Melvin Booker facts for kids
| Point guard | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 20, 1972 Pascagoula, Mississippi, U.S. |
| High school | Moss Point (Moss Point, Mississippi) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Listed weight | 185 lb (84 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Missouri (1990–1994) |
| NBA Draft | 1994 / Undrafted |
| Pro career | 1994–2008 |
| Career history | |
| 1994–1995 | Hartford Hellcats |
| 1995 | Pittsburgh Piranhas |
| 1995–1996 | Grand Rapids Mackers |
| 1996 | Houston Rockets |
| 1996 | Denver Nuggets |
| 1996–1997 | Grand Rapids Hoops |
| 1997 | Golden State Warriors |
| 1998–1999 | Sony Milano |
| 1999–2002 | Scavolini Pesaro |
| 2002–2004 | Ülkerspor |
| 2006–2007 | Khimki |
| 2007–2008 | Olimpia Milano |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 166 (5.2 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 38 (1.2 rpg) |
| Assists | 74 (2.3 apg) |
Melvin Booker (born August 20, 1972) is a former professional basketball player from the United States. He played as a point guard, standing 6 feet 2 inches tall. Melvin Booker played college basketball for the University of Missouri.
Contents
Melvin Booker's Early Basketball Days
Melvin Booker was a fantastic high school basketball player in Moss Point, Mississippi. In his final year, he scored an average of 28 points per game. He was even named the best player in his class.
Despite his talent, bigger colleges in the area did not recruit him. However, coaches from the University of Missouri noticed him. They were scouting other players when they saw Melvin play. This led to him signing with Missouri.
College Success at Missouri
Melvin Booker became a star player at the University of Missouri. In 1994, he was named the Big Eight Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year. That year, he helped his team achieve a perfect 14–0 record in their conference. They also reached the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament.
He was chosen for the All-Big Eight team in both 1993 and 1994. As a senior in 1994, he was named a first-team All-American. He averaged 18.1 points and 4.5 assists per game that season. In 1999, Melvin Booker was honored by being added to the University of Missouri's Hall of Fame for athletes.
Melvin Booker's Professional Career
Even with all his success in college, Melvin Booker was not chosen in the 1994 NBA draft. However, he still went on to play professional basketball.
He played in the NBA for a short time. He played for the Houston Rockets during the 1995–96 season. He also played for the Denver Nuggets and Golden State Warriors in the 1996–97 season. In total, he played 32 games in the NBA.
After his time in the NBA, Booker played for many teams overseas. He played in Europe and Asia until he retired in 2008.
Melvin Booker's Family Life
While playing for the Grand Rapids Mackers in 1995, Melvin Booker met Veronica Gutiérrez. They had a son named Devin Booker, who was born on October 30, 1996. While Melvin played basketball professionally in other countries, Veronica took care of Devin.
Inspiring a Future Star
During the summers, Melvin would bring his son Devin to his games. This helped Devin become very interested in basketball. After Melvin Booker stopped playing professionally in 2008, he moved back to his hometown of Moss Point, Mississippi. He brought Devin with him to help train him to become a great basketball player.
In 2011, Melvin Booker became an assistant basketball coach at his old high school, Moss Point High School. His son, Devin Booker, later played for the University of Kentucky Wildcats basketball team. Devin was then drafted by the Phoenix Suns and plays for them today.
See also
In Spanish: Melvin Booker para niños
