Joseph Forte
Encyclopedia
Joseph Xavier "Joe" Forte (born March 23, 1981 in Atlanta, Georgia
) is an American
professional basketball
player.
in Hyattsville, Maryland
. There, Forte played under the instruction of legendary high school prep coach Morgan Wootten
. Forte's teammate at DeMatha, Keith Bogans
, currently plays for the NBA's Chicago Bulls
. Forte was named Washington Post All Met Basketball Player of the Year in his senior year in 1999.
(highlights of which included winning the 2000 ACC
Rookie of the Year as well as 2001 ACC Men's Basketball Player of the Year
) that was marked by flashes of brilliant play, he was selected by the Boston Celtics
with the 21st pick in the 2001 NBA Draft
(at a time when later star players Tony Parker
and Gilbert Arenas
were still available on the guard position).
Unfortunately, his most memorable moment with the Celtics came when he wore a Scooby-Doo
shirt on the sidelines during the playoffs. In two seasons with the Celtics and the Seattle SuperSonics
, Forte averaged 1.2 points and 0.7 assists per game, struggling to convert from his natural shooting guard
position to point guard
. He was eventually waived by the Sonics due mostly to attitude and legal problems. While with the Sonics, he was arrested on gun and drug charges in Maryland, as well as an assault charge in which he allegedly punched a man in the face during a pickup game.
After being released by the Sonics, Forte could not find a roster spot in the NBA and joined the Asheville Altitude
of the NBA D-League
. During the summer of 2005, Forte played with Team Certified of the Entertainers Basketball Classic at Rucker Park
, and many say it revived his career as a star basketball player. Forte showcased his talent to New York City, led Certified to the playoffs. After the summer, he went off to Greece to play with Apollon Patras
, and this past season for the Italian club Montepaschi Siena
, which won the 2007 Italian championship.
In July 2007 he signed with the Russia
n team UNICS Kazan
. In January 2008 he signed for Fortitudo Bologna
with a franchise option for the following season. He was waived after only two games played and in December 2008 he joined Snaidero Udine, another Italian Serie A team. In May 2009 he asked to be waived for personal matters. On January 8, 2010, he joined Nuova Pallacanestro Pavia
, an Italian LegaDue team (Italian second division).
and was named Ivy League
player of the year in 2004.http://brownbears.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/forte_jason00.htmlhttp://www.ivyleaguesports.com/sports/alltime.asp?intSID=6#b
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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.
Beginnings
Forte got his start at DeMatha Catholic High SchoolDeMatha Catholic High School
DeMatha Catholic High School, named after Saint John of Matha, is a four-year Catholic high school for young men located in Hyattsville, Maryland, USA. DeMatha is known for academic achievement, music, arts, service and athletics...
in Hyattsville, Maryland
Hyattsville, Maryland
Hyattsville is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 17,557 at the 2000 census.- History :The city was named for its founder, Christopher Clark Hyatt. He purchased his first parcel of land in the area in March 1845...
. There, Forte played under the instruction of legendary high school prep coach Morgan Wootten
Morgan Wootten
Morgan Bayard Wootten is an American former high school basketball coach.From 1956 to 2002, he coached at DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland. He has the most wins as a head coach in the history of basketball on any level. A number of his players went on to play in the NBA,...
. Forte's teammate at DeMatha, Keith Bogans
Keith Bogans
Keith Ramon Bogans is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Chicago Bulls.-High school and college:...
, currently plays for the NBA's 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...
. Forte was named Washington Post All Met Basketball Player of the Year in his senior year in 1999.
Career highlights
After a 2-year college career at University of North Carolina at Chapel HillUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
(highlights of which included winning the 2000 ACC
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
Rookie of the Year as well as 2001 ACC Men's Basketball Player of the Year
ACC Men's Basketball Player of the Year
The Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year is a basketball award given to the men's basketball player in the Atlantic Coast Conference voted by members of the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association as the most outstanding player...
) that was marked by flashes of brilliant play, he was selected by the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
with the 21st pick in the 2001 NBA Draft
2001 NBA Draft
The 2001 NBA Draft took place on June 27, 2001 in New York City, New York. Kwame Brown became the first high school player drafted with the first overall pick...
(at a time when later star players Tony Parker
Tony Parker
William Anthony "Tony" Parker is a French professional basketball player who currently plays for the San Antonio Spurs of the NBA....
and Gilbert Arenas
Gilbert Arenas
Gilbert Jay Arenas, Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association . He plays as a point guard and shooting guard....
were still available on the guard position).
Unfortunately, his most memorable moment with the Celtics came when he wore a Scooby-Doo
Scooby-Doo
Scooby-Doo is an American media franchise based around several animated television series and related works produced from 1969 to the present day. The original series, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, was created for Hanna-Barbera Productions by writers Joe Ruby and Ken Spears in 1969...
shirt on the sidelines during the playoffs. In two seasons with the Celtics and the Seattle SuperSonics
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
, Forte averaged 1.2 points and 0.7 assists per game, struggling to convert from his natural 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...
position to 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...
. He was eventually waived by the Sonics due mostly to attitude and legal problems. While with the Sonics, he was arrested on gun and drug charges in Maryland, as well as an assault charge in which he allegedly punched a man in the face during a pickup game.
After being released by the Sonics, Forte could not find a roster spot in the NBA and joined the Asheville Altitude
Tulsa 66ers
The Tulsa 66ers are an NBA Development League team based in Tulsa, Oklahoma and the minor league affiliate of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Their logo design is a basketball behind mountains with a road leading up to them, all on a U.S...
of the NBA D-League
NBA Development League
The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...
. During the summer of 2005, Forte played with Team Certified of the Entertainers Basketball Classic at Rucker Park
Rucker Park
Rucker Park is a basketball court in the Harlem neighborhood of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is located at 155th Street and Frederick Douglass Boulevard across the street from the former Polo Grounds site...
, and many say it revived his career as a star basketball player. Forte showcased his talent to New York City, led Certified to the playoffs. After the summer, he went off to Greece to play with Apollon Patras
Apollon Patras BC
Apollon Patras BC, named after the Greek God Apollo, is a Greek professional basketball club that is located in Patras, Greece. The club was founded in the year 1926. Apollon Patras BC is the basketball club of the Greek sports athletic union AS Apollon Patras...
, and this past season for the Italian club Montepaschi Siena
Mens Sana Basket
Mens Sana Basket, more frequently referred to as Montepaschi Siena, is an Italian League professional basketball club from Siena. More precisely, it is the now-autonomous basketball section of the comprehensive sports club Polisportiva Mens Sana...
, which won the 2007 Italian championship.
In July 2007 he signed with the Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n team UNICS Kazan
UNICS Kazan
UNICS Kazan is a professional basketball club in Kazan, Russia playing in the PBL. Their home arena is Basket Hall Arena.Though officially the professional club was founded in 1991 , UNICS traces its origin back to KSU's college team Burevestnik which participated in USSR student championships...
. In January 2008 he signed for Fortitudo Bologna
Fortitudo Bologna
Fortitudo Pallacanestro Bologna is an Legadue Basket professional basketball club that is based in Bologna. It's currently sponsored by Conad.-History:...
with a franchise option for the following season. He was waived after only two games played and in December 2008 he joined Snaidero Udine, another Italian Serie A team. In May 2009 he asked to be waived for personal matters. On January 8, 2010, he joined Nuova Pallacanestro Pavia
Nuova Pallacanestro Pavia
Nuova Pallacanestro Pavia is an Italian professional basketball team from the town of Pavia, also known for sponsorship reasons as Paul Mitchell Pavia....
, an Italian LegaDue team (Italian second division).
Family
His younger brother, Jason Forte, played college basketball for Brown UniversityBrown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
and was named Ivy League
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
player of the year in 2004.http://brownbears.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/forte_jason00.htmlhttp://www.ivyleaguesports.com/sports/alltime.asp?intSID=6#b