Mickell Gladness
Encyclopedia
Mickell Gladness is an American
basketball center
. He is a member of the NBA Development League
's Dakota Wizards
.
and grew up in Sylacauga
. He attended Sylacauga High School from 2000–01 to 2003–04, then attended Lawson State Community College for one year.
Due to NCAA rules where a player does not have to sit out one full season if she or he transfers up a division (in this case, from a community college
up to Division I) Gladness was able to begin playing immediately as a true sophomore in 2005–06
. He appeared in 26 games and blocked 77 shots. It was in his junior
season, however, that Gladness made a name for himself in college basketball. Playing in 30 games, Gladness rose out of seemingly nowhere to lead the nation in blocked shots per game at 6.3, with an adjusted-per-40 minutes rate of 7.9 bpg. He set an NCAA Division I single game record with 16 blocks against Texas Southern on February 24, 2007. No other player in Division I history has even recorded 15 blocks in a single game. Despite showing similar statistics otherwise, Gladness' blocks per game average dropped to 4.5 for his senior
year. It is speculated that opposing players now knew of his shot-blocking ability and avoided getting too close for him to block their shots. Although he did not repeat as the NCAA season shots blocked leader, he did graduate having blocked 396 shots in only three seasons of Division I basketball, which was good enough to be in the all-time top 25 when he graduated.
. Without making a roster in the NBA, he went to Europe
to play for Matrixx Magix Nijmegen in the Dutch Basketball League
in 2008–09, the highest professional basketball league in the Netherlands
. Gladness had signed a two-year contract, but after dissatisfaction with the style of play on Matrixx he decided to opt out of his contract's final season. He participated in the 2010 NBA Summer League as a member of the Miami Heat
. He was then signed by the Heat to a non-guaranteed deal on September 27, 2010, but was waived during the pre-season on October 11.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
basketball 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 is a member of the NBA Development 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...
's Dakota Wizards
Dakota Wizards
The Dakota Wizards are an American basketball team in the NBA Development League, based in Bismarck, North Dakota. Home games are played at the Bismarck Civic Center.-Beginnings in IBA:...
.
Early life
Gladness was born in Birmingham, AlabamaBirmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
and grew up in Sylacauga
Sylacauga, Alabama
Sylacauga is a city in Talladega County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 12,616.Nicknames for Sylacauga include: "The Marble City," "Buzzard's Roost" and "Sly Town"....
. He attended Sylacauga High School from 2000–01 to 2003–04, then attended Lawson State Community College for one year.
College
In his first and only season playing basketball for a community college, Gladness, who is and weighed 200 pounds (90.72 kg) when he attended, averaged modest numbers with 3.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game. Gladness transferred to Alabama A&M for the remaining three years of his college eligibility.Due to NCAA rules where a player does not have to sit out one full season if she or he transfers up a division (in this case, from a community college
Community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
up to Division I) Gladness was able to begin playing immediately as a true sophomore in 2005–06
2005–06 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
The 2005–06 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 6, 2005, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 2006 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Championship Game on April 3, 2006 at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana...
. He appeared in 26 games and blocked 77 shots. It was in his junior
Junior (education)
"Junior" is a term used in the United States to describe a student in their 3rd year of study . A Junior is considered an upperclassman...
season, however, that Gladness made a name for himself in college basketball. Playing in 30 games, Gladness rose out of seemingly nowhere to lead the nation in blocked shots per game at 6.3, with an adjusted-per-40 minutes rate of 7.9 bpg. He set an NCAA Division I single game record with 16 blocks against Texas Southern on February 24, 2007. No other player in Division I history has even recorded 15 blocks in a single game. Despite showing similar statistics otherwise, Gladness' blocks per game average dropped to 4.5 for his senior
Senior (education)
Senior is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the 4th year of study .-High school:...
year. It is speculated that opposing players now knew of his shot-blocking ability and avoided getting too close for him to block their shots. Although he did not repeat as the NCAA season shots blocked leader, he did graduate having blocked 396 shots in only three seasons of Division I basketball, which was good enough to be in the all-time top 25 when he graduated.
Professional
Gladness was not selected in the 2008 NBA Draft2008 NBA Draft
The 2008 NBA Draft was held on June 26, 2008 at the Washington Mutual Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, including...
. Without making a roster in the NBA, he went to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
to play for Matrixx Magix Nijmegen in the Dutch Basketball League
Dutch Basketball League
The Dutch Basketball League , is the highest professional basketball league in the Netherlands. The league has a closed system...
in 2008–09, the highest professional basketball league in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. Gladness had signed a two-year contract, but after dissatisfaction with the style of play on Matrixx he decided to opt out of his contract's final season. He participated in the 2010 NBA Summer League as a member of the Miami Heat
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
. He was then signed by the Heat to a non-guaranteed deal on September 27, 2010, but was waived during the pre-season on October 11.
See also
- List of NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 13 or more blocks in a game
- List of NCAA Division I men's basketball season blocks leaders
- List of NCAA Division I men's basketball career blocks leaders