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Greg Wiltjer

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Gregory Hilko Wiltjer (born November 26, 1960) is a Canadian former professional basketball player, Olympian, NJCAA All-American and CIAU All-Canadian. He was drafted 43rd overall in the 1984 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] He spent 12 seasons playing professionally in Europe where he won the FIBA European Cup Winners' Cup with FC Barcelona (1985–86); and two Greek League Championships and two Greek Cups (1988, 1989) with Aris Thessaloniki.[1][2][7]

Greg Wiltjer
Personal information
Born (1960-11-26) November 26, 1960 (age 63)
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
Listed height6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Listed weight245 lb (111 kg)
Career information
High schoolParkland (Sidney, British Columbia)
College
NBA draft1984: 2nd round, 43rd overall pick
Selected by the Chicago Bulls
Playing career1984–1997
PositionCentre
Number14
Career history
1984–1985Basket Brescia (Italy)
1985–1986FC Barcelona (Spain)
1986–1987Cajamadrid (Spain)
1987–1989Aris Thessaloniki (Greece)
1989–1992Omaha Racers (CBA)
1992-1993Peñas Huesca (Spain)
1992-1993Oklahoma City Calvary (CBA)
1993-1994Atlético Echagüe (Argentina)
1993-1994Quad City Thunder
1994–1995Tours Joué Basket (France)
1996-1997Guialmi Estrelas (Portugal)
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Medals
Representing  Canada
Men's Basketball
Universiade
Gold medal – first place 1983 Edmonton
Bronze medal – third place 1985 Kobe

He played for the Canada men's national basketball team in multiple international tournaments, including the 1984 Olympics where Wiltjer finished 2nd overall in rebounding[1][2][7] and Canada finished 4th overall in the tournament;[7][8] in the 1983 World Student Games where Canada won gold;[7][8] in the 1985 World Student Games where Canada won bronze;[7] and in three FIBA World Championships.[1][2][7][9]

He was named a NJCAA All-American while playing for North Idaho College[3] and a CIAU All-Canadian while playing for the University of Victoria.[4][10]

Professional career

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Wiltjer was selected in the second round (43rd overall) in the 1983 NBA Draft.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] He later played 12 seasons professionally in Europe.[2][3][6] While playing for the Spanish Club FC Barcelona in the 1985–86 season, he won the FIBA European Cup Winners’ Cup.[1][2][3][7] While playing for the Greek Club Aris Thessaloniki, he won two Greek League championships and two Greek Cups in 1988 and 1989.[1][2][3][7] In the 1993–94 season, Wiltjer played for the CBA team Quad City Thunder,[4] who won the CBA championship that year.[11]

International career

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Wiltjer represented Canada in many international tournaments, including the 1984 Olympics.[1][2][7][9] Wiltjer played well in these '84 Olympics, finishing second overall among all Olympians in rebounding that year.[1][2][9] These 1984 Olympics were notable because Canada finished 4th overall, narrowly missing a medal.[8][12][13] This 1984 bronze-medal game constituted the only time in 80+ years where Canada had a legitimate chance of winning an Olympic medal in basketball.[8] This bronze medal game was highly competitive, being tied 18 times with 12 lead changes, with Canada being within one point with less than a minute of play remaining.[8] Wiltjer "had a phenomenal game" in this important moment in Canadian basketball history, scoring 12 points and grabbing 8 rebounds.[8]

Wiltjer represented Canada in the 1983 and 1985 World Student Games.[7] In the 1983 World Student Games, Canada won the gold medal.[7][13][14][15] This constituted one of the finest moments in Canadian basketball history, being the only time in which Canada has won the gold medal in an international basketball tournament.[16] In the semifinals of this tournament, Canada defeated a talented US team led by future NBA legends Charles Barkley and Karl Malone.[13][14][15] In the 1985 World Student Games, Canada won the bronze medal.[2][7][13]

Wiltjer also represented Canada in three FIBA World Championships (1982, 1986, 1994)[1][2][7][9] where notably, Canada finished 6th in 1982.[12][17]

High school / college / university

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Wiltjer attended Parkland Secondary School for high school, where in 1979, he led the team to Island championship and the semifinals of the BC high school championship.[7]

Witljer then played two seasons for Northern Idaho College (1979 - 1981).[4][5][6] Prior to 2009, he was NIC's only first-team NJCAA basketball All-American.[3] He led NIC to the most wins in school history in 1980 and a 10th place national finish.[3] He still ranks fourth in NIC career rebounding and field goal percentage.[3]

The next season Wiltjer transferred to Oregon State University,[1][5][6][7] with the Beavers reaching the NCAA Elite Eight that season.[3]

Wiltjer then transferred to the University of Victoria and after a mandatory year of non-play due to the transfer, he helped UVic win their fifth consecutive national championship in the 1983–84 season.[1][2][3][7] During this season, he was named a First Team All-Canadian, the CIAU Championship MVP and Canada West First Team All-Star.[4][10] He averaged over 20 points and 11 rebounds per game[4] and helped UVic go undefeated that season.[7]

Post career

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Wiltjer was inducted into the Canada Basketball Hall of Fame (2023),[1] the Basketball BC Hall of Fame (2009)[2] and the Northern Idaho College Sports Hall of Fame (2009).[3]

Personal

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Wiltjer was born on November 26, 1960, in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada.[5] Wiltjer's son, Kyle Wiltjer, played basketball for Kentucky,[4] Gonzaga,[4] the Houston Rockets[18] and as of 2023, plays professionally in Italy.[19] Greg Wilter's daughter, Jordan Adams played basketball for New Mexico and the Minnesota Lynx.[4]

Sources

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "CANADIAN BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2023 ANNOUNCED". Canada Basketball. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES". Basketball BC Hall of Fame. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Athletics Hall of Fame". North Idaho Athletics. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Greg Wiltjer". U Sports Hoops. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Greg Wiltjer". The Draft Review. 4 June 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Greg Wiltjer". Archived from the original on 2017-11-07. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Dheensaw, Cleve (21 June 2023). "Former Parkland, UVic star and Olympian Wiltjer to be inducted into Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame". Times Colonist. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "Reflecting on when Karl Tilleman, Eli Pasquale, and Their Fellow Canadian University Teammates Took a Shot at Ruling the Basketball World". Somers Point News. 24 April 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  9. ^ a b c d "Gregory Hilko WILTJER". FIBA Archive. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  10. ^ a b "1983-84 Men's Basketball National Championship". University of Victoria Athletics. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  11. ^ "1993-94 Continental Basketball Association Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  12. ^ a b "Eli Pasquale — Athlete Induction Class of 2003" (PDF). Canada Basketball Hall of Fame. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  13. ^ a b c d "Eli Pasquale". BC Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  14. ^ a b "Eli Pasquale (MBB | Student-athlete)". Canada West Hall of Fame. 12 January 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  15. ^ a b "ELI PASQUALE". UVic Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  16. ^ "Canada wins gold medal in basketball". Ellensburg Daily Record. 12 June 1983. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  17. ^ "All Inductees". Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  18. ^ "Kyle Wiltjer 2016-17 Game Log". Basketball Reference. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  19. ^ "Reyer completes signing of Kyle Wiltjer". Euro League Basketball. 21 September 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
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