Cameron Krutwig (born December 21, 1998) is an American professional basketball player for Força Lleida CE of the Spanish Liga Española de Baloncesto. Nicknamed "King Krut",[1] he played college basketball for the Loyola Ramblers. Krutwig drew national attention after helping the 2017–18 Ramblers reach the Final Four of the 2018 NCAA tournament.

Cameron Krutwig
Krutwig in 2017
No. 25 – Força Lleida
PositionCenter
LeagueLEB Oro
Personal information
Born (1998-12-21) December 21, 1998 (age 26)
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight255 lb (116 kg)
Career information
High schoolJacobs
(Algonquin, Illinois)
CollegeLoyola Chicago (2017–2021)
NBA draft2021: undrafted
Playing career2021–present
Career history
2021–2022Telenet Giants Antwerp
2022Blackwater Bossing
2022–2023Ibaraki Robots
2023Betis
2023–presentForça Lleida
Career highlights and awards

High school career

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His older brother Conrad played collegiately at South Dakota.[2] Cameron Krutwig attended Jacobs High School in Algonquin, Illinois, where he was coached by Jimmy Roberts. As a junior, Krutwig averaged 17.7 points, 12.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.6 blocks, shooting 65 percent from the field. He led Jacobs to a Fox Valley Conference championship and its second Class 4A regional title in three seasons. In the state sectional semifinal loss to Rockford Auburn, Krutwig had 26 points and 14 rebounds. Krutwig was ranked Illinois's top center in his class by 247Sports. He received more than 20 scholarship offers, and committed to Loyola Chicago in August 2016.[3] As a senior, he led the team to a 30–2 record and a sectional championship. In the sectional final, he nearly posted a quadruple double with 20 points, 24 rebounds, 12 blocks and nine assists.[2]

College career

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Krutwig became a starter three games into his freshman season and averaged 10.5 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.[2] Coach Porter Moser praised him for his passing acumen and encouraged him to become more physical and score more when conference play began.[4] Krutwig set season highs of 21 points and 13 rebounds in an 81–65 win over Bradley on January 13, 2018.[5] He was named to the Third Team All-Missouri Valley Conference and Freshman of the Year.[6] He received media attention for his Will Ferrell impressions and off-key Christmas caroling. In the NCAA Tournament, he contributed seven points and four assists against Tennessee in a second-round victory.[2] Krutwig helped Loyola to a rare Final Four appearance. Although the Ramblers lost to Michigan 69–57 in the Final Four, Krutwig led the team with 17 points.[7]

Coming into his sophomore season, Krutwig was named to the Preseason Second Team All-MVC.[8] He had a career-high 24 points in a 65–61 loss to Missouri State on February 17, 2019.[9] Krutwig averaged 14.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game as a sophomore.[10] He was named to the First Team All-MVC.[11]

On November 16, 2019, Krutwig matched his career-high of 24 points in an 85–68 win over Saint Joseph's.[12] On December 18, Krutwig registered a triple-double of 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 78–70 win over Vanderbilt.[13] At the conclusion of the 2019–20 regular season, Krutwig was named to the First Team All-MVC and received the second-most votes for player of the year behind A. J. Green.[14] On January 11, 2021, in a game against Indiana State, Krutwig became just the fourth player in MVC history to amass 1,500 points, 800 rebounds and 300 assists. The other three players to have done so are College Basketball Hall of Famers Oscar Robertson, Larry Bird and Hersey Hawkins.[15]

At the close of the 2020–21 regular season, Krutwig was named the MVC Player of the Year and his third consecutive first-team All-MVC selection.[16] In the NCAA tournament, Krutwig led the team with 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists in a second round upset victory over No. 1 seed Illinois.[17] The Ramblers eventually fell to Oregon State in the Sweet Sixteen.[18] After the season, Krutwig announced he would not use his extra year of eligibility and instead declare for the 2021 NBA draft.[19]

Professional career

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On June 30, 2021, Krutwig signed his first professional contract with the Telenet Giants Antwerp of the Pro Basketball League.[20]

On August 9, 2022, he signed with the Blackwater Bossing of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) as the team's import for the 2022–23 PBA Commissioner's Cup.[21]

On November 29, Krutwig signed with Ibaraki Robots of the Japanese B.League.[22]

In July 2023, Krutwig signed with Real Betis Baloncesto of Spain's LEB Oro basketball league, but was released after the team's ownership changed.[23] He subsequently signed with Força Lleida CE.[23]

Personal life

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Krutwig is an avid fan of the Chicago Bears of the National Football League.[24] He is also a harmonicist, and cites the Bee Gees, Hall & Oates, Tears for Fears, and Phil Collins among his favorite artists and influences.[25] Krutwig and his wife, Jess, were married in 2023.[23]

Career statistics

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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

College

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2017–18 Loyola 38 34 23.7 .598 .735 6.1 1.7 .5 .7 10.5
2018–19 Loyola 34 34 28.2 .629 .333 .578 7.2 2.4 .6 1.0 14.8
2019–20 Loyola 32 32 31.3 .563 .000 .690 8.1 4.2 1.2 .6 15.1
2020–21 Loyola 30 30 28.5 .574 .684 7.0 3.0 1.1 1.1 15.0
Career 134 130 27.7 .590 .143 .667 7.1 2.8 .8 .9 13.7

References

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  1. ^ "Arch Madness Game 7: Loyola 65, Indiana State 49". Missouri Valley Conference. March 6, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d Ryan, Shannon. "Loyola's Cameron Krutwig — an old-school, off-key singing 'goofball' — thriving in freshman season". March 27, 2018. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  3. ^ Kantecki, Alex (August 3, 2016). "Boys basketball: Jacobs center Cameron Krutwig commits to Loyola". Northwest Herald. Archived from the original on May 16, 2018. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  4. ^ Ryan, Shannon. "Loyola center Cameron Krutwig's 'old-school' ways translating to stellar freshman season". February 6, 2018. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  5. ^ "Loyola-Chicago beats Bradley 81–65 on Krutwig's career game". ESPN. Associated Press. January 13, 2018. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  6. ^ Ryan, Shannon (February 27, 2018). "Loyola's Clayton Custer named MVC player of the year". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  7. ^ Stevenson, Joe (March 31, 2018). "College basketball: Jacobs fans come out to support Krutwig, Ramblers". Northwest Herald. Archived from the original on May 16, 2018. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  8. ^ Hickey, Pat (October 18, 2018). "Evansville basketball teams picked to finish last in the Missouri Valley Conference". Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  9. ^ "Da Silva carries Missouri St. past Loyola of Chicago 65–61". ESPN. Associated Press. February 17, 2019. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  10. ^ Ryan, Shannon (October 22, 2019). "Loyola isn't the favorite anymore. A look at college basketball in the city". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  11. ^ "Marques Townes headlines MVC specialty awards" (Press release). Missouri Valley Conference. March 5, 2019. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  12. ^ "Krutwig leads Loyola of Chicago over St. Joseph's 85–68". ESPN. Associated Press. November 16, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  13. ^ "Krutwig's triple-double leads Loyola-Chi. past Vandy". Reuters. December 18, 2019. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  14. ^ Hammond, Sean (March 3, 2020). "College basketball: Loyola's Krutwig earns First-Team All-MVC honors". Northwest Herald. Archived from the original on March 4, 2020. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  15. ^ "Krutwig Helps Loyola Cut Down Indiana State, 58-48". Loyola Ramblers. January 11, 2021. Archived from the original on January 12, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  16. ^ "2021 MVC men's basketball al-conference team" (Press release). Missouri Valley Conference. March 2, 2021. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  17. ^ "Cameron Krutwig, Loyola-Chicago stun top-seeded Illinois". Reuters. March 21, 2021. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  18. ^ "Defensive-minded Oregon State knocks out Loyola Chicago in Sweet 16". Reuters. March 27, 2021. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  19. ^ Farris, Gene (April 22, 2021). "Loyola's Cameron Krutwig declares for NBA Draft". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  20. ^ "Former Loyola star Cameron Krutwig signs a pro contract with Antwerp in Belgium's EuroMillions League". Chicago Tribune. June 30, 2021. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  21. ^ "Blackwater taps Cameron Krutwig as import for Commissioner's Cup". Spin.ph. August 9, 2022. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
  22. ^ "#15 キャメロン・クラットウィグ選手 契約合意のご報告" (in Japanese). Ibaraki Robots. November 29, 2022. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  23. ^ a b c Stevenson, Joe (June 26, 2024). "Basketball: Jacobs grad Cameron Krutwig helps Spain's Forca Lleida earn promotion for 2025 season". Northwest Herald. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  24. ^ Mayer, Larry (March 24, 2021). "Loyola hoops star Krutwig a diehard Bears fan". Chicago Bears. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  25. ^ Norlander, Matt (February 11, 2021). "Court Report: Cameron Krutwig's harmonica has Loyola Chicago humming along as it tunes up for run at Big Dance". CBS Sports. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
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