Roger Powell (basketball)
Encyclopedia
Roger Powell Jr. is an American
former professional basketball
player. He played collegiately
at the University of Illinois
from 2001–2005, after having attended Joliet High School, with a 2001 graduation. Powell played the forward position for his high school and in college. He graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in speech communications. Powell's father was a former Joliet Central High School
and Illinois State player.
As a senior, Powell averaged 20.7 points and nine rebounds for a 25-5 sectional finalist that was ranked No. 3 in the Chicago
area. He earned First Team All State honors at Joliet in 2001 from the Chicago Tribune
, Chicago Sun-Times
, Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette, Associated Press
and Illinois Basketball Coaches Association. He was considered a consensus Top 100 prospect in the nation and was fourth in voting for Mr. Basketball in Illinois. He played in the Wendy's All-Star Classic and earned MVP honors at the IBCA All-Star Game following his senior year. In 2007, Powell was voted one of the "100 Legends of the IHSA
Boys Basketball Tournament," recognizing his superior performance in his appearances in the tournament.
, he provided four points and four rebounds in seven minutes of play in Illinois' first round win against San Diego State University
.
In his sophomore season, Powell started 19 games including 10 of the last 11. He led the Big Ten in field goal percentage in conference games with a 64.1 percent mark. He was third on the team in scoring with 8.7 points per game. He scored a season high 22 points vs. Indiana
on 9 of 13 shooting. He scored in double figures 13 times and scoring 15+ points 9 times. He was slowed by a toe injury mid-season causing him to be out of the lineup for two weeks. He was named to the Big Ten
All-Tournament Team leading Illinois with 16 points in the title game vs. Ohio State. He participated on the Big Ten European Tour team and led the squad in scoring 14 points per game.
and followed that performance with a team-high 15-point, eight-rebound game in a Sweet 16 loss to Duke
. Powell entered the NBA draft
but did not sign with an agent and was not drafted allowing him to return for his senior season.
In his final season, Powell was named an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection by both league coaches and media. He was a member of the national runner-up Illini who tied an NCAA record with 37 wins. He started every game and ranked fourth on the team in scoring, averaging 12.0 points per game, and scoring in double figures in 26 of 39 games. He was second on the Illini and eleventh in the Big Ten averaging 5.7 rebounds per game. He was named Big Ten player of the week on December 6 following wins over Wake Forest
(19 points) and Arkansas
(19 points, 11 rebounds).
He scored his 1,000th point vs. Indiana on Feb. 6 and ended his career ranked 26th on the Illini all-time scoring list with 1,178 career points. He also ranks fifth in school history in career field goal percentage at 57.2 percent (456-797).
G-GS = Games Played and Games Started
Min-Avg = Minutes per season and average minutes per game
FGM-A/% = Field Goals Made per Attempts and Percentage
3PM-A/% = Three Point Field Goals Made per Attempts and Percentage
FTM-A/% = Free Throws Made per Attempts and Percentage
OR-DR—TOT/Avg = Offensive Rebounds, Defensive Rebounds, Total Rebounds, and Average per game
PF-DQ = Personal Fouls and Disqualifications
A = Assists
TO = Turnovers
B = Blocks
S = Steals
PTS/Avg = Total Points and Average Points per Game
' training roster but failed to make the final roster.
Powell then decided to play in the Continental Basketball Association
(CBA). The Rockford Lightning
drafted Powell in the fourth round (30th overall selection) of the CBA draft in 2005. He enjoyed unparalleled success with the Lightning. The CBA named Powell the Rookie of the Year for the 2005-06 season, voted on by the eight CBA head coaches.
Powell continued to pursue a career in the NBA trying out for the Utah Jazz
where he was reunited with former Illini teammates Dee Brown and Deron Williams
. After working relentlessly over the summer, Powell made the Jazz's final roster for the 2006-07 NBA season
. However, he was cut in mid-January, having scored his first points in the NBA with a pair of free throws on November 18, 2006 against the Phoenix Suns
after being fouled by Shawn Marion
.
He then played for the Arkansas Rimrockers
of the NBDL. Powell was named the D-League's player of the month for February 2007, averaging 27.6 points and 7.3 rebounds in 11 games, scoring at least 19 in each of the 11, including 46 in a February 2 game against the Fort Worth Flyers
. In April 2007, he received the NBA Development League 2006-2007 Jason Collier Sportsmanship Award for Conduct and Character on court.
In 2007-08, he joined Teramo Basket
of Serie A
in Italy.
In October 2008, he joined the Chicago Bulls but did not make the final roster.
In 2008-09, he joined Hapoel Jerusalem of the Israeli League.
In 2009-10, he joined CB Murcia
of Spain's Liga ACB, the top division of Spain's professional leagues.
In February 2010 he signed a three-month contract with JDA Dijon in France
.
He spent the 2010 preseason on the Chicago Bulls
' training camp roster. However, he was waived on October 21.
On October 28, 2010 he signed a contract with the German club Skyliners Frankfurt until mid-January, with an extension option until the end of the season.
, as an assistant.
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 played collegiately
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...
from 2001–2005, after having attended Joliet High School, with a 2001 graduation. Powell played the forward position for his high school and in college. He graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in speech communications. Powell's father was a former Joliet Central High School
Joliet Central High School
Joliet Central High School is a public secondary school located in Joliet, Illinois. Central is part of Joliet Township High Schools, along with Joliet West and Joliet East . Prior to the opening of Joliet East and West, the school was called Joliet Township High School...
and Illinois State player.
High school career
Powell was a three-year starter and a four-year letter winner for Joliet Township High School. As a junior, he led the Steelmen to a 20-8 record averaging 19 points and eight rebounds. Powell helped his squad win the SICA West Conference as a junior and senior. Also as a junior, he earned a bronze medal as a member of the 1999 USA Basketball Men's Youth Development Festival North Team. Powell also made the Pontiac Holiday Tourney all-Tournament Team and was second team all state.As a senior, Powell averaged 20.7 points and nine rebounds for a 25-5 sectional finalist that was ranked No. 3 in the 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...
area. He earned First Team All State honors at Joliet in 2001 from the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
, Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. It is the flagship paper of the Sun-Times Media Group.-History:The Chicago Sun-Times is the oldest continuously published daily newspaper in the city...
, Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette, Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
and Illinois Basketball Coaches Association. He was considered a consensus Top 100 prospect in the nation and was fourth in voting for Mr. Basketball in Illinois. He played in the Wendy's All-Star Classic and earned MVP honors at the IBCA All-Star Game following his senior year. In 2007, Powell was voted one of the "100 Legends of the IHSA
Illinois High School Association
The Illinois High School Association is one of 521 state high school associations in the United States, designed to regulate competition in most interscholastic sports and some interscholastic activities at the high school level. It is a charter member of the National Federation of State High...
Boys Basketball Tournament," recognizing his superior performance in his appearances in the tournament.
Early college career
As a true freshman, Powell played in 27 games and averaged 2.9 points and 1.8 rebounds per game. In his first year, he scored a season high 12 points against Western Illinois. He played a season high 15 minutes against Loyola-Chicago where he scored five points and added five rebounds. His role was primarily to provide a spark off the bench which he did against Wisconsin, scoring six points on 3 of 3 shooting and grabbing four rebounds, three offensive. In the NCAA tournamentNCAA 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...
, he provided four points and four rebounds in seven minutes of play in Illinois' first round win against San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
.
In his sophomore season, Powell started 19 games including 10 of the last 11. He led the Big Ten in field goal percentage in conference games with a 64.1 percent mark. He was third on the team in scoring with 8.7 points per game. He scored a season high 22 points vs. Indiana
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
on 9 of 13 shooting. He scored in double figures 13 times and scoring 15+ points 9 times. He was slowed by a toe injury mid-season causing him to be out of the lineup for two weeks. He was named to the Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
All-Tournament Team leading Illinois with 16 points in the title game vs. Ohio State. He participated on the Big Ten European Tour team and led the squad in scoring 14 points per game.
Late college career
In his third season with the Illini, Powell was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection. Powell started 31 games on the season missing some time due to a concussion suffered in a Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal game against Indiana. He averaged 11.6 points per game, putting him third on the team and 20th in the Big Ten. He also averaged 5 rebounds a game which was second on the team. He ranked third in the Big Ten in field goal shooting at 59.5 percent. He was also second on the team in offensive rebounding notching 75 on the season. Powell scored a career- high 24 points and grabbed nine rebounds at Wisconsin on January 24, 2004. In the NCAA tournament, he scored 22 points on 9-11 shooting in the NCAA Tournament second- round win over CincinnatiUniversity of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
and followed that performance with a team-high 15-point, eight-rebound game in a Sweet 16 loss to Duke
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
. Powell entered the NBA draft
NBA Draft
The NBA Draft is an annual event in which the thirty teams from the National Basketball Association can draft players who are eligible and wish to join the league. These players are usually amateur U.S. college basketball players, but international players are also eligible to be drafted...
but did not sign with an agent and was not drafted allowing him to return for his senior season.
In his final season, Powell was named an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection by both league coaches and media. He was a member of the national runner-up Illini who tied an NCAA record with 37 wins. He started every game and ranked fourth on the team in scoring, averaging 12.0 points per game, and scoring in double figures in 26 of 39 games. He was second on the Illini and eleventh in the Big Ten averaging 5.7 rebounds per game. He was named Big Ten player of the week on December 6 following wins over Wake Forest
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
(19 points) and Arkansas
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
(19 points, 11 rebounds).
He scored his 1,000th point vs. Indiana on Feb. 6 and ended his career ranked 26th on the Illini all-time scoring list with 1,178 career points. He also ranks fifth in school history in career field goal percentage at 57.2 percent (456-797).
Career college statistics
| Year | G-GS | Min-Avg | FGM-A/% | 3PM-A/% | FTM-A/% | OR-DR—TOT/Avg | PF-DQ | A | TO | B | S | PTS/Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01-02 | 27-0 | 160-5.9 | 27-50/.540 | 3-5/.600 | 22-36/.611 | 19-29—48/1.8 | 21-0 | 2 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 79/2.9 |
| 02-03 | 30-19 | 558-18.6 | 104-176/.591 | 20-49/.408 | 33-57/.579 | 40-61—101/3.4 | 46-0 | 12 | 24 | 12 | 9 | 261/8.7 |
| 03-04 | 32-31 | 856-26.8 | 150-252/.595 | 4-12/.333 | 67-105/.638 | 75-85—160/5.0 | 78-1 | 22 | 40 | 14 | 21 | 371/11.6 |
| 04-05 | 39-39 | 979-25.1 | 175-319/.549 | 20-52/.385 | 97-133/.729 | 103-119—222/5.7 | 102-0 | 16 | 42 | 9 | 25 | 467/12.0 |
| Totals | 128-89 | 2553-19.9 | 456-797/.572 | 47-118/.398 | 219-331/.662 | 237-294—531/4.1 | 247-1 | 52 | 116 | 39 | 58 | 1178/9.2 |
G-GS = Games Played and Games Started
Min-Avg = Minutes per season and average minutes per game
FGM-A/% = Field Goals Made per Attempts and Percentage
3PM-A/% = Three Point Field Goals Made per Attempts and Percentage
FTM-A/% = Free Throws Made per Attempts and Percentage
OR-DR—TOT/Avg = Offensive Rebounds, Defensive Rebounds, Total Rebounds, and Average per game
PF-DQ = Personal Fouls and Disqualifications
A = Assists
TO = Turnovers
B = Blocks
S = Steals
PTS/Avg = Total Points and Average Points per Game
Professional career
Powell participated in various NBA summer leagues looking to be picked up by an NBA roster. He eventually made the Seattle SuperSonicsSeattle 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...
' training roster but failed to make the final roster.
Powell then decided to play in the Continental Basketball Association
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 :...
(CBA). The Rockford Lightning
Rockford Lightning
The Rockford Lightning were a basketball team that played in the Continental Basketball Association. They were based in Rockford, Illinois. The Lightning were the oldest team in the CBA, originally existing as the Lancaster Red Roses from Lancaster, Pennsylvania...
drafted Powell in the fourth round (30th overall selection) of the CBA draft in 2005. He enjoyed unparalleled success with the Lightning. The CBA named Powell the Rookie of the Year for the 2005-06 season, voted on by the eight CBA head coaches.
Powell continued to pursue a career in the NBA trying out for the Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
where he was reunited with former Illini teammates Dee Brown and Deron Williams
Deron Williams
Deron Michael Williams , nicknamed D-Will, is an American basketball player currently with the New Jersey Nets of the National Basketball Association . Williams has also played for the Utah Jazz of the NBA and Beşiktaş of the Turkish Basketball League...
. After working relentlessly over the summer, Powell made the Jazz's final roster for the 2006-07 NBA season
2006-07 NBA season
The 2006–07 NBA season was the 61st season of the National Basketball Association. The regular season began on October 31, 2006 and ran through April 18, 2007. The league fielded 30 teams, each playing an 82 game regular season schedule. The top eight seeds from each conference reached the NBA...
. However, he was cut in mid-January, having scored his first points in the NBA with a pair of free throws on November 18, 2006 against the Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
after being fouled by Shawn Marion
Shawn Marion
Shawn Dwayne Marion is an American professional basketball player currently with the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association. Born in Waukegan, Illinois, Marion attended high school in Clarksville, Tennessee. Before transferring to the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, Marion...
.
He then played for the Arkansas Rimrockers
Arkansas RimRockers
The Arkansas RimRockers were a NBA Development League team. They participated in minor league basketball based in Little Rock, Arkansas.Logo design: A red, white, and blue ball going through a basketball rim ....
of the NBDL. Powell was named the D-League's player of the month for February 2007, averaging 27.6 points and 7.3 rebounds in 11 games, scoring at least 19 in each of the 11, including 46 in a February 2 game against the Fort Worth Flyers
Fort Worth Flyers
The Fort Worth Flyers is the name of a now defunct team of the NBA Development League minor league basketball expansion team based in Fort Worth, Texas. They began play in the 2005-06 season. The decision was made by the NBADL to not operate this team for the 2007-08 season.- Franchise history...
. In April 2007, he received the NBA Development League 2006-2007 Jason Collier Sportsmanship Award for Conduct and Character on court.
In 2007-08, he joined Teramo Basket
Teramo Basket
Teramo Basket is a professional basketball club that is based in Teramo, Italy and plays in the Italian League. For sponsorship reasons, it is also known as Bancatercas Teramo. For past club sponsorship names, see the list below.-History:...
of 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...
in Italy.
In October 2008, he joined the Chicago Bulls but did not make the final roster.
In 2008-09, he joined Hapoel Jerusalem of the Israeli League.
In 2009-10, he joined CB Murcia
CB Murcia
Club Baloncesto Murcia, S.A.D., also known as UCAM Murcia by sponsorship reasons, is a professional basketball team based in Murcia, Region of Murcia, Spain. The team plays in ACB...
of Spain's Liga ACB, the top division of Spain's professional leagues.
In February 2010 he signed a three-month contract with JDA Dijon in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
He spent the 2010 preseason on the 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...
' training camp roster. However, he was waived on October 21.
On October 28, 2010 he signed a contract with the German club Skyliners Frankfurt until mid-January, with an extension option until the end of the season.
Coaching career
On June 28, 2011 Powell joined the coaching staff of Valparaiso Crusaders men's basketballValparaiso Crusaders men's basketball
The Valparaiso Crusaders Basketball team is the basketball team that represent Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana. The school's team currently competes in the Horizon League. The team last played in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in 2004. The Crusaders are currently...
, as an assistant.
External links
- Player profile @ NBA.com
- Roger Powell, Jr.'s official ministry website
- http://fightingillini.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/powelljr_roger00.html
- http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/player/profile?playerId=5112