Darrin Hancock facts for kids

Darrin Hancock (born November 3, 1971) is a retired American professional basketball player. He was known for his strong offense and quick moves. People even compared him to famous players like Dominique Wilkins. Darrin was a top high school basketball player in the late 1980s. He played for Griffin High School in Griffin, Georgia.

He spent his first two college years at Garden City Community College. There, he was considered one of the best junior college players. Later, he transferred to the University of Kansas. He was the starting small forward for the Kansas Jayhawks team that reached the Final Four in 1993. After his junior year, Darrin left college to play basketball professionally. He found success in semi-pro leagues in the United States after playing briefly in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Many consider him one of the best high school basketball players ever from Georgia.

Darrin's Early Life and Start in Basketball

Darrin Hancock was born in Birmingham, Alabama. When he was in sixth grade, he moved to Griffin, Georgia. This is a small town south of Atlanta. Sadly, his father passed away in 1978 from a heart attack. After that, his mother raised him.

As a child, Darrin was quiet. He only started playing basketball in eighth grade. He often said that James Martin, his high school coach, was a very positive influence. Coach Martin was his mentor and even became his legal guardian.

High School Basketball Star

Darrin went to Griffin High School. He was very tall, about 6 feet 6 inches, and very athletic. This helped him become the starting center on his school's varsity team as a freshman. He quickly became the team's star player. He was seen as one of the best freshman high school players in Georgia during the 1986–87 season.

He led the Griffin Bears in points and rebounds. His team had a great record of 25 wins and 2 losses. They also won the state's Region 6-AAAA championship.

Continued Success in High School

The Griffin Bears kept doing well with Darrin. In the 1987–88 season, they were ranked number one. They had a 28–1 record and won their second Region 6-AAAA title. Darrin averaged 17 points per game. He was the first sophomore to be named The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's state Player of the Year. He was also rated the number one sophomore basketball player in the nation.

In the 1988–89 season, Griffin High School moved to a new basketball class. The team found it harder to adjust. However, Darrin continued to shine. He was named to the 1988–89 Parade Magazine All-American First Team. He was also considered one of the nation's top five high school players.

Senior Year Highlights

During his senior year (1989–90), Darrin and the Bears improved. They became the number one team in their new class. They finished with an impressive 26–4 record. Darrin, who also started playing as a forward, had his best high school game that season. He scored 50 points and made a game-winning three-pointer. This happened in a double-overtime game against Vanguard High School. He averaged 30 points and nine rebounds per game that season.

Many college basketball programs wanted Darrin. He planned to go to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). However, he couldn't get an NCAA Division I scholarship because of his grades. So, Darrin decided to go to Garden City Community College in Kansas instead. This would allow him to transfer to another university later.

College Basketball Journey

Playing at Garden City College

Darrin moved to Kansas in 1990 to start at Garden City Community College. He became the star swingman for their basketball team. In his freshman year, he averaged 17.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 2.7 steals. He earned his third straight Parade Magazine All-American award. He was also named to the JUCO All-American Third Team.

In his sophomore year, Darrin played even better. He averaged 21.8 points and 11.7 rebounds per game. He had an amazing game where he scored 37 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, and made 10 assists. Many people, including the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), thought Darrin was the best junior college player in the nation. He was named the 1991–92 NJCCA Player of the Year. The University of Kansas noticed him and offered him a scholarship.

Time with the Kansas Jayhawks

Darrin transferred to the University of Kansas and became the starting small forward. His coach, Roy Williams, said Darrin was "one of the best athletes in the nation." Many experts thought Kansas would be a top team with Darrin. The Jayhawks did well, winning the 1993 Big Eight Regular Season Championship. They reached the Final Four in the 1993 NCAA tournament. Even though they lost to North Carolina, the team had a great season.

Darrin averaged 7.5 points per game. He left the university in July 1993. He missed summer classes due to personal issues, which made him unable to play. He briefly transferred to Indiana State University but decided to pursue a professional career in Europe instead.

Professional Basketball Career

Starting with the Charlotte Hornets

Darrin played his first professional season in France for the Maurienne basketball club. He averaged 17.3 points and 5.4 rebounds. In 1994, the Charlotte Hornets picked Darrin in the NBA draft. He was the 38th overall pick. The Hornets were impressed by his athleticism.

Darrin joined a team with many experienced players like Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning. He didn't play much at first. However, in April 1995, he got more playing time when other players were injured. He scored a career-high 15 points against the Philadelphia 76ers. The Hornets had their best season ever (50–32) and made it to the NBA playoffs. Darrin played a little in the playoffs.

In his second season (1995–96), Darrin started some games. He scored a new career high of 16 points against the Utah Jazz. He played more after other players got injured. He finished the season averaging 4.3 points per game. The Hornets did not make the playoffs that year. After his two-year contract ended, the Hornets did not re-sign him.

Moving Between NBA Teams

On October 3, 1996, the Milwaukee Bucks signed Darrin. He played in nine games for them before being traded to the Phoenix Suns. He was then waived by the Suns due to bruised knees.

Darrin soon got another chance with the Atlanta Hawks in January 1997. He was living in Atlanta at the time. He played only 10 minutes in two games for the Hawks before being released.

He then played for the Omaha Racers in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA). Later, he signed a 10-day contract with the San Antonio Spurs. He played only eight minutes for the Spurs. He returned to the Atlanta Hawks in March and finished the season with them.

NBA Career Statistics

Regular Season Games

Playoff Games

Personal Life

Darrin Hancock is married to Kathleen Hancock. They met when Darrin was at Garden City Community College. They got married in 2011. Darrin is also the father of Darrin "Buck" Hancock Jr. Buck Jr. played college football as a running back at Garden City Community College. He also played at Griffin High School.

Awards and Achievements

• The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Boys' Class AAAA All-State First Team (1987–88)
• The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Player of the Year (1988)
• 1988 Mr. Georgia Basketball
• 2× Parade Magazine All-American First Team (1988–89, 1989–90)
• Dapper Dan Roundball Classic (1990)
• McDonald's All-American Team (1990)
• U.S. Olympic Festival: Men's Basketball South Team (1990)
• Parade Magazine All-American Second Team (1990–91)
• JUCO All-American Third Team (1990–91)
• National Junior College Athletic Association All-American Team (1991–92)
• 1991–92 National Junior College Athletic Association Player of the Year
• 2× All-USBL Team (2000, 2003)
• 2003 USBL Post Season MVP

See also

In Spanish: Darrin Hancock para niños