Harold Pressley
Encyclopedia
Harold Pressley is an American
former professional basketball
player. He spent four years in the NBA for the Sacramento Kings
between 1986
and 1990
before playing a major role in Joventut Badalona's
success both in the Spanish league and the Euroleague
until 1993.
, Connecticut
, Pressley played collegiately at Villanova University
and was a member of their 1985 National Championship team. At Villanova, he became the first player in Big East
history to record a triple-double, with 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 blocked shots against Providence
. He was named to the 1985 NCAA Southeast Regional All-Tournament Team, the 1986 All Big East First Team, an 1986 Associated Press honorable mention All American, the 1986 Big East All-Tournament Team and the 1986 Big East Defensive Player of the Year.
in the 1st round (17th overall pick) of the 1986 NBA Draft
. He played the shooting guard
and small forward
positions for four years with the Kings, averaging 9.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Following his NBA experience, he signed a contract with Joventut Badalona
of the Spanish ACB league, winning two consecutive championships in 1991 and 1992 and reaching the 1992 Euroleague
final alongside Jordi Villacampa
and Corny Thompson
. He had 20 points and 9 rebounds against Partizan
, but his performance was not enough to prevent a 70-71 loss, highlighted by Sasha Djordjevic' buzzer beater three pointer. In the 1993-94 season, Pressley signed with Pau Orthez in France, before returning to Spain and finishing his career.
area. On March 30, 2007, he began serving as Director of Player Development for the Sacramento Kings.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former 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...
player. He spent four years in the NBA for 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...
between 1986
1986-87 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-Yearly awards:* Most Valuable Player: Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers* Rookie of the Year: Chuck Person, Indiana Pacers* Defensive Player of the Year: Michael Cooper, Los Angeles Lakers...
and 1990
1989-90 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers*Rookie of the Year: David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs*Defensive Player of the Year: Dennis Rodman, Detroit Pistons...
before playing a major role in Joventut Badalona's
Joventut Badalona
Club Joventut Badalona, S.A.D. is a Spanish professional basketball club based in Badalona, Catalonia, playing in the Asociación de Clubs de Baloncesto . Known to their fans as La Penya , it is one of only three teams that have never been relegated from the top division of the Spanish League...
success both in the Spanish league and the Euroleague
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...
until 1993.
College
After attending Saint Bernard High School in UncasvilleUncasville, Connecticut
Uncasville is an area in the town of Montville, Connecticut. The area traditionally known as Uncasville is a village in southeastern Montville, at the mouth of the Oxoboxo River...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, Pressley played collegiately at Villanova University
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
and was a member of their 1985 National Championship team. At Villanova, he became the first player in Big East
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
history to record a triple-double, with 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 blocked shots against Providence
Providence College
Providence College is a private, coeducational, Catholic university located about two miles west of downtown Providence, Rhode Island, United States, the state's capital city. With a 2010–2011 enrollment of 3,850 undergraduate students and 735 graduate students, the College specializes in academic...
. He was named to the 1985 NCAA Southeast Regional All-Tournament Team, the 1986 All Big East First Team, an 1986 Associated Press honorable mention All American, the 1986 Big East All-Tournament Team and the 1986 Big East Defensive Player of the Year.
Pro career
Pressley was selected by the Sacramento KingsSacramento 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...
in the 1st round (17th overall pick) of the 1986 NBA Draft
1986 NBA Draft
-Drug and health issues involving drafted players:There were various drug-related problems that plagued players in the 1986 NBA draft. Most notable was the death of highly-touted Len Bias. Bias died less than two days after being selected second overall by the defending champion Boston Celtics. His...
. He played the shooting guard
Shooting 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...
positions for four years with the Kings, averaging 9.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Following his NBA experience, he signed a contract with Joventut Badalona
Joventut Badalona
Club Joventut Badalona, S.A.D. is a Spanish professional basketball club based in Badalona, Catalonia, playing in the Asociación de Clubs de Baloncesto . Known to their fans as La Penya , it is one of only three teams that have never been relegated from the top division of the Spanish League...
of the Spanish ACB league, winning two consecutive championships in 1991 and 1992 and reaching the 1992 Euroleague
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...
final alongside Jordi Villacampa
Jordi Villacampa
Jordi Villacampa Amorós is a retired basketball player of Joventut Badalona and the present chairman of the club....
and Corny Thompson
Corny Thompson
Cornelius "Corny" Allen Thompson is a retired American professional basketball player. He was a 6'8" 225 lb power forward who occasionally also played the center position...
. He had 20 points and 9 rebounds against Partizan
KK Partizan
Košarkaški klub Partizan is a Serbian professional basketball club. It is part of the multi-sports Belgrade-based club Partizan. The club competes in the Serbian League, Adriatic League and the Euroleague....
, but his performance was not enough to prevent a 70-71 loss, highlighted by Sasha Djordjevic' buzzer beater three pointer. In the 1993-94 season, Pressley signed with Pau Orthez in France, before returning to Spain and finishing his career.
Post athletic career
Pressley was a co-host on Sierra Central Sports Roundtable, a sports show that airs every Sunday morning on Comcast Sports Net in the SacramentoSacramento
Sacramento is the capital of the state of California, in the United States of America.Sacramento may also refer to:- United States :*Sacramento County, California*Sacramento, Kentucky*Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta...
area. On March 30, 2007, he began serving as Director of Player Development for the Sacramento Kings.