Mike Vreeswyk

Mike Vreeswyk (born March 1, 1967) is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the Temple Owls where he was a three year starter[1] for Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame coach John Chaney. As of 2020–21, he is an assistant basketball coach at The George School in Newtown Pennsylvania.

Mike Vreeswyk
Personal information
Born (1967-03-01) March 1, 1967
Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High schoolMorrisville
(Morrisville, Pennsylvania)
CollegeTemple (1985–1989)
NBA draft1989: undrafted
Playing career1989–2000
PositionSmall forward
Number32
Career history
1990Zepter Vienna
1991Kortrijk
1991–1992Apollon Limassol
1992–1993JSA Bordeaux
1992–1993Yakima Sun Kings
1993–1994Canoe Jeans Den Bosch
1994–1995Hitashi Honso Rising Sun
1995Ovar
1996–1997Libertel Den Bosch
1997–1998RZG Donar
1998–2000New Philadelphia Firedogs
Career highlights and awards
  • 2× Dutch League All-Star (1994, 1997)
  • Cyprus League All-Star (1991)
  • Belgium League All-Star (1990)
  • 2× Second-team All-Atlantic 10 (1988, 1989)

Career

High school career

Vreeswyk attended Morrisville High School in Pennsylvania from 1981 to 1985 and finished his career as the school's all-time leading scorer with 2,019 points[2] (without the 3-point line). As a junior he averaged 23 points per game and was named Third Team All-State. As a senior he led the state of Pennsylvania in scoring with an average of 33.5 points per game and was named First Team All-State.[1] For college, Vreeswyk selected nearby Temple University to play for future Hall of Fame coach John Chaney. He chose the owls over Seton Hall, Boston College, UMass and West Virginia.[3] Vreeswyk is one of only two players ever to have their number retired at Morrisville High School, where it hangs proudly on the gymnasium wall.

College career

Vreeswyk attended Temple from 1985 to 1989.[4][5] He was a three-year starter and finished his Temple career as the fifth leading scorer of all time with 1650 points.[6] He is currently tied for 12th all time with Aaron McKie. He also left school as the holder of every 3-point record, including all-time 3-pointers made with 271, until surpassed by Lynn Greer in 2003. [1]He is currently 3rd all time in 3-pointers made. He also set a record with 8 made 3-pointers in a game which stood as the record until Rick Brunson and Johnny Miller surpassed that total with 9. Vreeswyk is currently 5th all-time in 3-point FG percentage at .392. Vreeswyk is also currently 7th all-time in free throw percentage at .815. Vreeswyk is still tied for 1st all-time in NCAA Tournament free throw percentage at 100% (18-18 in the 1987-1988 NCAA Tournament). The kid could shoot! He was a member and second leading scorer on the 1987-88 team that was ranked first in the country for 9 weeks. The Owls entered the NCAA tournament as the number one overall seed before losing to Duke in the East Regional Finals.[7][8]

Professional career

After college Vreeswyk had tryouts with the Seattle SuperSonics, Washington Bullets and Philadelphia 76ers before embarking on a 9-year professional career overseas. He played in Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, France, the Netherlands, Portugal and Japan. For two summers he played in the professional league in Venezuela. He also played in the Continental Basketball Association for the Yakima Sun Kings.[9]

Honors

Morrisville High School #32 retired in 1991. Vreeswyk was inducted into the Philadelphia Big 5 College Basketball Hall of Fame in 1995,[10] the Temple University Sports Hall of Fame in 2001, [11] the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame Bucks County Chapter in 2010 [12] and enshrined in Temple Basketball's Ring of Honor in 2020.

References
  1. Tom Moore (8 February 2020). "Temple great Mike Vreeswyk was a shooting star". The Morning Call. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  2. Rick O (18 January 2015). "Former Temple star Vreeswyk helping out at Pennsbury". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  3. "Morrisville's Vreeswyck picks Temple". Philadelphia Daily News. November 16, 1984. p. 162. Retrieved September 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  4. Tom Moore (29 January 2019). "John Chaney's impact goes way beyond his success coaching basketball at Temple University". Bucks County Courier Times. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  5. L.A. Parker (28 February 2021). "Mike Vreeswyk eulogized John Chaney as life and game changer". Bucks Local News. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  6. "2021 22 MBB Record Book (PDF)" (PDF). Temple University Athletics. Retrieved 2022-01-21.
  7. Kevin Callahan (20 January 2020). "Vreeswyk growing into his dad's shoes for on-the-rise George School". cityofbasketballlove.com. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  8. Mike Sielski (24 March 2018). "Thirty years after Temple's missed opportunity, an Owl gains perspective on the loss, and his coach". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  9. 1993-94 Official CBA Guide and Register, page 351
  10. Philadelphia Big 5 Hall of Fame
  11. Owl Sports
  12. "2010 Honorees | Bucks County Sports Hall of Fame".
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