Bernard Hopkins (basketball)
Encyclopedia
Bernard Anthony Hopkins White (born January 13, 1973), commonly known as Bernard Hopkins, is an American
expatriate professional basketball player who became a naturalized citizen of Spain
during his time playing in that country. Hopkins is a 6'6", 235-pound power forward
who plays for Obradoiro CAB
as of the 2010–11 season. He played college ball at Hagerstown Community College
for two seasons before transferring to Virginia Commonwealth University
(VCU) for his final two. As a senior
in 1995–96, Hopkins was named the 1996 CAA Men's Basketball Tournament
MVP as well as the Colonial Athletic Association Men's Basketball Player of the Year
.
at its community college
. He then transferred to VCU to play for the Rams, and in just two years became a highly decorated player in the school's history. During his junior
season, Hopkins shot 58.5% from the field and finished with the 25th best shooting percentage in the country. He then broke out during his senior year when he scored 538 points, grabbed 333 rebounds (third highest ever at VCU), compiled 19 double-doubles and guided the Rams to both the conference regular season and tournament championships. In the first round of the 1996 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
, which the Rams would lose to Mississippi State by seven, Hopkins was named the CBS Chevrolet Player of the Game. Also as a senior, he became the CAA's first player to record 500+ points, 300+ rebounds, 70+ assists and shoot better than 50% from the field in a single season. He was named the CAA Tournament MVP as well as the CAA Player of the Year. For his career, Hopkins scored 950 career points.
following his senior season, the only postseason camp conducted for just the top NCAA seniors. It is a chance to impress National Basketball Association
(NBA) scouts to possibly get drafted in that respective year's NBA Draft
. Hopkins was named the MVP of the tournament yet failed to get drafted a month later. Instead, the Continental Basketball Association
's Yakima Sun Kings selected him third overall in their draft. He played for the Sun Kings for one season where he was named the Rookie of the Year and got selected to the all-rookie and all-league teams.
Since 1998–99 he has played for various teams, all in Spain, and became a naturalized citizen of that country. His career highlights include being named a Liga ACB All-Star in 1999 and 2001, a five-time Player of the Month and a 24-time Player of the Week.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
expatriate professional basketball player who became a naturalized citizen of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
during his time playing in that country. Hopkins is a 6'6", 235-pound power forward
Power forward (basketball)
Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...
who plays for Obradoiro CAB
Obradoiro CAB
Obradoiro Clube de Amigos do Baloncesto , also known as Blu:sens Monbús by sponsorship reasons, is a professional basketball team based in Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, that is part of the ACB League...
as of the 2010–11 season. He played college ball at Hagerstown Community College
Hagerstown Community College
Hagerstown Community College is a two-year public academic institution founded in 1946. The campus is located off Robinwood Drive just outside Hagerstown, Maryland in suburban Robinwood....
for two seasons before transferring to Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University is a public university located in Richmond, Virginia. It comprises two campuses in the Downtown Richmond area, the product of a merger between the Richmond Professional Institute and the Medical College of Virginia in 1968...
(VCU) for his final two. As a senior
Senior (education)
Senior is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the 4th year of study .-High school:...
in 1995–96, Hopkins was named the 1996 CAA Men's Basketball Tournament
1996 CAA Men's Basketball Tournament
The 1996 CAA Men's Basketball Tournament was held from March 1–4, 1996 at the Richmond Coliseum in Richmond, Virginia. The winner of the tournament was VCU, who received an automatic bid to the 1996 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament.-Bracket:...
MVP as well as the Colonial Athletic Association Men's Basketball Player of the Year
Colonial Athletic Association Men's Basketball Player of the Year
The Colonial Athletic Association Men's Basketball Player of the Year is a basketball award given to the Colonial Athletic Association's most outstanding player. The award was first given following the 1982–83 season, when the conference was known as the ECAC South basketball league...
.
College
Hopkins, a native of Baltimore, Maryland, was a standout basketball player in high school and graduated in 1992. He spent his first two seasons playing approximately one hour away in nearby HagerstownHagerstown, Maryland
Hagerstown is a city in northwestern Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Washington County, and, by many definitions, the largest city in a region known as Western Maryland. The population of Hagerstown city proper at the 2010 census was 39,662, and the population of the...
at its community college
Community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
. He then transferred to VCU to play for the Rams, and in just two years became a highly decorated player in the school's history. During his junior
Junior (education)
"Junior" is a term used in the United States to describe a student in their 3rd year of study . A Junior is considered an upperclassman...
season, Hopkins shot 58.5% from the field and finished with the 25th best shooting percentage in the country. He then broke out during his senior year when he scored 538 points, grabbed 333 rebounds (third highest ever at VCU), compiled 19 double-doubles and guided the Rams to both the conference regular season and tournament championships. In the first round of the 1996 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
1996 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1996 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 14, 1996, and ended with the championship game on April 1 at Continental Airlines Arena in...
, which the Rams would lose to Mississippi State by seven, Hopkins was named the CBS Chevrolet Player of the Game. Also as a senior, he became the CAA's first player to record 500+ points, 300+ rebounds, 70+ assists and shoot better than 50% from the field in a single season. He was named the CAA Tournament MVP as well as the CAA Player of the Year. For his career, Hopkins scored 950 career points.
Professional
Hopkins was invited to the Portsmouth Invitational TournamentPortsmouth Invitational Tournament
The Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, or "PIT", is the United States' oldest amateur basketball tournament and the only postseason camp conducted for the top NCAA seniors only....
following his senior season, the only postseason camp conducted for just the top NCAA seniors. It is a chance to impress National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
(NBA) scouts to possibly get drafted in that respective year's NBA Draft
NBA Draft
The NBA Draft is an annual event in which the thirty teams from the National Basketball Association can draft players who are eligible and wish to join the league. These players are usually amateur U.S. college basketball players, but international players are also eligible to be drafted...
. Hopkins was named the MVP of the tournament yet failed to get drafted a month later. Instead, the Continental Basketball Association
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
's Yakima Sun Kings selected him third overall in their draft. He played for the Sun Kings for one season where he was named the Rookie of the Year and got selected to the all-rookie and all-league teams.
Since 1998–99 he has played for various teams, all in Spain, and became a naturalized citizen of that country. His career highlights include being named a Liga ACB All-Star in 1999 and 2001, a five-time Player of the Month and a 24-time Player of the Week.
External links
- Liga ACB profile