Cory Hightower facts for kids

Cory Hightower (born July 30, 1979) is an American professional basketball player. He was chosen by the San Antonio Spurs in the second round of the 2000 NBA draft. This draft is where NBA teams pick new players. Cory played as a shooting guard and small forward during his career.

Early Life and College Basketball

Cory Hightower was born in Flint, Michigan. He went to Flint Northwestern High School and later Mount Zion Christian Academy. After high school, he played college basketball at Indian Hills Community College.

College Achievements

Cory played for two years at Indian Hills Community College. He was a guard and forward for their team. In his first year, he was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the NJCAA Tournament. This award goes to the best player in the national junior college championship. In his second year, he was named a First Team NJCAA All-American. This means he was recognized as one of the top junior college players in the country.

Deciding to Go Pro

After his great college career, Cory had planned to play at Texas Christian University. However, he decided to leave college early. He chose to enter the NBA draft instead. This meant he would try to become a professional player right away.

Professional Basketball Career

Cory Hightower was picked by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2000 NBA draft. He was the 54th player chosen overall. On the same day, his draft rights were traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. This means the Lakers got the chance to sign him instead of the Spurs.

Time with the Lakers

Cory played for the Lakers in the NBA Summer League and during their pre-season games. He played very well, averaging 17 points per game. However, the Lakers were a championship team. They needed to make space for a point guard on their roster. Because of this, Cory was eventually cut from the team.

A Long Career Outside the NBA

Even though Cory Hightower never played a regular season game in the NBA, his professional basketball career lasted for 12 years. He was one of only eight players from the 2000 NBA Draft who never played in the NBA. Cory and Chris Carrawell were the only players the Spurs drafted that year. Neither of them ended up playing in the league.

Playing for Different Teams

Cory played for many different teams throughout his career.

• In the 2000–01 season, he played in the CBA for the Gary Steelheads.
• After that, he joined the famous Harlem Globetrotters. They are known for their amazing basketball tricks and entertainment.
• In 2001, he tried out for the Charlotte Hornets but was released.
• He returned to the CBA in 2002. He played again for the Gary Steelheads and then the Rockford Lightning.
• Over the next few years, Cory continued to play for different CBA teams. These included the Great Lakes Storm, Yakima Sun Kings, and Michigan Mayhem.

Playing Overseas

In 2004, Cory Hightower started playing basketball in other countries. He played for teams like Marinos de Anzoátegui in Venezuela. He also played for the Albany Patroons in the United States Basketball League. His career shows that there are many ways to be a professional basketball player, even if you don't play in the NBA.

See also

In Spanish: Cory Hightower para niños