Kiwane Garris
Encyclopedia
Kiwane Garris is an American
former professional basketball
player. He was listed as a 6'2" (1.88 m), 183 lb (83 kg) point guard
.
Garris played college basketball
at the University of Illinois
, where his position was point guard
. As a freshman in the 1993-94 season, Garris finished second on the Fighting Illini
in scoring, behind Deon Thomas
. In the next three seasons, Garris led the team lead in scoring and free-throw percentage. Garris also led the team in assists in the 1994-95 and 1996-97 seasons. Garris finished his career at Illinois as the second all-time leading scorer, behind former teammate Deon Thomas. Garris finished with 1948 career points, with a career scoring average of 16.8 points per game.
During the NBA lockout he played for the US national team in the 1998 FIBA World Championship
, winning the bronze medal.
. He had been signed for a brief period by Los Angeles Clippers
during their 1997 preseason but was waiveed. For the 1997-1998's 28 games he did 8MPG, 2.4 PPG. Playing for the Orlando Magic
during 1999-2000, 3 games, 7.7 MPG, 1.3 PPG. In 2002 he was signed by the Sacramento Kings
(2002 preseason), but was again waived before the regular season. He has also played with the Grand Rapids Hoops
of the CBA
.
(Serie A2, 2003–2004, Serie A
, 2004–2005), Climamio Bologna
(2005–2006) (reached the Italian championship final and won Italian Supercup) and Armani Jeans Milano
(2006–2007).
, in an effort to spark interest from the potential fanbase invited Garris, along with other popular Chicago area college and high school stars, to try out for its 2006 team. Also invited were Kiwane's college teammates Kevin Turner and Jerrod Gee, as well as Thomas Hamilton
, Rico Hill
, Ronnie Fields
, Sherrell Ford, Imari Sawyer, Tom Kleinschmidt
, Najeeb Echols, Evan Eschmeyer
, and T.J. Lux were also recruited to start training for the upstart Chicago Rockstars. The franchise has since halted operations.
After playing overseas in Italy
for nine years from 2001–2010, Garris returned home. He is an Assistant Coach at Prairie State College
.
In July 2006 he became engaged to R&B
and soul
singer-songwriter
Syleena Johnson
. Johnson is a fellow Chicago
an. On August 1, 2007 after forty-four hours of labor, their son Kiwane Garris Jr was born . The marriage was doubted to last as Garris was playing for Premiata Montegranaro of the Italian Basketball League, while Johnson remained in Illinois. On Sunday, February 6, 2010 she gave birth to their second son, Kingston . He weighed 8 lb 5oz .
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 was listed as a 6'2" (1.88 m), 183 lb (83 kg) 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...
.
Garris played college 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....
at the University of Illinois
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
, where his position was 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...
. As a freshman in the 1993-94 season, Garris finished second on the Fighting Illini
Illinois Fighting Illini
The Fighting Illini are the intercollegiate athletic teams of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The University offers 10 men's and 11 women's varsity sports....
in scoring, behind Deon Thomas
Deon Thomas
Deon La velle Thomas is an American former basketball player.-High school:Thomas was a star basketball player at Chicago's Neal F. Simeon Vocational High School , graduating in 1989. As a junior in 1988, he led the Wolverines to the Chicago Public League title. As a senior, he was named Illinois Mr...
. In the next three seasons, Garris led the team lead in scoring and free-throw percentage. Garris also led the team in assists in the 1994-95 and 1996-97 seasons. Garris finished his career at Illinois as the second all-time leading scorer, behind former teammate Deon Thomas. Garris finished with 1948 career points, with a career scoring average of 16.8 points per game.
During the NBA lockout he played for the US national team in the 1998 FIBA World Championship
1998 FIBA World Championship
The 1998 FIBA World Championship was the 13th FIBA World Championship, an international basketball tournament held by the International Basketball Federation and hosted in Athens, Greece from July 29 to August 9, 1998...
, winning the bronze medal.
Career
Although Garris was projected to be a late first round or early second round pick in the NBA Draft, he went undrafted, but signed as a free-agent with the Denver NuggetsDenver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
. He had been signed for a brief period by 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...
during their 1997 preseason but was waiveed. For the 1997-1998's 28 games he did 8MPG, 2.4 PPG. Playing for the Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...
during 1999-2000, 3 games, 7.7 MPG, 1.3 PPG. In 2002 he was signed by 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...
(2002 preseason), but was again waived before the regular season. He has also played with the Grand Rapids Hoops
Grand Rapids Hoops
The Grand Rapids Hoops was a basketball team that played in the Continental Basketball Association, based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Their first season was in 1989, and their final season was in 2003...
of the CBA
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 :...
.
Italian League
For nine years he played overseas for the Italian teams Banca Popolare Ragusa (Serie A2, 2001–2002), Porte Garofoli Osimo (Serie A2, 2002–2003), Bipop-Carire Reggio EmiliaPallacanestro Reggiana
Pallacanestro Reggiana is an Italian basketball team based in Reggio Emilia, also known for sponsorship reasons as Trenkwalder Reggio Emilia....
(Serie A2, 2003–2004, Serie A
Serie A (basketball)
Lega Basket Serie A is the highest level club competition in Italian professional basketball where play determines the national champion. The season consists of a home-and-away schedule of 30 games, followed by an eight-team playoff round. Quarterfinals and semifinals series are best-of-five, and...
, 2004–2005), Climamio 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:...
(2005–2006) (reached the Italian championship final and won Italian Supercup) and Armani Jeans Milano
Olimpia Milano
Olimpia Milano is a Lega Basket Italian professional basketball team, based in Milan, Italy, founded in 1936 by Milan businessman Adolfo Bogoncelli. Its colors are red and white, and the team is sometimes referred as "Scarpette Rosse" because team officials imported from the United States red...
(2006–2007).
ABA
In 2006, the American Basketball AssociationAmerican Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
, in an effort to spark interest from the potential fanbase invited Garris, along with other popular Chicago area college and high school stars, to try out for its 2006 team. Also invited were Kiwane's college teammates Kevin Turner and Jerrod Gee, as well as Thomas Hamilton
Thomas Hamilton (basketball)
Thomas Thaddeus Hamilton is an American former NBA basketball player.-Pre-professional:Hamilton attended Chicago's Martin Luther King High School, graduating in 1993...
, Rico Hill
Rico Hill
Rico Hill is an American professional basketball player currently playing for the Chicago Muscle of the Premier Basketball League...
, Ronnie Fields
Ronnie Fields
Ronnie Fields is an American professional basketball player.-High school:Ronnie Fields played at Farragut Academy in Chicago from 1992–1996 and was a teammate of Kevin Garnett during the 1995 season. Fields had a 50-inch vertical leap...
, Sherrell Ford, Imari Sawyer, Tom Kleinschmidt
Tom Kleinschmidt
Tom Kleinschmidt is a retired American basketball player and current head basketball coach at York High School in Elmhurst, Illinois...
, Najeeb Echols, Evan Eschmeyer
Evan Eschmeyer
Evan Bruce Eschmeyer is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the New Jersey Nets in the 2nd round of the 1999 NBA Draft. A 6'11" center from Northwestern University, Eschmeyer played in four NBA seasons from 1999–2003...
, and T.J. Lux were also recruited to start training for the upstart Chicago Rockstars. The franchise has since halted operations.
After playing overseas 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...
for nine years from 2001–2010, Garris returned home. He is an Assistant Coach at Prairie State College
Prairie State College
Prairie State College is a two-year community college based in Chicago Heights, Illinois and the only college operated by Illinois Community College District 515.-District area:...
.
Personal
Garris has a son from a previous relationshipIn July 2006 he became engaged to R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
and soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Syleena Johnson
Syleena Johnson
Syleena Johnson is a Grammy award-nominated American R&B and soul singer-songwriter and actress.-Biography:...
. Johnson is a fellow Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
an. On August 1, 2007 after forty-four hours of labor, their son Kiwane Garris Jr was born . The marriage was doubted to last as Garris was playing for Premiata Montegranaro of the Italian Basketball League, while Johnson remained in Illinois. On Sunday, February 6, 2010 she gave birth to their second son, Kingston . He weighed 8 lb 5oz .
External links
- Kiwane Garris player profile @ NBA.com
- Euroleague stats @ 24sec.net