Christmas Fern – Polystichum acrostichoides

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Gregory Hilko Wiltjer (born November 26, 1960) is a Canadian former professional basketball player, Olympian, NJCAA All-American and CIAU All-Canadian. He was drafted 43rd overall in the 1984 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] He spent 12 seasons playing professionally in Europe where he won the FIBA European Cup Winners' Cup with FC Barcelona (1985-86); and two Greek League Championships and two Greek Cups (1988, 1989) with Aris Thessaloniki.[1][2][7]

He played for the Canada men's national basketball team in multiple international tournaments, including the 1984 Olympics where Wiltjer finished 2nd overall in rebounding[1][2][7] and Canada finished 4th overall in the tournament;[7][8] in the 1983 World Student Games where Canada won gold;[7][8] in the 1985 World Student Games where Canada won bronze;[7] and in three FIBA World Championships.[1][2][7][9]

He was named a NJCAA All-American while playing for North Idaho College[3] and a CIAU All-Canadian while playing for the University of Victoria.[4][10]

Professional career

Wiltjer was selected in the second round (43rd overall) in the 1983 NBA Draft.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] He later played 12 seasons professionally in Europe.[2][3][6] While playing for the Spanish Club FC Barcelona in the 1985-86 season, he won the FIBA European Cup Winners’ Cup.[1][2][3][7] While playing for the Greek Club Aris Thessaloniki, he won two Greek League championships and two Greek Cups in 1988 and 1989.[1][2][3][7] In the 1993-94 season, Wiltjer played for the CBA team Quad City Thunder,[4] who won the CBA championship that year.[11]

International career

Wiltjer represented Canada in many international tournaments, including the 1984 Olympics.[1][2][7][9] Wiltjer played well in these '84 Olympics, finishing second overall among all Olympians in rebounding that year.[1][2][9] These 1984 Olympics were notable because Canada finished 4th overall, narrowly missing a medal.[8][12][13] This 1984 bronze-medal game constituted the only time in 80+ years where Canada had a legitimate chance of winning an Olympic medal in basketball.[8] This bronze medal game was highly competitive, being tied 18 times with 12 lead changes, with Canada being within one point with less than a minute of play remaining.[8] Wiltjer "had a phenomenal game" in this important moment in Canadian basketball history, scoring 12 points and grabbing 8 rebounds.[8]

Wiltjer represented Canada in the 1983 and 1985 World Student Games.[7] In the 1983 World Student Games, Canada won the gold medal.[7][13][14][15] This constituted one of the finest moments in Canadian basketball history, being the only time in which Canada has won the gold medal in an international basketball tournament.[16] In the semifinals of this tournament, Canada defeated a talented US team led by future NBA legends Charles Barkley and Karl Malone.[13][14][15] In the 1985 World Student Games, Canada won the bronze medal.[2][7][13]

Wiltjer also represented Canada in three FIBA World Championships (1982, 1986, 1994)[1][2][7][9] where notably, Canada finished 4th in 1982.[12][17]

High school / college / university

Wiltjer attended Parkland Secondary School for high school, where in 1979, he led the team to Island championship and the semifinals of the BC high school championship.[7]

Witljer then played two seasons for Northern Idaho College (1979 - 1981).[4][5][6] Prior to 2009, he was NIC's only first-team NJCAA basketball All-American.[3] He led NIC to the most wins in school history in 1980 and a 10th place national finish.[3] He still ranks fourth in NIC career rebounding and field goal percentage.[3]

The next season Wiltjer transferred to Oregon State University,[1][5][6][7] with the Beavers reaching the NCAA Elite Eight that season.[3]

Wiltjer then transferred to the University of Victoria and after a mandatory year of non-play due to the transfer, he helped UVic win their fifth consecutive national championship in the 1983-84 season.[1][2][3][7] During this season, he was named a First Team All-Canadian, the CIAU Championship MVP and Canada West First Team All-Star.[4][10] He averaged over 20 points and 11 rebounds per game[4] and helped UVic go undefeated that season.[7]

Post career

Wiltjer was inducted into the Canada Basketball Hall of Fame (2023),[1] the Basketball BC Hall of Fame (2009)[2] and the Northern Idaho College Sports Hall of Fame (2009).[3]

Personal

Wiltjer was born on November 26, 1960, in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada.[5] Wiltjer's son, Kyle Wiltjer, played basketball for Kentucky,[4] Gonzaga,[4] the Houston Rockets[18] and as of 2023, plays professionally in Italy.[19] Greg Wilter's daughter, Jordan Adams played basketball for New Mexico and the Minnesota Lynx.[4]

Sources

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "CANADIAN BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2023 ANNOUNCED". Canada Basketball. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES". Basketball BC Hall of Fame. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Athletics Hall of Fame". North Idaho Athletics. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Greg Wiltjer". U Sports Hoops. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Greg Wiltjer". The Draft Review. 4 June 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Greg Wiltjer". Archived from the original on 2017-11-07. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Dheensaw, Cleve (21 June 2023). "Former Parkland, UVic star and Olympian Wiltjer to be inducted into Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame". Times Colonist. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "Reflecting on when Karl Tilleman, Eli Pasquale, and Their Fellow Canadian University Teammates Took a Shot at Ruling the Basketball World". Somers Point News. 24 April 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  9. ^ a b c d "Gregory Hilko WILTJER". FIBA Archive. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  10. ^ a b "1983-84 Men's Basketball National Championship". University of Victoria Athletics. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  11. ^ "1993-94 Continental Basketball Association Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  12. ^ a b "Eli Pasquale — Athlete Induction Class of 2003" (PDF). Canada Basketball Hall of Fame. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  13. ^ a b c d "Eli Pasquale". BC Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  14. ^ a b "Eli Pasquale (MBB | Student-athlete)". Canada West Hall of Fame. 12 January 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  15. ^ a b "ELI PASQUALE". UVic Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  16. ^ "Canada wins gold medal in basketball". Ellensburg Daily Record. 12 June 1983. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  17. ^ "All Inductees". Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  18. ^ "Kyle Wiltjer 2016-17 Game Log". Basketball Reference. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  19. ^ "Reyer completes signing of Kyle Wiltjer". Euro League Basketball. 21 September 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
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