Dennis Hopson
Encyclopedia
Dennis Hopson is a retired American professional
basketball
player and currently an assistant coach at Bowling Green State University
. A prolific scorer while playing at Ohio State University
, Hopson's stellar shooting skills placed him in second for the NCAA Men's Basketball
Division I scoring title during the 1986–87 season and eventually in first on Ohio State's all-time men's basketball career points record. The All-American and 1987 Big Ten Conference
Player of the Year was selected as the third overall pick in the 1987 NBA Draft
by the New Jersey Nets
, playing a total of five seasons in the league. Hopson spent the majority of the 1990s playing basketball overseas before retiring at the close of the decade.
and small forward
, Dennis Hopson was a standout at Toledo's Bowsher High School
before enrolling at Ohio State University. He began his collegiate basketball career with the Ohio State Buckeyes
on a quiet note, averaging 5.3 points per game
as a freshman and 9.8 points
per game during his sophomore campaign. Hopson began to blossom during his junior year when he more than doubled his scoring average to 20.9 points per game. The star Buckeye swingman entered a new phase in his game when the school installed Gary Williams
as their new head coach in 1986. Williams implemented a quicker offensive tempo that complimented Hopson's preference for a running game, which subsequently allowed Hopson to further increase his production on offense. Hopson's gifted jump shot and extraordinary scoring abilities placed him as the second leading scorer in Division I during the 1986–87 season and earned him the 1987 Big Ten Player of the Year award. He was also considered an all-around athlete as a senior: His point guard
-like passing touch helped him record 3.6 assists
per game (second best on the team) and despite his size Hopson nonetheless lead the Buckeyes in rebounds
, averaging 8.2 rebounds per game during his final season. He completed his tenure at Ohio State with All-American honors and became the school's all-time leader in points and steals
(Jay Burson
would later break the school's steals record in 1989).
Draft by the New Jersey Nets. New Jersey's performance wilted earlier in the season when its formerly solid backcourt became plagued with injuries and contract disputes. Looking to re-establish a stable backcourt for the upcoming 1987–88 season, the Nets selected Dennis Hopson along with five other guards in the 1987 draft. Hopson was unable to live up to the organization's expectations after three seasons in New Jersey, even though he led the team in points in 1989–90. He also played briefly for the Chicago Bulls
and the Sacramento Kings
, winning a championship with the Bulls in 1990–91
. His last NBA game was in the 1991–92 season
.
before heading north to France
two years later. Hopson went from crossing countries to crossing continents when he joined the Philippine Basketball Association
in 1996, though his stay in the league was cut short by an injury. He resurfaced later in the year with the Turkish Basketball League's
Galatasaray
club roster for the 1996–97 season and departed mid-season to sign with the Hapoel Eilat
basketball club of the Israeli Basketball Super League. The following season Hopson reunited with former college teammate Brad Sellers
as members of Israel's Maccabi Rishon Lezion
basketball club. Hopson played well with LeZion that season and was considered one of the league's top players. The seasoned globetrotter was called up to briefly play for the Venezuelan Professional Basketball League's
Gaiteros del Zulia club in 1999 and retired a year later, playing out the remainder of his professional career for Maccabi Giv'at Shmuel
and Maccabi Kiryat Motzkin back in Israel
.
. However it wasn't long before Hopson returned to the game, assuming the duties as head coach of the ABA's Toledo Royal Knights until the team folded in December 2006. Several years later he resettled in Florida to accept an assistant coaching position at Northwood University
in West Palm Beach, Florida
, where he served under head coach Rollie Massimino
. In September 2009, he became an assistant basketball coach at Bowling Green State University
.
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player and currently an assistant coach at Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University, often referred to as Bowling Green or BGSU, is a public, coeducational research university located in Bowling Green, Ohio, United States. The institution was granted a charter in 1910 by the State of Ohio as part of the Lowry Bill, which also established Kent State...
. A prolific scorer while playing at Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
, Hopson's stellar shooting skills placed him in second for the NCAA Men's Basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
Division I scoring title during the 1986–87 season and eventually in first on Ohio State's all-time men's basketball career points record. The All-American and 1987 Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
Player of the Year was selected as the third overall pick in the 1987 NBA Draft
1987 NBA Draft
The 1987 Draft of the National Basketball Association was held on June 22, 1987 in New York City, New York.This draft is notable for the selection of two future members of the NBA 50 Greatest Players list, David Robinson and Scottie Pippen. Other notable selections include Reggie Miller, Kevin...
by the New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, playing a total of five seasons in the league. Hopson spent the majority of the 1990s playing basketball overseas before retiring at the close of the decade.
College career
A six-foot five-inch (1.96 m) shooting guardShooting guard
The shooting guard , also known as the two or off guard, is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards. A shooting guard's main objective is to score points for his team...
and small forward
Small forward
The small forward, or colloquially known as three, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. Small forwards are typically somewhat shorter, quicker, and leaner than power forwards and centers, but on occasion are just as tall...
, Dennis Hopson was a standout at Toledo's Bowsher High School
Bowsher High School (Toledo, Ohio)
E.L. Bowsher High School was constructed at the intersection of Glanzman and Detroit in Toledo, Ohio. It is part of the Toledo Public Schools.-Background:...
before enrolling at Ohio State University. He began his collegiate basketball career with the Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball
The Lucas Sapp men's basketball team represents The Ohio State University in NCAA Division I college basketball competition. The Buckeyes are a member of the Big Ten Conference. The Buckeyes won their only National Championship in 1960 and have made a total of 21 NCAA Tournament appearances...
on a quiet note, averaging 5.3 points per game
Points per game
Points per game, often abbreviated PPG, is the average number of points scored by a player per game played in a sport, over the course of a series of games, a whole season, or a career. It is calculated by dividing the total number of points by number of games. The terminology is often used in...
as a freshman and 9.8 points
Point (basketball)
Points in basketball are used to keep track of the score in a game. Points can be accumulated by making field goals or free throws ....
per game during his sophomore campaign. Hopson began to blossom during his junior year when he more than doubled his scoring average to 20.9 points per game. The star Buckeye swingman entered a new phase in his game when the school installed Gary Williams
Gary Williams
Gary B. Williams is an American university administrator and former college basketball coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Maryland, Ohio State University, Boston College, and American University. In 2002, he led Maryland to the NCAA Tournament Championship...
as their new head coach in 1986. Williams implemented a quicker offensive tempo that complimented Hopson's preference for a running game, which subsequently allowed Hopson to further increase his production on offense. Hopson's gifted jump shot and extraordinary scoring abilities placed him as the second leading scorer in Division I during the 1986–87 season and earned him the 1987 Big Ten Player of the Year award. He was also considered an all-around athlete as a senior: His point guard
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
-like passing touch helped him record 3.6 assists
Assist (basketball)
In basketball, an assist is attributed to a player who passes the ball to a teammate in a way that leads to a score by field goal, meaning that he or she was "assisting" in the basket. There is some judgment involved in deciding whether a passer should be credited with an assist...
per game (second best on the team) and despite his size Hopson nonetheless lead the Buckeyes in rebounds
Rebound (basketball)
A rebound in basketball is the act of successfully gaining possession of the basketball after a missed field goal or free throw. Rebounds in basketball are a routine part in the game, as all possessions change after a shot is successfully made...
, averaging 8.2 rebounds per game during his final season. He completed his tenure at Ohio State with All-American honors and became the school's all-time leader in points and steals
Steal (basketball)
In basketball, a steal occurs when a defensive player legally causes a turnover by his positive, aggressive action. This can be done by deflecting and controlling, catching, or batting to a teammate a pass or dribble of an offensive player...
(Jay Burson
Jay Burson
Jay Burson was a college basketball player at The Ohio State University and former player in the Continental Basketball Association.-High School:Jay Burson attended John Glenn High School in New Concord, Ohio from 1981-85...
would later break the school's steals record in 1989).
NBA career
Hopson was made the third overall selection in the 1987 NBANational 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...
Draft by the New Jersey Nets. New Jersey's performance wilted earlier in the season when its formerly solid backcourt became plagued with injuries and contract disputes. Looking to re-establish a stable backcourt for the upcoming 1987–88 season, the Nets selected Dennis Hopson along with five other guards in the 1987 draft. Hopson was unable to live up to the organization's expectations after three seasons in New Jersey, even though he led the team in points in 1989–90. He also played briefly for the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
and the Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
, winning a championship with the Bulls in 1990–91
1990-91 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls*Rookie of the Year: Derrick Coleman, New Jersey Nets*Defensive Player of the Year: Dennis Rodman, Detroit Pistons...
. His last NBA game was in the 1991–92 season
1991-92 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls*Rookie of the Year: Larry Johnson, Charlotte Hornets*Defensive Player of the Year: David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs...
.
Overseas career
Hopson ventured overseas after departing from the NBA in 1992, stopping first in the Spanish League of BasketballLiga Española de Baloncesto
Liga Española de Baloncesto is the second league of the Spanish basketball league system behind the ACB. It is run by the FEB. The Liga Española de Baloncesto is divided into two categories and they are sponsored by Adecco. The names of the two leagues are Adecco Oro and Adecco Plata.The LEB league...
before heading north to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
two years later. Hopson went from crossing countries to crossing continents when he joined the Philippine Basketball Association
Philippine Basketball Association
The Philippine Basketball Association , is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines composed of 10 company-branded franchised teams. It is the first and oldest professional basketball league in Asia and the second oldest in the world after the NBA...
in 1996, though his stay in the league was cut short by an injury. He resurfaced later in the year with the Turkish Basketball League's
Turkish Basketball League
The Turkish Basketball League is the top men’s professional basketball league in Turkey, which is also called Turkish Premier Basketball League . There is also a Turkish Second Basketball League consisting of 2 divisions .-History:The first basketball game played in Turkey was at the Robert...
Galatasaray
Galatasaray Café Crown
Galatasaray Medical Park is a professional basketball team based in the city of Istanbul in Turkey. It is a part of the Galatasaray Sports Club.Galatasaray play matches in Abdi İpekçi Arena which has a seating capacity for 12,500 spectators...
club roster for the 1996–97 season and departed mid-season to sign with the Hapoel Eilat
Hapoel Eilat B.C.
Hapoel Eilat is an Israeli basketball club. The team playing currently in the Liga Artzit.The team represented the Far-South region of the country - the Arabah Area, and the city of Eilat.The team climbed to the First Division in season 1990/91....
basketball club of the Israeli Basketball Super League. The following season Hopson reunited with former college teammate Brad Sellers
Brad Sellers
Bradley Donn Sellers is a retired American professional basketball player. A 7'0" power forward/center from the University of Wisconsin and Ohio State University, he was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the 1986 NBA Draft.Sellers was a controversial selection among the Bulls'...
as members of Israel's Maccabi Rishon Lezion
Maccabi Rishon LeZion (basketball)
Maccabi Rishon LeZion is a basketball club based in Rishon LeZion in central Israel. The club plays in Ligat HaAl, the top division of Israeli basketball.-History:...
basketball club. Hopson played well with LeZion that season and was considered one of the league's top players. The seasoned globetrotter was called up to briefly play for the Venezuelan Professional Basketball League's
Liga Profesional de Baloncesto (Venezuela)
The Liga Profesional de Baloncesto is the Venezuelan National Basketball League.-Teams:*Cocodrilos de Caracas*Guaiqueríes de Margarita*Trotamundos de Carabobo*Panteras de Miranda*Marinos de Anzoátegui*Gaiteros del Zulia*Guaros de Lara...
Gaiteros del Zulia club in 1999 and retired a year later, playing out the remainder of his professional career for Maccabi Giv'at Shmuel
Maccabi Giv'at Shmuel
Habik'a Basketball Club is a basketball club originally from Giv'at Shmuel in Israel. The club plays in Ligat HaAl, the First division of Israeli basketball....
and Maccabi Kiryat Motzkin back in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
.
Coaching career
Hopson retired from basketball in 2000 and returned to his homestate to run a trucking and recruiting company in Columbus, OhioColumbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
. However it wasn't long before Hopson returned to the game, assuming the duties as head coach of the ABA's Toledo Royal Knights until the team folded in December 2006. Several years later he resettled in Florida to accept an assistant coaching position at Northwood University
Northwood University
Northwood University is a private university with multiple locations. The school has four residential campuses: Midland, Michigan , Cedar Hill, Texas , West Palm Beach, Florida and a joint program with Hotel Institute Montreux in Montreux, Switzerland, began in 2001...
in West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and is the most populous city in and county seat of Palm Beach County, the third most populous county in Florida with a 2010 population of 1,320,134. The city is also the oldest incorporated municipality in South Florida...
, where he served under head coach Rollie Massimino
Rollie Massimino
Roland V. "Rollie" Massimino is an American basketball coach and former player. He is currently the head men's basketball coach at the Florida campus of Northwood University in West Palm Beach, a position he has held since 2006...
. In September 2009, he became an assistant basketball coach at Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University, often referred to as Bowling Green or BGSU, is a public, coeducational research university located in Bowling Green, Ohio, United States. The institution was granted a charter in 1910 by the State of Ohio as part of the Lowry Bill, which also established Kent State...
.
External links
- College & NBA stats @ basketballreference.com
- "For Hopson, hoops success takes backseat to degree" published April 16, 2006 @ toledoblade.com
- NBA Draft Busts - No. 5