Byron Wilson facts for kids
Wilson playing for Peñarol
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| Guard | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 1, 1971 Gary, Indiana, U.S. |
| Nationality | American / Argentinian |
| High school | Lew Wallace (Gary, Indiana) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Listed weight | 215 lb (98 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Utah (1990–1993) |
| NBA Draft | 1993 / Round: 2 / Pick: 54th overall |
| Selected by the Phoenix Suns | |
| Pro career | 1993–2010 |
| Career history | |
| 1993–1994 | Oklahoma City Cavalry |
| 1994–1995 | Sport Club Cañadense |
| 1995–1996 | Deportivo Roca |
| 1996–1997 | Boca Juniors |
| 1997–1998 | Deportivo Roca |
| 1998 | Vaqueros de Bayamón |
| 1998–1999 | Estudiantes de Bahía Blanca |
| 1999–2000 | Quilmes de Mar del Plata |
| 2000–2001 | Estudiantes de Olavarría |
| 2001–2002 | Lucentum Alicante |
| 2002–2003 | Atenas |
| 2003–2005 | Boca Juniors |
| 2005–2006 | Quilmes de Mar del Plata |
| 2006–2007 | Obras Sanitarias |
| 2007 | Guaiqueríes de Margarita |
| 2007 | Peñarol de Mar del Plata |
| 2007–2008 | Monte Hermoso |
| 2008–2009 | Ciclista Juninense |
| 2009–2010 | Asociación Italiana de Charata |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Byron Neal Wilson, born on September 1, 1971, is a former professional basketball player from the United States. He also has Argentinian citizenship. Byron was a 6-foot-3 guard who played college basketball at the University of Utah for three years. He had to sit out his first year due to a rule called Proposition 48.
In 1993, the Phoenix Suns picked him in the NBA draft. However, he was released before the season started. Byron then began his professional career in the CBA. Later, he moved to Argentina and played basketball there for a long time. He played 570 games in the Liga Nacional de Básquet, scoring 11,149 points. He won four national championships, three Finals MVP awards, and one Liga Sudamericana title. Byron Wilson retired in 2010 after playing professionally for 17 years.
Contents
Early Life and High School Basketball
Byron Wilson grew up in Gary, Indiana. He went to Lew Wallace High School there. In his senior year of high school, he was a great player. He averaged 19 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. He also shot 52% from the field and 80% from the free throw line. Because of his excellent performance, he was chosen for All-City, All-Conference, and All-State teams.
College Basketball Journey
Byron Wilson was a talented player, and two universities, Wisconsin and Utah, wanted him to play for them. He decided to join the University of Utah and signed with them in May 1989. He was one of the first players recruited by the new head coach, Rick Majerus.
However, Byron faced a challenge. The NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) declared him unable to play because of a new rule called Proposition 48. This meant he had to sit out his first year of college basketball.
Starting at Utah
Byron became eligible to play in 1990. He missed the first game of his second year because he was late for practice. But he made his debut for the Utah Utes on November 27, 1990. Coach Majerus gave Byron a starting spot on the team. He was the third-highest scorer, averaging 8.7 points per game in 32 games.
Junior and Senior Seasons
In his junior year, Byron led the team in steals, with 1.3 per game. He was also the second-best scorer, averaging 12.1 points per game. On February 19, 1991, he scored a career-high 25 points against BYU. A memorable moment happened on January 30, 1992, when Byron scored a half-court shot at the last second against UTEP. This shot gave Utah a 57–54 win. He also set a new team record on February 9, 1992, by making all 5 of his three-point shots against San Diego State. He was named WAC Player of the Week on February 10, 1992.
In his senior year, Byron played 31 games. He achieved his best averages in rebounds (5.7), assists (2.8), steals (1.3), and points (12.5) per game. He was the third-highest scorer, second in rebounding, and third in assists for his team. He also shot a career-best 47.4% from the field. He was again named WAC Player of the Week on January 18, 1993. At the end of the year, he was chosen for the first-team All-WAC. Byron finished his college career at Utah with 1,087 points and 449 rebounds.
Professional Basketball Career
After college, Byron Wilson was eligible for the 1993 NBA draft. The Phoenix Suns picked him as the 54th overall player. He played in a summer league with the Suns, but they released him before the 1993–94 NBA season began.
Starting in the CBA
Byron then signed with the Oklahoma City Cavalry in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA). He played 50 games there, averaging 13.1 points per game. He was also chosen for the CBA All-Rookie Second Team.
Success in Argentina
In 1994, Byron moved to Argentina and joined Sport Club Cañadense. He helped the team avoid being moved to a lower league. In 1995, he played for Deportivo Roca. In 1996, he signed with Boca Juniors and won the league title. He was named the LNB Finals MVP (Most Valuable Player). During the 1996–97 finals, he scored an amazing 47 points in one game.
He returned to Deportivo Roca in 1997. He was named the LNB Best Foreign Player for the 1997–98 season, averaging 28.3 points per game. In 1998, he briefly played in Puerto Rico for Vaqueros de Bayamón.
Championships and Awards
In 1999, Byron went back to Argentina and joined Quilmes de Mar del Plata. He helped them win the Campeonato Panamericano de Clubes de Básquetbol. In 2000, he played for Estudiantes de Olavarría. This was one of his most successful seasons. He won another league title, another Finals MVP award, and the 2001 Liga Sudamericana de Básquetbol. He averaged 20.8 points in 49 games with Estudiantes.
In 2001, Byron played in Spain for CB Lucentum Alicante. He played 30 games there, averaging 13.8 points. In 2002, he returned to Argentina and signed with Atenas, where he won his third league title.
From 2003 to 2005, he played two more seasons with Boca Juniors. He won the 2004 LNB championship and was again named Finals MVP. He scored a total of 2,873 points during his time with Boca Juniors. He also played for Quilmes again in 2005–06 and for Obras Sanitarias in 2006–07.
In 2007, he had a short time playing in Venezuela for Guaiqueríes de Margarita. Then he moved to Peñarol. In 2008, while playing for Monte Hermoso, he became the first foreign player to score over 11,000 points in the history of the LNB.
He played for Ciclista Juninense in the 2008–09 season. Byron Wilson retired after the 2009–10 season, which he played for Asociación Italiana de Charata. He scored a total of 11,149 points in 570 games in the Liga Nacional de Básquet.
See also
In Spanish: Byron Wilson para niños
