Serge Zwikker

Serge Zwikker (born April 28, 1973) is a Dutch former basketball player.

Serge Zwikker
Personal information
Born (1973-04-28) April 28, 1973
Vlaardingen, Netherlands
NationalityDutch
Listed height7 ft 3 in (2.21 m)
Listed weight273 lb (124 kg)
Career information
High school
CollegeNorth Carolina (1993–1997)
NBA draft1997: 2nd round, 29th overall pick
Selected by the Houston Rockets
Playing career1997–2000
PositionCenter
Career history
1998–1999TAU Ceramica
1999Gorizia
1999–2000CB Breogán
2000Conesco Den Helder
Career highlights and awards
Stats  at Basketball-Reference.com

High School career

Zwikker, the son of a police officer and a mother who worked in the flower business,[1] first came to the United States in 1988, playing for Don Kent at Monsignor Clancy Memorial High School in Queens, New York. He then transferred to Flint Hill Preparatory School,[2] and then finished his prep career at Harker Prep in Potomac, Maryland.[3] Zwikker was a 1992 McDonald's All-American.[4]

College career

After redshirting one year,[5] he played four years of college basketball for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill under coach Dean Smith. He saw limited playing time his first two years, usually coming off the bench for Rasheed Wallace. Zwikker's college career breakthrough came March 17, 1995 against Murray State University. Plagued by an ankle injury, Wallace scored only six points before Smith went to the uninjured Zwikker in relief. Zwikker went on to score 19 points as he and Jerry Stackhouse led the Tar Heels to an 80–70 win.[6] Zwikker became the Tar Heels' starting center following Wallace's departure in the 1995 NBA draft.[7] As a senior, he averaged 11.5 points and 8.1 rebounds per game,[8] while serving as a team captain with Shammond Williams.[9]

Professional career

Houston Rockets (1997–1998)

Zwikker was selected by the Houston Rockets with the first pick of the second round (29th overall) in the 1997 NBA draft, and spent one season on the Rockets' bench. However, he did not record any playing time. Due to the 1998 NBA lockout, he signed a three-year contract with TAU Cerámica in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.

On January 22, 1999, the Rockets renounced the rights to Zwikker.[10]

Return to Europe (1998–2000)

Zwikker played Euroleague basketball in 1998–99, first playing for TAU Cerámica in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain, and then for Gorizia in Italy. After only ten games with Gorizia, his season ended due to a back injury.[11] At the beginning of the 2000-01 season, he played three games for Conesco Den Helder in his native Netherlands.[12]

National team

Zwikker played in the 1990 European Championship for Junior Men and later also represented the Dutch men's national team.[13]

Personal life

After his basketball career ended, Zwikker, who had earned a degree in communication, started a career in IT in the United States.[14]

Zwikker has two daughters, Courtney (2001) and Ellen (2003). They both play college volleyball; Courtney plays for Barry University and Ellen plays for Eckerd College.[15] These schools are both a part of the NCAA Division II's Sunshine State Conference, so the sisters will be competing against each other.

Notes
  1. "Zwikker is a big story". Tampa Bay Times. 1997-03-29. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  2. Williams, Andre (1989-11-28). "7-FOOT-2 CENTER FITTING IN NICELY AT FLINT HILL". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  3. "Zwikker leads Harker Prep to SAAH title". Washington Post. 1991-08-01. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  4. "Serge Zwikker Basketball News & Bio". Tar Heel Times. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  5. "ZWIKKER: HE'S NO LONGER A PROJECT\ SERGE ZWIKKER HAS MADE THE MOST OF HIS FIVE YEARS AT UNC". Greensboro News and Record. 1997-03-14. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  6. Robinson, Tom (March 18, 1995). "UNC Escapes Murray: Wallace hobbled and Heels wobbled, but Zwikker to rescue with 19". The Virginian-Pilot. Landmark Communications, Inc. p. C1. Retrieved 2007-03-19.
  7. Landreth, Eddy (January 15, 1996). "How dare you doubt Dean – University of North Carolina basketball coach Dean Smith". The Sporting News. Sporting News Publishing Co. Retrieved 2007-03-19.
  8. "TarHeelIllustrated - Best Heels From Abroad". northcarolina.rivals.com. 2015-07-04. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  9. "2019-20 UNC Men's Basketball Facts & Record Book" (PDF). University of North Carolina. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  10. "Houston Rockets 1999 Basketball Transactions". www.prosportstransactions.com. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  11. "EuroLeague 1998–1999: Tau Ceramica". basket-stats.info. 2000–2006. Archived from the original on 2007-05-02. Retrieved 2007-03-19.
  12. "Serge Zwikker". www.acb.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  13. "Serge Zwikker profile, European Championship for Junior Men 1990". FIBA.COM. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  14. "Serge Zwikker". WRAL TechWire. 2022-07-25. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  15. "Ellen Zwikker - Volleyball". Eckerd College Athletics. Retrieved 2022-10-30.


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