Josh Heytvelt
Encyclopedia
Joshua Rolin "Josh" Heytvelt (icon; born June 26, 1986) is an American basketball player.
in 2004 after a high school career in Clarkston, Washington
that saw him named the state's Class 3A Player of the Year for three consecutive years. He sat out the 2004-05 season as a redshirt
. Coach Mark Few
and the Bulldogs counted on Heytvelt to be a major contributor in his freshman season of eligibility in 2005-06 as part of the supporting cast behind superstar Adam Morrison
, but he missed most of the season due to a broken ankle suffered in the Maui Invitational
.
In the 2006-07 season, he emerged as a potential star, becoming the team's second-leading scorer with 15.5 per game (behind Derek Raivio), top rebounder (7.7 per game), and leading shot-blocker (1.7 per game). The best game of his career came on February 26, 2009 against Santa Clara
, when he scored 29 points and grabbed 9 rebounds. However, in what was effectively his freshman year as a player, there were several games in which he made only sporadic impact.
his freshman season due to injuries, were stopped by police in Cheney, Washington
. The officers noticed that one of Heytvelt's tail lights was broken. The officers searched the car, and found what was later confirmed to be marijuana
and psychedelic mushrooms. Both were arrested, and shortly thereafter indefinitely suspended from the team. Heytvelt was soon charged with felony possession of a controlled substance; under Washington law, possession of any amount of psychedelic mushrooms is a Class C felony. The arrests, the first in recent years involving Gonzaga basketball players, were heavily covered in the school's home city of Spokane
, with one local TV station devoting the first 11 minutes of its Saturday evening newscast to the arrests.
, North Carolina
, and Stanford
. During Heytvelt's suspension, the Zags lost their first home game in nearly four years and their first ever in their current home, McCarthey Athletic Center
, to Santa Clara. The loss also marked the first time since the 1999-2000 season that the Zags had lost three West Coast Conference
games. They then lost an overtime heartbreaker to top-10 Memphis at the Spokane Arena
. This game gave the Zags 10 losses for the first time since 1997-98, the last season to date in which they failed to make the NCAA tournament
.
The Zags backed into the WCC regular-season title after Santa Clara lost its last two conference games, but it had been widely thought that they would have to win the conference tournament to receive an NCAA bid. With Heytvelt still suspended, they avenged their loss to Santa Clara in the WCC final and earned the WCC's automatic berth in the 2007 tournament
. The Zags would go on to lose to Indiana
in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
As he was a first-time offender, the deal was accepted on the condition he passes regular drug testing. Heytvelt will be required to perform 240 hours of community service, undergo random drug screening, and commit no crimes in the following year. If he successfully completes the program, the charges will be dropped. According to Few, both Heytvelt and Davis continued to attend classes after the suspension.
, where he went undrafted
. In 2009 Heytvelt played for the Washington Wizards
in the NBA Summer League
. For his first pro season, he went to Turkey to play for Oyak Renault.
In May 2010, he signed with Lottomatica Roma until the end of the 2009/10 season and then was re-signed for another season, but left the team in January 2011.
On January 13, 2011 he signed with KK Zagreb
in Croatia
until the end of the season.
College
The 6 foot 11 inch (2.11 m) forward came to the BulldogsGonzaga Bulldogs
The Gonzaga Bulldogs are the athletic teams at Gonzaga University; the term applies to any of the school's varsity teams. Gonzaga University is a member of the West Coast Conference, which participates in the NCAA Division I...
in 2004 after a high school career in Clarkston, Washington
Clarkston, Washington
Clarkston is a city in Asotin County in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Washington. It is part of the Lewiston ID-WA Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 7,229 in 2010....
that saw him named the state's Class 3A Player of the Year for three consecutive years. He sat out the 2004-05 season as a redshirt
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
. Coach Mark Few
Mark Few
Mark Few is an American college basketball coach, currently the head coach at Gonzaga University. He has served on Gonzaga's coaching staff since 1989, and has been a constant on the sidelines throughout a period that has seen the Bulldogs rise from mid-major obscurity to regular participants in...
and the Bulldogs counted on Heytvelt to be a major contributor in his freshman season of eligibility in 2005-06 as part of the supporting cast behind superstar Adam Morrison
Adam Morrison
Adam John Morrison is an American basketball player who is currently free agent after being released from KK Crvena zvezda....
, but he missed most of the season due to a broken ankle suffered in the Maui Invitational
Maui Invitational Tournament
The Maui Invitational Tournament is an annual early-season college basketball tournament that takes place Thanksgiving Week in Lahaina, Hawaii at the Lahaina Civic Center on the island of Maui. It is hosted by Chaminade University of Honolulu, which participates yearly along with a field of seven...
.
In the 2006-07 season, he emerged as a potential star, becoming the team's second-leading scorer with 15.5 per game (behind Derek Raivio), top rebounder (7.7 per game), and leading shot-blocker (1.7 per game). The best game of his career came on February 26, 2009 against Santa Clara
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University is a private, not-for-profit, Jesuit-affiliated university located in Santa Clara, California, United States. Chartered by the state of California and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, it operates in collaboration with the Society of Jesus , whose...
, when he scored 29 points and grabbed 9 rebounds. However, in what was effectively his freshman year as a player, there were several games in which he made only sporadic impact.
Drug charges
On February 9, 2007, Heytvelt and teammate Theo Davis, who was redshirtingRedshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
his freshman season due to injuries, were stopped by police in Cheney, Washington
Cheney, Washington
Cheney is a city in Spokane County, Washington, United States. The full time resident population was 10,590 as of 2010 census. Eastern Washington University is located in Cheney, and its population grows to approximately 17,600 people on a temporary basis when classes at Eastern Washington...
. The officers noticed that one of Heytvelt's tail lights was broken. The officers searched the car, and found what was later confirmed to be marijuana
Cannabis (drug)
Cannabis, also known as marijuana among many other names, refers to any number of preparations of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug or for medicinal purposes. The English term marijuana comes from the Mexican Spanish word marihuana...
and psychedelic mushrooms. Both were arrested, and shortly thereafter indefinitely suspended from the team. Heytvelt was soon charged with felony possession of a controlled substance; under Washington law, possession of any amount of psychedelic mushrooms is a Class C felony. The arrests, the first in recent years involving Gonzaga basketball players, were heavily covered in the school's home city of Spokane
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
, with one local TV station devoting the first 11 minutes of its Saturday evening newscast to the arrests.
Impact
Heytvelt's suspension was a major blow to a Gonzaga team that was already suffering from a subpar season, at least by its recent standards, even though the Bulldogs had beaten strong teams in TexasTexas Longhorns men's basketball
The Texas Longhorns men's basketball team represents The University of Texas at Austin in NCAA Division I men's basketball competition. The Longhorns currently compete in the Big 12 Conference....
, North Carolina
North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball
The North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball program is the intercollegiate men's basketball of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and is considered one of the most successful programs in NCAA history...
, and Stanford
Stanford Cardinal
The Stanford Cardinal is the nickname of the athletic teams at Stanford University.-Nickname and mascot history:Following its win over Cal in the first-ever Big Game in 1892, the color cardinal was picked as the primary color of Stanford's athletic teams...
. During Heytvelt's suspension, the Zags lost their first home game in nearly four years and their first ever in their current home, McCarthey Athletic Center
McCarthey Athletic Center
McCarthey Athletic Center or "MAC" is a 6,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Spokane, Washington. The arena opened in 2004. It is home to the Gonzaga University Bulldogs basketball program, and is often called "The New Kennel". This nickname was inherited from the school's former basketball arena,...
, to Santa Clara. The loss also marked the first time since the 1999-2000 season that the Zags had lost three West Coast Conference
West Coast Conference
The West Coast Conference is an NCAA collegiate athletics conference consisting of nine member schools across the states of California, Oregon, Utah and Washington....
games. They then lost an overtime heartbreaker to top-10 Memphis at the Spokane Arena
Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena
Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena a multi-purpose arena, located in Spokane, Washington, USA.It is home to the Spokane Chiefs, of the WHL and the Spokane Shock, of the AFL.-Construction:...
. This game gave the Zags 10 losses for the first time since 1997-98, the last season to date in which they failed to make the NCAA tournament
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
.
The Zags backed into the WCC regular-season title after Santa Clara lost its last two conference games, but it had been widely thought that they would have to win the conference tournament to receive an NCAA bid. With Heytvelt still suspended, they avenged their loss to Santa Clara in the WCC final and earned the WCC's automatic berth in the 2007 tournament
2007 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2007 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 NCAA schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball as a culmination of the 2006–07 basketball season...
. The Zags would go on to lose to Indiana
Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball
The Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing Indiana University . The school competes in the Big Ten Conference in Division I of the NCAA. The Hoosiers play on Branch McCracken Court at the Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana on the IU...
in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Plea
On March 12, 2007, Heytvelt entered a not guilty plea to the charges, and in a deal with prosecutors, asked to be placed into a diversion program. The diversion program was long available in Spokane County for property crimes, but Heytvelt was the first person in Spokane County admitted to the diversion program on a drug possession charge. The program is now widely available to persons with minor drug charges so long as they do not need substance abuse treatment.As he was a first-time offender, the deal was accepted on the condition he passes regular drug testing. Heytvelt will be required to perform 240 hours of community service, undergo random drug screening, and commit no crimes in the following year. If he successfully completes the program, the charges will be dropped. According to Few, both Heytvelt and Davis continued to attend classes after the suspension.
Reinstatement
Heytvelt and Davis were reinstated to the team on October 12, 2007. At a news conference announcing the reinstatement, Few revealed that he had initially opposed bringing back the two players, but was swayed by the efforts both players made at rehabilitation. Heytvelt served about 60 hours more community service than his plea agreement required.Professional career
Following his senior season with Gonzaga in 2008-09, he declared for the 2009 NBA Draft2009 NBA Draft
The 2009 NBA Draft was held on June 25, 2009, the WaMu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S...
, where he went undrafted
Undrafted
An undrafted sportsperson or undrafted free agent is specific type of sportsperson who plays, or attempts to play, in a professional sports league without first being selected in a draft....
. In 2009 Heytvelt played for the Washington Wizards
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
in the NBA Summer League
NBA Summer League
The NBA Summer League is a period during which NBA teams come together to try out different summer rosters instead of their regular season line-ups. Typically, there is a mix of rookies and some of the younger bench players to see how well some players work with others...
. For his first pro season, he went to Turkey to play for Oyak Renault.
In May 2010, he signed with Lottomatica Roma until the end of the 2009/10 season and then was re-signed for another season, but left the team in January 2011.
On January 13, 2011 he signed with KK Zagreb
KK Zagreb
Košarkaški klub Zagreb is a professional basketball club based in Zagreb, Croatia. It competes in the Croatian League, the Adriatic League and in the 2011/12 season for the first time in ULEB Euroleague...
in Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
until the end of the season.