Andre Riddick (born February 1, 1973) is a retired American professional basketball player.[1] He is the ULEB Cup's All-Time Leader for rebounds (383), steals (116) and blocks (122) and also has the highest ULEB Cup percentage of blocks (2 blocks per game). He played for the University of Kentucky from 1991 to 1995.[2]

Andre Riddick
Personal information
Born (1973-02-01) February 1, 1973 (age 51)
Brooklyn, New York
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Career information
High schoolBishop Loughlin Memorial
(Brooklyn, New York)
CollegeKentucky (1991–1995)
NBA draft1995: undrafted
Playing career1995–2013
PositionCenter
Career history
1995–1996Blue Winds
1996–1999Tera Mars / Mars
1999Trotamundos de Carabobo
1999Metropolitanos de Mauricio Baez
1999–2000JDA Dijon Basket
2000Trotamundos de Carabobo
2000–2001JDA Dijon Basket
2001Trotamundos de Carabobo
2001–2002Paris Basket Racing
2002–2013Spirou Charleroi
Career highlights and awards
  • Fourth-team Parade All-American (1991)
  • Belgian champion 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
  • Belgian Cup champion 2003, 2009
  • Belgian League MVP 2004

Tenure at Kentucky

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Nicknamed "The Rejector",[3] Andre Riddick held the single season block record at 83 for Kentucky together with Melvin Turpin until it was broken by Anthony Davis in 2012,[4] and he held the Kentucky single game block record of 9 together with Sam Bowie until it was broken by Nerlens Noel in 2013.[5] A notoriously bad free throw shooter, the standard Riddick set has been invoked more than once when a Kentucky player had a bad night at the line.[6][7] Riddick often performed a shuffle after he dunked the basketball.[8]

Riddick and his Kentucky teammates made the NCAA Final Four in 1993.[9] During Kentucky's 1995 NCAA tournament Elite Eight game against North Carolina, Riddick angrily confronted Rasheed Wallace after Wallace hit him with his elbow, resulting in a technical foul issued to Walter McCarty, a call hotly disputed by former Kentucky coach Rick Pitino.[10]

Professional career

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During his professional career, Riddick spent eleven years at Spirou Charleroi, claiming six Belgian championships (2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011) and two Belgian cup titles (2003, 2009).[11] In 2003-04, he earned Most Valuable Player distinction in the Belgian league. In the Belgian league as well as in the ULEB Cup, Riddick became the all-time leader in blocked shots.[12]

Riddick also played professionally in Japan, Taiwan, Venezuela and France. In 1999, he won the Venezuelan championship with the Trotamundos de Carabobo.[1]

Coaching career

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Riddick continued to coach in the Cincinnati area with the private coaching service CoachUp.[13] In 2015, he was named assistant coach at the University of Cincinnati Clermont.[14]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Andre Riddick". www.eurobasket.com. Archived from the original on February 2, 2010. Retrieved January 22, 2010.
  2. ^ "Ex-Cat Andre Riddick is Still Dunking in Belgium". www.allkyhoops.com. April 22, 2010. Archived from the original on March 23, 2013. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  3. ^ "Update: The Anthony Davis Block Party". www.allkyhoops.com. April 22, 2010. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  4. ^ "Kentucky Leaders in Blocked Shots by Season". bigbluehistory.net. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  5. ^ "UK basketball notes: Ole Miss player says Nerlens Noel as good as Anthony Davis". kentucky.com. January 30, 2013. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  6. ^ "Mohammed haunted by missed free throws". Kentucky New Era. June 19, 1997. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  7. ^ "UK vs Bama - Stuff I saw". UK Sports Info. January 21, 2012. Archived from the original on February 16, 2013. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  8. ^ "Kentucky Basketball Senior Day 1995 -- Andre Riddick". www.youtube.com. October 6, 2009. Retrieved January 31, 2013.[dead YouTube link]
  9. ^ "Andre Riddick". O.A.S.I.S. Inc. Archived from the original on April 15, 2013. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  10. ^ "Rasheed Wallace and Andre Riddick fight". www.youtube.com. March 24, 2011. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  11. ^ "Andre Riddick". Euroleague. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  12. ^ "Andre Riddick, légende vivante du club". Spirou Charleroi. September 24, 2019. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  13. ^ www.coachup.com/coaches/andrer-4
  14. ^ "Riddick named assistant coach at UC Clermont". The Enquirer. Retrieved May 12, 2024.