Greg Wiltjer
Encyclopedia
Greg Wiltjer is a retired Canadian
professional basketball
center
. He played in several important tournaments for the Canadian national basketball team, including the 1984 Summer Olympics
, as well as the European Cup Winner's Cup
championship with FC Barcelona
.
playing hockey
and soccer and did not begin to play basketball formally until he was a junior in high school. He attended Northern Idaho Junior College where in 1979-80 and '80-81 he posted very good numbers and the attention of the University of Washington
. Members of the university's coaching staff and booster club were found by the Pac-10 to have violated player recruiting rules. Wiltjer then opted to join fellow conference school Oregon State University
.
Wiltjer's sole season with the Beavers
was memorable for the team's successful post-season run. Featuring A. C. Green
and Charlie Sitton
, the Ralph Miller
coached Beavers reached the Elite Eight of the 1982 NCAA Tournament
where as a No. 2 seed they fell to the top-seeded Georgetown Hoyas, led by Patrick Ewing
. Wiltjer sat out the next season as he transferred to play for then Canadian powerhouse the University of Victoria
. Wiltjer was a prominent member of a Vikes
team, led by Eli Pasquale
and coached by Ken Shields
, that won the CIAU
championship in 1984 as part of their 5-year consecutive run as national champions.
by the Chicago Bulls
but never played a game in the league, nor was he ever part of a regular season or playoff NBA roster despite attending a number of pre-season camps for teams such as the Indiana Pacers
in 1990, Los Angeles Clippers
in 1991, and Cleveland Cavaliers
in 1993.
Instead Wiltjer plied his trade with top clubs in Italy
, Spain
, and Greece
playing a total of 12 seasons in Europe. He was a member of FC Barcelona during a season and the team won the European Cup Winner's Cup in 1986. He played for Aris BC
from 1987 to 1989 and he won 2 Greek Championships
(1988, 1989), 2 Greek Basketball Cups
(1988, 1989) and he took part in 2 consecutive final fours of the European Champions Cup
at Ghent
(1988) and Munich
(1989).
Wiltjer played 1991-92 in the Continental Basketball Association
with the Omaha Racers.
led, Bobby Knight coached Americans won the gold medal.) Wiltjer was also a member of the Canadian team which were one of the first to face the original Dream Team in a competitive match, at the 1992 FIBA Tournament of the Americas. The Americans won the game easily 105-61.
, his adopted hometown - his wife Carol is an Oregon native. His son, Kyle Wiltjer
, who will play collegiately for the University of Kentucky
beginning in the 2011-2012 season, led Jesuit High School to three consecutive Oregon state championships; he was also a 2011 McDonald's All-American, where he was the winner of the event's 3-point contest.
Wiltjer has also been a coach in various European countries, from 2004 to 2006.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
professional 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...
center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
. He played in several important tournaments for the Canadian national basketball team, including the 1984 Summer Olympics
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
, as well as the European Cup Winner's Cup
Saporta Cup
Saporta Cup was the name of the second-tier level European professional club basketball competition, where the National Cup winners from all over Europe played against each other. The competition was organized by FIBA Europe...
championship with FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona Bàsquet
FC Barcelona Bàsquet, known as FC Barcelona Regal for sponsorship reasons, is a Spanish professional basketball club. It is part of the FC Barcelona sports club and was founded on August 24, 1926 which makes it the oldest club in Liga ACB. The club competes in the Asociación de Clubes de Baloncesto...
.
Amateur career
Six foot, eleven inches (2.11 m) in stature, Wiltjer grew up on Vancouver IslandVancouver Island
Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...
playing hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
and soccer and did not begin to play basketball formally until he was a junior in high school. He attended Northern Idaho Junior College where in 1979-80 and '80-81 he posted very good numbers and the attention of the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
. Members of the university's coaching staff and booster club were found by the Pac-10 to have violated player recruiting rules. Wiltjer then opted to join fellow conference school Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
.
Wiltjer's sole season with the Beavers
Oregon State Beavers
The Oregon State Beavers is a name shared by all sports teams at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. The Beavers are part of the Pacific-12 Conference . Oregon State's mascot is Benny the Beaver...
was memorable for the team's successful post-season run. Featuring A. C. Green
A. C. Green
A.C. Green, Jr., is a retired American NBA basketball player who played in more consecutive games than any other player in NBA and ABA history. With 1,192 straight games played, he earned the nickname "Iron Man". He played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat...
and Charlie Sitton
Charlie Sitton
Charles E. "Charlie" Sitton is a retired American basketball player.-Oregon State career:A 6' 8" forward, he played high school basketball at McMinnville High School and college basketball for Oregon State from 1981 to 1984. As a freshman, Sitton was a member of the last Oregon State team to...
, the Ralph Miller
Ralph Miller
Ralph H. Miller was an American basketball coach. A native of Chanute, Kansas, Miller coached at the University of Wichita , the University of Iowa and Oregon State University , compiling a 657-382 overall record in 38 seasons combined...
coached Beavers reached the Elite Eight of the 1982 NCAA Tournament
1982 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1982 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 48 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 11, 1982, and ended with the championship game on March 29 in New Orleans, Louisiana...
where as a No. 2 seed they fell to the top-seeded Georgetown Hoyas, led by Patrick Ewing
Patrick Ewing
Patrick Aloysius Ewing Sr. is a Jamaican-American retired Hall of Fame basketball player and current assistant coach for the National Basketball Association's Orlando Magic. He played most of his career with the NBA's New York Knicks as their starting center and played briefly with the Seattle...
. Wiltjer sat out the next season as he transferred to play for then Canadian powerhouse the University of Victoria
University of Victoria
The University of Victoria, often referred to as UVic, is the second oldest public research university in British Columbia, Canada. It is a research intensive university located in Saanich and Oak Bay, about northeast of downtown Victoria. The University's annual enrollment is about 20,000 students...
. Wiltjer was a prominent member of a Vikes
Victoria Vikes
The Victoria Vikes are the athletic teams that represent the University of Victoria of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada in Canadian Interuniversity Sport.The Vikes have both men's and women's teams in the following sports:* Basketball* Cross country...
team, led by Eli Pasquale
Eli Pasquale
Ilario Enrico Pasquale is a former star Canadian basketball player. A 6-foot, 1-inch point guard, he led the Canadian national men's basketball team during two Olympic Games, three FIBA World Championships, and two Pan-American Games.Pasquale grew up in Gatchell, Ontario, a predominantly Italian...
and coached by Ken Shields
Ken Shields (Canadian basketball)
Kenneth William Daniel Shields, CM is a basketball coach, the one with the most wins in Canadian Interuniversity Sport men's basketball history with the University of Victoria, and former head coach of Canadian national men's basketball team....
, that won the CIAU
Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada, comprising the majority of degree granting universities in the country. Its equivalent body for organized sports at colleges in Canada is The Canadian Colleges Athletic Association...
championship in 1984 as part of their 5-year consecutive run as national champions.
Professional career
Wiltjer was drafted in the second round of the 1984 NBA Draft1984 NBA Draft
The 1984 NBA Draft was the 38th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held at the Felt Forum at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York on June 19, 1984 before the 1984–85 season. The draft was broadcast in the United States on the USA Network. In this draft,...
by 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...
but never played a game in the league, nor was he ever part of a regular season or playoff NBA roster despite attending a number of pre-season camps for teams such as the Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
in 1990, Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
in 1991, and Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
in 1993.
Instead Wiltjer plied his trade with top clubs in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, 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...
, and Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
playing a total of 12 seasons in Europe. He was a member of FC Barcelona during a season and the team won the European Cup Winner's Cup in 1986. He played for Aris BC
Aris BC
Aris Basketball Club is the professional basketball team of the Thessaloniki-based Greek sport club Aris Thessaloniki. Aris BC was founded in 1922, eight years after the founding of Aris Thessaloniki....
from 1987 to 1989 and he won 2 Greek Championships
A1 Ethniki
The Greek Basket League , commonly referred to as the Greek Basketball League or Greek Basketball Championship, is the highest professional basketball league in Greece. It is run by HEBA...
(1988, 1989), 2 Greek Basketball Cups
Greek basketball Cup
The Greek Basketball Cup or Hellenic Basketball Cup is an annual pro basketball national cup competition. It is organized by the Hellenic Basketball Federation .-History and format:...
(1988, 1989) and he took part in 2 consecutive final fours of the European Champions Cup
Euroleague
Euroleague Basketball, commonly known as the Euroleague, is the highest level tier and most important professional club basketball competition in Europe, with teams from up to 18 different countries, members of FIBA Europe. For sponsorship reasons, for five seasons starting with 2010–2011, it is...
at Ghent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
(1988) and Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
(1989).
Wiltjer played 1991-92 in 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 :...
with the Omaha Racers.
Canadian national team
Wiltjer was the top rebounder for the 1984 Olympic tournament as the Canadians finished the tournament in fourth place. (The Michael JordanMichael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
led, Bobby Knight coached Americans won the gold medal.) Wiltjer was also a member of the Canadian team which were one of the first to face the original Dream Team in a competitive match, at the 1992 FIBA Tournament of the Americas. The Americans won the game easily 105-61.
Personal
As of 2007, Wiltjer was coaching junior high school basketball for West Linn AAU in West Linn, OregonWest Linn, Oregon
West Linn is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. Now a prosperous southern suburb of Portland, West Linn has a history of early development, prompted by the opportunity to harvest energy from nearby Willamette Falls. It was named after Senator Dr. Lewis Fields Linn of Ste...
, his adopted hometown - his wife Carol is an Oregon native. His son, Kyle Wiltjer
Kyle Wiltjer
Kyle Wiltjer is a Canadian-American college basketball player for the University of Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team. He is a 6-foot-9, 239-pound power forward/center. He was a 2011 McDonald's All-American, and the winner of the event's three-point contest. He holds dual U.S...
, who will play collegiately for the University of Kentucky
Kentucky Wildcats
The Kentucky Wildcats are the men's and women's intercollegiate athletic squads of the University of Kentucky , a founding member of the Southeastern Conference...
beginning in the 2011-2012 season, led Jesuit High School to three consecutive Oregon state championships; he was also a 2011 McDonald's All-American, where he was the winner of the event's 3-point contest.
Wiltjer has also been a coach in various European countries, from 2004 to 2006.