Washington and attended King's High School. As a junior, he averaged 23.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.3 steals per game, led the team to their second straight state title, and was named the MVP of the State Championship Tournament.[1] Rated a four-star recruit, Kispert committed to play college basketball at Gonzaga over Notre Dame after his junior season.[2][3] Kispert was averaging 25 points per game during his senior year before breaking his foot in February.[4]

Kispert said in 2021 that Virginia head coach Tony Bennett told Kispert he "needed to see Corey play more against top competition before deciding if he could play at Virginia" and that motivated him to "stick it to" Virginia in an early season game; Virginia had recruited Kispert but did not offer him a scholarship before he committed to Gonzaga.[5]

College career

As a true freshman Kispert played in all 35 of Gonzaga's games with seven starts, averaging 6.7 points and 3.2 rebounds per game.[6] He became a starter for the Bulldogs going into his sophomore season, averaging 8.0 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.[7][8]

Kispert entered his junior season on the Julius Erving Award watchlist and as Gonzaga's only returning starter from the previous year.[9][10] After scoring less than five points in his previous three games, Kispert scored 28 points and made seven of eight three point attempts on November 28, 2019 against Southern Mississippi in the opening round of the 2019 Battle 4 Atlantis.[11] He scored 26 points with five three pointers made against North Carolina in a 94–81 victory.[12] At the conclusion of the regular season, Kispert was named to the First Team All-West Coast Conference.[13] Kispert averaged 13.9 points per game as a junior.[14] Following the season, he declared for the 2020 NBA draft but did not hire an agent.[15] Kispert ultimately decided to return for his senior season on August 3.[16]

Coming into his senior season, Kispert was named to the Preseason All-West Coast Conference team.[17] He scored his 1,000th career point in the season opener against Kansas as part of a 23-point performance in the 102–90 victory.[18] On December 26, 2020, Kispert scored a career-high 32 points, tying the school record with nine three-pointers, in a 98–75 win against Virginia.[19] He led Gonzaga to a 31–1 record, its only loss coming against Baylor in the national championship game.[20] Kispert was named WCC Player of the Year and won the Julius Erving Award as the top small forward in the nation.[21] As a senior, he averaged 18.6 points and five rebounds per game.[22]

Professional career

Washington Wizards (2021–present)

On July 29, 2021, Kispert was drafted with the 15th overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft by the Washington Wizards.[23][24] On August 4, he signed his rookie scale contract with the Wizards.[25] Kispert made his NBA debut on October 22, scoring two points in a 135–134 overtime win over the Indiana Pacers.[26] On March 27, 2022, he scored a career-high 25 points, alongside three assists, in a 123–115 win over the Golden State Warriors.[27] Kispert played in 77 games and started 36 during his rookie campaign, averaging 8.2 points per game.[28]

Career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

NBA
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2021–22 Washington 773623.4.455.350.8712.71.1.5.38.2
2022–23 Washington 744528.3.497.424.8522.81.2.4.111.1
Career 1518125.8.478.391.8602.81.1.4.29.6

College
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2017–18 Gonzaga 35719.4.460.351.6673.2.7.3.26.7
2018–19 Gonzaga 373626.1.437.374.8754.11.0.6.58.0
2019–20 Gonzaga 333333.0.474.438.8104.02.1.9.413.9
2020–21 Gonzaga 323231.8.529.440.8785.01.8.9.418.6
Career 13710827.4.483.408.8244.01.4.7.411.6

Personal life

While at Gonzaga, Kispert met his girlfriend Jenn Wirth where they both played basketball. The couple got married on July 7, 2023, at the Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano in San Juan Capistrano, California.[29]

References
  1. Meehan, Jim (May 4, 2016). "Kispert commits to Gonzaga". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  2. Wells, Jordan (April 7, 2016). "Corey Kispert Sets Notre Dame Visit". Rivals.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  3. Polacek, Scott (May 4, 2016). "Corey Kispert to Gonzaga: Bulldogs Land 4-Star SF Prospect". Bleacher Report. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  4. Ringer, Sandy (February 19, 2017). "King's Corey Kispert, a Gonzaga signee, out for season with broken bone in foot". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  5. "Corey Kispert Claims Tony Bennett Told Him He Wasn't Good Enough To Play, So Kispert Dropped 32 Against Virginia To 'Stick It To Him'". Essentially Sports, April 22, 2021. Accessed April 22, 2021.
  6. Stoudt, Megan (October 8, 2019). "2019-20 Player Preview: Corey Kispert". SlipperStillFits.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  7. Calkins, Matt (March 28, 2019). "Edmonds native Corey Kispert has been a difference maker for Gonzaga. Oh yeah, and he's got great hair". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  8. Frank, Jackson (October 22, 2019). "Is Gonzaga's Corey Kispert ready for a larger offensive role?". The Athletic. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  9. Patterson, Nick (November 5, 2019). "Local players named to preseason college hoops watch lists". The Herald. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  10. "Kispert leads No. 8 Gonzaga over Alabama State 95-64". ESPN.com. Associated Press. November 5, 2019. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  11. Beard, Aaron (November 28, 2019). "Kispert, No. 8 Gonzaga top Southern Miss 94–69 at Atlantis". Associated Press. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  12. "No. 2 Gonzaga leaves North Carolina blue after 94–81 victory". ESPN.com. Associated Press. December 18, 2019. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  13. "WCC Announces 2019-20 Men's Basketball All-Conference Team" (Press release). West Coast Conference. March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  14. "No. 2 Gonzaga looks to extend streak vs No. 23 BYU". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Associated Press. February 21, 2020. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  15. Helin, Kurt (April 25, 2020). "Gonzaga's Corey Kispert declares for NBA draft, does not hire agent". NBC Sports. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  16. Borzello, Jeff (August 3, 2020). "Gonzaga boosted by Corey Kispert's decision to return". ESPN. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  17. "Gonzaga Picked to Win Ninth Straight WCC Championship". West Coast Conference. October 26, 2020. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
  18. "Recap and highlights: No. 1 Gonzaga beats No. 6 Kansas in season opener". KHQ.com. November 26, 2020. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  19. "Kispert's career game leads No. 1 Gonzaga over No. 16 Virginia". The Everett Herald. Associated Press. December 26, 2020. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  20. "Nobody's perfect: Gonzaga men lose to Baylor in national-title game, end season 31-1". The Seattle Times. Associated Press. April 5, 2021. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  21. Meehan, Jim (April 3, 2021). "Gonzaga's Corey Kispert named Julius Erving Award winner as nation's top small forward". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  22. Meehan, Jim (March 2, 2021). "Corey Kispert named WCC player of year, Gonzaga dominates conference awards". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  23. "Washington Wizards take Zags' Corey Kispert with 15th pick". WTOP. Associated Press. July 30, 2021. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  24. "Wizards select Corey Kispert with 15th pick in 2021 NBA Draft". NBA.com. Retrieved 2021-07-31.
  25. "Corey Kispert Signs Rookie Deal With Wizards". NBA.com. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  26. "DINWIDDIE LEADS WIZARDS TO 135-134 OT WIN OVER PACERS". NBA.com. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  27. "WIZARDS HAND WARRIORS 5TH LOSS IN 6 GAMES, 123-115". NBA.com. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  28. "Corey Kispert Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2022-05-01.
  29. Chandonnet, Henry; Strohm, Emily (July 15, 2023). "Wizards' Corey Kispert Marries Gonzaga College Sweetheart Jenn Wirth: 'Meant to be Together' (Exclusive)". Peoplemag. Retrieved 2023-07-16.
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