Andrew Fields facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 10, 1957 Atlantic City, New Jersey |
| Nationality | American |
| High school | Atlantic City (Atlantic City, New Jersey) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Listed weight | 200 lb (91 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Cheyney (1975–1979) |
| NBA Draft | 1979 / Round: 2 / Pick: 40th overall |
| Selected by the Portland Trail Blazers | |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1979–1983 | Toyota Super Corollas |
| As coach: | |
| 2011–2015 | Atlantic Cape CC |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
Andrew S. Fields (born January 10, 1957) is an American former professional basketball player and coach. He was a talented player who helped his college team, Cheyney State, win the 1978 NCAA Division II championship. He was even named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of those playoffs! After college, the Portland Trail Blazers picked him in the 1979 NBA draft. However, he didn't get to play for them because the team decided to sign only one new player that year.
Contents
Andrew Fields's Basketball Journey
Early Life and College Years
Andrew Fields grew up in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He finished high school at Atlantic City High School in 1975. After high school, he went to Cheyney State (now Cheyney University of Pennsylvania).
While playing for the Cheyney Wolves, Andrew became a star. In 1978, he led his team to win the NCAA Division II championship. This is a big deal in college basketball! He played so well that he was named the MVP of the championship playoffs.
Playing Basketball Overseas
Even though he didn't play in the NBA, Andrew Fields had a great professional basketball career overseas. He played in several countries, including Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and Switzerland.
His most famous time playing was in the Philippines for a team called Toyota. The league there is called the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
Star Player in the Philippines
In the Philippines, Andrew Fields was known as one of the best defensive players and rebounders. He averaged 15.5 rebounds per game during his career there. Rebounding means grabbing the ball after a shot is missed.
He was also a great shot-blocker, which means he would stop opponents' shots. Local players and even other foreign players were careful when Andrew was on the court!
Andrew was a key part of Toyota's fast-paced offense. He could block a shot and then quickly pass the ball to a teammate running down the court. He threw these passes like an American football forward pass, helping his team score quickly.
He helped the Toyota team win championships. In 1981, he was part of the team that won the Open Conference championship. They beat their big rivals, the Crispa Redmanizers. In that same year, he won the PBA's Best Import of the Conference Award. This award goes to the best foreign player in the league.
The next year, in 1982, he teamed up with another player, Donnie Ray Koonce. Together, they led Toyota to win another Open Conference title.
Coaching Days
After his playing career, Andrew Fields became a basketball coach. On August 19, 2011, he was named the Head Men's Basketball Coach at Atlantic Cape Community College. This is a college near his hometown.
In his first year as coach, he led the team to a winning record of 16 wins and 15 losses. He also helped them reach the Region XIX Final Four. This was the first time the team had made it that far in 20 years!
Unfortunately, in February 2015, Andrew had to stop coaching. He was in a car accident in January and couldn't return to the team. Marvin Graham took over as coach after him.
