Rashard Griffith facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 8, 1974 Chicago, Illinois |
| Nationality | American |
| High school | King (Chicago, Illinois) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
| Listed weight | 280 lb (127 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Wisconsin (1993–1995) |
| NBA Draft | 1995 / Round: 2 / Pick: 38th overall |
| Selected by the Milwaukee Bucks | |
| Pro career | 1995–2010 |
| Career history | |
| 1995–1997 | Tofaş |
| 1997–1998 | Maccabi Tel Aviv |
| 1998–2000 | Tofaş |
| 2000–2002 | Kinder Bologna |
| 2002–2003 | Tau Cerámica |
| 2003–2004 | Lottomatica Roma |
| 2004–2005 | Tenerife |
| 2005 | Capitanes de Arecibo |
| 2005–2006 | Aguas de Calpe |
| 2007 | Pınar Karşıyaka |
| 2007–2010 | CSU Asesoft Ploiesti |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
Rashard Nathan Griffith, born on October 8, 1974, is a former professional basketball player from the United States. He played as a center and was known for his height and skills on the court.
Contents
Early Basketball Journey
Rashard Griffith grew up in Chicago, Illinois. He became a basketball star at King High School. The team was famous for its "twin towers" lineup. This included the 7'2" Thomas Hamilton and the 7'0" Griffith. King High School won a state championship in 1993. Rashard was named Illinois Mr. Basketball that year. He was considered one of the best high school centers in the country.
College Days at Wisconsin
After high school, Rashard joined the Wisconsin Badgers college basketball team. He chose Wisconsin over many other top schools. His first college game was on November 27, 1993. He scored 27 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.
Rashard helped the Badgers reach the NCAA Tournament. This was their first time in 47 years. As a freshman, he averaged 13.9 points and 8.5 rebounds. He thought about leaving school but decided to stay. In his second year, he was named First Team All-Big Ten. He averaged 17.2 points and 10.8 rebounds. In just two seasons, Rashard set a new record for most blocks at Wisconsin.
After his second year, Rashard decided to become a professional player. He was picked in the 1995 NBA draft.
Professional Basketball Career
The Milwaukee Bucks chose Rashard Griffith as the 38th player in the 1995 NBA draft. Even though he trained with them, he never signed a contract to play in the NBA.
Playing in Europe
Instead of the NBA, Rashard chose to play in Europe. He signed with Tofaş Bursa in Turkey. He helped his team reach the 1997 FIBA Korać Cup final. Tofaş won the Turkish Basketball League title two years in a row, in 1999 and 2000.
After playing in Turkey and Israel for five years, Rashard moved to Italy. He joined Kinder Bologna. There, he became one of the best players in the Euroleague 2000-01 season. He played alongside famous players like Manu Ginóbili. Kinder Bologna won the Triple Crown that same year. This means they won three major championships.
Later Teams and Retirement
After his success in Europe, the Orlando Magic got Rashard's draft rights. They hoped he would join their team, but he never played in the NBA.
Rashard played for many other teams around the world. These included Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel, where he won the Israeli Basketball Premier League in 1998. He also played in Spain for Tau Cerámica, Tenerife, and Calpe. In Italy, he played for Lottomatica Roma. He also played in Puerto Rico for Capitanes de Arecibo, winning the Puerto Rican League in 2005.
His last team was CSU Asesoft Ploiesti in Romania. Rashard Griffith retired from basketball in 2010.
Life After Basketball
In 2017, Rashard Griffith went back to the University of Wisconsin. He continued his studies and lived with a former teammate. He also became a mentor for the men's basketball team. In May 2020, he earned his degree in community and non-profit leadership.
In 2022, Rashard Griffith became the head coach for the girls' basketball team. He coaches at Middleton High School in Middleton, Wisconsin.
See also
In Spanish: Rashard Griffith para niños
