Scott Burrell
Encyclopedia
Scott David Burrell is an American retired professional basketball
player and current assistant coach for Quinnipiac University
. He has played internationally and was also a professional baseball player. Burrell was also the first American athlete to be a first round draft-pick of two major sporting organizations (the NBA and MLB).
. A 6'7" multi-sport star at Hamden High School
in Connecticut, Burrell was drafted by baseball's Seattle Mariners
during his senior year. The Mariners wanted to develop Burrell as a pitcher
and suggested that he bypass college for the minor leagues. However, Burrell wanted to attend college and made plans to play football and baseball at the University of Miami (FL) before University of Connecticut
assistant basketball coach Howie Dickenman
convinced Burrell to play basketball for the Huskies.
, and Burrell decided to spend his summers playing minor league baseball while concentrating on basketball for the rest of the year. Burrell's basketball career would quickly overshadow his baseball career, however, as he became the first player in NCAA
history to compile over 1,500 points, 750 rebounds, 275 assists and 300 steals. Scott will forever be remembered in the annals of UConn basketball history for his full court pass with 1 second on the clock to Tate George
, who hit a shot as time expired to beat Clemson
in the East Regional Semi-final in the 1990 NCAA tournament.
with the 20th pick of the 1993 NBA Draft
. He averaged 4.8 points per game during his rookie season, but he blossomed during his sophomore year, averaging 11.5 points and finishing third in voting for the NBA Most Improved Player Award
. That year, he also finished third at the AT&T Long-Distance Shootout
. During the 1995-96 NBA season
, however, injuries limited Burrell to 20 games, and he would be reduced to a supporting role during the rest of his career. He split the 1996-97 season between the Hornets and the Golden State Warriors
, averaging only 5.9 points per game, before being traded by the Warriors to the Chicago Bulls for Dickey Simpkins
in the fall of 1997. However, Burrell was able to win his first and only NBA Championship ring during his season with the Bulls, and he would play three more seasons after that (with the New Jersey Nets
and Charlotte Hornets) before taking his career overseas. Burrell's international stops have included China, the Philippines, and Japan.
in his hometown of Hamden, Connecticut
. He coaches under former UConn assistant coach Tom Moore
. Burrell went back to school and received his Bachelors degree in General Studies from the University of Connecticut on May 8, 2010.
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 and current assistant coach for Quinnipiac University
Quinnipiac University
Quinnipiac University is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational university located in Hamden, Connecticut, United States at the foot of Sleeping Giant State Park...
. He has played internationally and was also a professional baseball player. Burrell was also the first American athlete to be a first round draft-pick of two major sporting organizations (the NBA and MLB).
Early life
Burrell was born in New Haven, ConnecticutNew Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
. A 6'7" multi-sport star at Hamden High School
Hamden High School
Hamden High School is a four year high school for grades 9 through 12. It is located at 2040 Dixwell Avenue in Hamden, Connecticut. It is part of the Hamden Public School System and is the only public high school within the town of Hamden....
in Connecticut, Burrell was drafted by baseball's Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
during his senior year. The Mariners wanted to develop Burrell as a pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
and suggested that he bypass college for the minor leagues. However, Burrell wanted to attend college and made plans to play football and baseball at the University of Miami (FL) before University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
assistant basketball coach Howie Dickenman
Howie Dickenman
Howie Dickenman is an American college basketball coach and the current head men's basketball coach for the Central Connecticut Blue Devils. He is the second-longest tenured head coach in program history...
convinced Burrell to play basketball for the Huskies.
College career
After his freshman year at University of Connecticut, Burrell was drafted by another baseball team, the Toronto Blue JaysToronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
, and Burrell decided to spend his summers playing minor league baseball while concentrating on basketball for the rest of the year. Burrell's basketball career would quickly overshadow his baseball career, however, as he became the first player in NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
history to compile over 1,500 points, 750 rebounds, 275 assists and 300 steals. Scott will forever be remembered in the annals of UConn basketball history for his full court pass with 1 second on the clock to Tate George
Tate George
Tate Claude George is an American businessman and former professional basketball player who was selected by the New Jersey Nets with the 22nd overall pick in the 1990 NBA Draft from the University of Connecticut...
, who hit a shot as time expired to beat Clemson
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
in the East Regional Semi-final in the 1990 NCAA tournament.
Professional career
Burrell was selected by the Charlotte HornetsNew Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets
The New Orleans Hornets are a professional basketball team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They play in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association. The franchise began play during the 1988–89 NBA season as the Charlotte Hornets, based in Charlotte,...
with the 20th pick of the 1993 NBA Draft
1993 NBA Draft
The 1993 NBA Draft took place on June 30, 1993 in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The draft had some talented players at the top, but injuries and personal problems hurt many of them. Anfernee Hardaway, Allan Houston, and Jamal Mashburn all looked like possible Hall of Famers until their careers were cut...
. He averaged 4.8 points per game during his rookie season, but he blossomed during his sophomore year, averaging 11.5 points and finishing third in voting for the NBA Most Improved Player Award
NBA Most Improved Player Award
The National Basketball Association's Most Improved Player Award is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1985–86 NBA season, to the most improved player of the regular season. The winner is selected by a panel of sportswriters throughout the United States and Canada,...
. That year, he also finished third at the AT&T Long-Distance Shootout
Three-point Shootout
The Three-Point Shootout is a National Basketball Association contest held on the Saturday before the annual All-Star Game as part of the All-Star Weekend. In this contest, participants attempt to make as many three-point field goals as possible from five positions behind the three-point arc...
. During the 1995-96 NBA season
1995-96 NBA season
The 1995–96 NBA season was the 50th season of the National Basketball Association , although the league didn't celebrate this anniversary until the following season...
, however, injuries limited Burrell to 20 games, and he would be reduced to a supporting role during the rest of his career. He split the 1996-97 season between the Hornets and the Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, averaging only 5.9 points per game, before being traded by the Warriors to the Chicago Bulls for Dickey Simpkins
Dickey Simpkins
LuBara Dixon "Dickey" Simpkins is an American former professional basketball player best known for his tenure with the Chicago Bulls in the late 1990s...
in the fall of 1997. However, Burrell was able to win his first and only NBA Championship ring during his season with the Bulls, and he would play three more seasons after that (with the New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
and Charlotte Hornets) before taking his career overseas. Burrell's international stops have included China, the Philippines, and Japan.
Personal
Burrell is currently the assistant men's basketball coach at Quinnipiac UniversityQuinnipiac University
Quinnipiac University is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational university located in Hamden, Connecticut, United States at the foot of Sleeping Giant State Park...
in his hometown of Hamden, Connecticut
Hamden, Connecticut
Hamden is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The town's nickname is "The Land of the Sleeping Giant." Hamden is home to Quinnipiac University. The population was 58,180 according to the Census Bureau's 2005 estimates...
. He coaches under former UConn assistant coach Tom Moore
Tom Moore (basketball coach)
Tom Moore is the head men's basketball coach at Quinnipiac University. He took over the position vacated by Joe DeSantis in 2007 after 13 years as a member of the coaching staff at the University of Connecticut and five seasons of previous head coaching experience at Worcester State College...
. Burrell went back to school and received his Bachelors degree in General Studies from the University of Connecticut on May 8, 2010.
External links
- Player Profile @ NBA.com
- College & NBA Stats @ basketball-reference.com
- The Baseball Cube @ thebaseballcube.com
- Scott Burrell at quinnipiacbobcats.com