Omm'A Givens

Omm'A Givens (born 1975) is an American former professional basketball player. A high school basketball All-American, he was a center for the UCLA Bruins on their 1995 national championship team.

Omm'A Givens
Personal information
Born1975
Frances, Washington, U.S.
Listed height211 cm (6 ft 11 in)
Listed weight109 kg (240 lb)
Career information
High schoolAberdeen (Aberdeen, Washington)
College
NBA draft1998: undrafted
PositionForward
Career history
1998–1999Magic City Snowbears
1999–2000La Crosse Bobcats
2000Fort Wayne Fury
2000Gallitos de Isabela
2001–2002Roanoke Dazzle
Career highlights and awards

High school

Givens attended high school in Aberdeen, Washington, where he was a highly touted college basketball recruit. In his junior year he averaged 18.4 points and 8.8 rebounds per game, while in his senior year he improved his scoring average to 23.4 points per game.[1] He was selected to the McDonald's All-American Team in his senior year, was the Washington state Gatorade Player of the Year,[2] and was twice selected as a Parade All-American.[3] He broke the tournament scoring record for boys high school basketball in Washington State.[4]

College

Givens joined UCLA in 1994–95,[5] and won a national championship with the team that season. He opted out of his UCLA scholarship in 1996 after having spent the 1995–96 season as a reserve with 20 appearances (0 starts and 11.6 minutes per game)[6] and transferred to Pepperdine University. He was suspended for two games by Pepperdine's coach Lorenzo Romar in January 1998 after punching and breaking the jaw of teammate Aaron Butler at practice.[7][8] After being briefly reinstated he was suspended by the school for the rest of the season later that month. He left the Pepperdine basketball team after the season and passed up his final season of eligibility.[9]

Professional career

Givens played for Magic City Snowbears in the International Basketball Association during the 1998–1999 season, averaging 12.9 points and 7.8 rebounds, leading the team to home-court advantage in the IBA playoffs.[10] In 2001 he joined Roanoke Dazzle of the National Basketball Development League. In 23 games during the 2001–2002 NBDL season, Givens averaged 3.0 points and 2.1 rebounds in 11.4 minutes per game.

References
  1. Bonk, Thomas (September 20, 2004). "At 18, a Veteran of Hard Road : omm'A Givens Never Has Had It Easy, but His Lack of Pampering Is Expected to Make Him Even Better UCLA Center". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  2. "1993 - 1994 WASHINGTON BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR OMM'A GIVENS". playeroftheyear.gatorade.com. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  3. Allen, Percy (March 15, 1994). "Givens' Athletic Skills Are Only Half His Story". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  4. "3A Boys basketball Tournament Records". wiaa.com. Washington Interscholastic Activities Association. Archived from the original on January 8, 2009. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  5. Bonk, Thomas (September 20, 1994). "At 18, a Veteran of Hard Road : omm'A Givens Never Has Had It Easy, but His Lack of Pampering Is Expected to Make Him Even Better UCLA Center". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  6. "1995-96 SEASON STATS UCLA Men's Basketball" (PDF). Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  7. Fernas, Rob (January 16, 1998). "Givens Suspended for Two Games". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  8. Fernas, Rob (January 18, 1998). "Givens May Be Charged in Fight". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  9. Fernas, Rob (June 23, 1998). "Pepperdine's Givens Quits Basketball Team". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  10. Thornbury, Jason (February 23, 1999). "Last Shot". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
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