Darren Phillip facts for kids

Darren Douglas Phillip (born March 18, 1978) is an American professional basketball player. He is also known as "Primal Fear" on the streetball courts of New York City. Streetball is a fun, informal type of basketball played outdoors. In 2000, Darren Phillip was the top rebounder in NCAA Division I basketball. The NCAA is a big sports organization for college athletes in the United States.

College Basketball Career

Darren Phillip was born in London, England. He went to high school in Brooklyn, New York. After high school, he played college basketball at Fairfield University in Connecticut.

At Fairfield, he was chosen twice for the First Team All-MAAC. This means he was one of the best players in his college sports conference. In his final year, Phillip led the whole nation in rebounds. He grabbed an average of 14.0 rebounds per game. A rebound is when a player gets the ball after a shot is missed.

He also had 24 "double-doubles" that year. A double-double is when a player gets 10 or more in two different stats, like points and rebounds, in one game. He even set a MAAC record by getting 25 rebounds in one game against Marist College.

As a freshman, Phillip was a starter for the Stags team. His team even led the top-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels at halftime in the 1997 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. This is a huge tournament for college basketball teams. Darren Phillip earned his bachelor's degree in communications from Fairfield University in 2000.

Professional Basketball Career

After college, Darren Phillip was invited to a summer camp with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2000. This was a chance to try out for the NBA team. He was not offered a guaranteed contract, which means a sure spot on the team.

Instead, Phillip decided to sign a two-year contract with CB Málaga. This team is based in Málaga, Andalusia, Spain. They play in Spain's top basketball league.

After playing six years in Spain with three different teams, Phillip joined the Strong Island Sound team in the American Basketball Association in 2006. He led this league with 12.5 rebounds per game. He also had 10 double-doubles in 13 games. In December 2006, Phillip went back to Spain. He played his seventh season there with CAI Zaragoza.

Five years later, in September 2011, he signed with Ford Burgos. He continued to play for various teams around the world, including in Argentina and Chile.

Streetball Achievements

Darren Phillip is well-known as one of the best "big men" in the New York City summer basketball scene. He has won many championships and awards. He played at famous streetball spots like Hoops In the Sun at Orchard Beach in the Bronx. He also played at Nike Pro City and EBC Rucker Park. People in the city know Phillip as "Primal Fear" because of his intense playing style.

Phillip's streetball achievements include:

• Team Championships:
  • 2001 Hoops in the Sun
  • 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2006 EBC Rucker Park
  • 2004, 2005, 2007 Nike Pro City
  • 2006 and 2007 Brooklyn Nike Pro City
  • 2004 and 2005 West 4th Street
  • 2004, 2005, 2006 Original Rucker tournaments
• Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards:
  • 2005 EBC Rucker Park
  • 2007 Nike Brooklyn Pro City
  • 2007 Nike Pro City
  • 2004 and 2005 Original Rucker tournaments

Phillip also appeared in the "EBC at Rucker Park: Season Two" DVD, which came out in 2002.

See also

In Spanish: Darren Phillip para niños

• List of NCAA Division I men's basketball season rebounding leaders