Damir Krupalija
Encyclopedia
Damir Krupalija is a Bosnian professional basketball
player. Krupalija played at the University of Illinois
in the US from 1998 to 2002. Currently, he is a member of Spanish Bilbao Basket.
for three years before coming to the United States
in 1995. His parents, Sead and Zora Krupalija, joined him a year later.
, Krupalija attended Boylan Catholic High School
in Rockford, Illinois
, where he led the Titan basketball team to a fourth place finish in the 1997 Illinois state tournament. In 1998, he was named an all-state selection by the Chicago Tribune
and Associated Press
. He was also named to the 1996 and 1997 State Farm Holiday Classic All-Tournament teams, and in 2003 was named to the Holiday Classic All-Quarter Century Team voted on by the fans.
After graduating from high school, Krupalija played basketball for the University of Illinois. Although his career at Illinois was often hampered by injuries, the 6'9" forward was well regarded for his rebounding ability and fiery attitude on the court. In his senior year (2001–2002), Krupalija, coming off the bench, was named as the Most Valuable Player at the Las Vegas Invitational Tournament.
In 2002, Krupalija moved to Poland
, where he played forward for Anwil Wloclawek
and won the 2002-2003 Polish National Championship. The following season he relocated to Belgium
and joined Spirou Charleroi. They won the 2003-2004 Belgian National Championship. He played for Spirou Charleroi until end of 2007 season.
As of 2010, Krupalija plays for French team Hyères-Toulon Var Basket
. In November 2011, he signs with Bilbao Basket for a month and a half.
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. Krupalija played 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...
in the US from 1998 to 2002. Currently, he is a member of Spanish Bilbao Basket.
Early years
Krupalija fled his war-torn country in 1992, living in the Czech RepublicCzech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
for three years before coming to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1995. His parents, Sead and Zora Krupalija, joined him a year later.
Career
After arriving in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Krupalija attended Boylan Catholic High School
Boylan Catholic High School
Boylan Catholic High School is a private Catholic school located in the city of Rockford, Illinois. Founded in 1960, Boylan is the only Catholic high school in Rockford, and has 1187 students at the start of the 2010-2011 school year...
in Rockford, Illinois
Rockford, Illinois
Rockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Often referred to as "The Forest City", Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2010 U.S. census, the city was home to 152,871 people, the third most populated...
, where he led the Titan basketball team to a fourth place finish in the 1997 Illinois state tournament. In 1998, he was named an all-state selection by 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...
and 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...
. He was also named to the 1996 and 1997 State Farm Holiday Classic All-Tournament teams, and in 2003 was named to the Holiday Classic All-Quarter Century Team voted on by the fans.
After graduating from high school, Krupalija played basketball for the University of Illinois. Although his career at Illinois was often hampered by injuries, the 6'9" forward was well regarded for his rebounding ability and fiery attitude on the court. In his senior year (2001–2002), Krupalija, coming off the bench, was named as the Most Valuable Player at the Las Vegas Invitational Tournament.
In 2002, Krupalija moved to Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, where he played forward for Anwil Wloclawek
Anwil Wloclawek
Włocławskie Towarzystwo Koszykówki Anwil Włocławek is a Polish professional basketball team, based in Włocławek, Poland. The team plays in the Polish League and the ULEB Eurocup...
and won the 2002-2003 Polish National Championship. The following season he relocated to Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and joined Spirou Charleroi. They won the 2003-2004 Belgian National Championship. He played for Spirou Charleroi until end of 2007 season.
As of 2010, Krupalija plays for French team Hyères-Toulon Var Basket
Hyères-Toulon Var Basket
Hyères-Toulon Var Basket is a professional basketball club based in Hyères and Toulon, France playing in the Pro A.Created by the merger of Omni Sport Hyerois and Club Sportif Toulonnais, the club shares its home games between the Espace 3000 in Hyères and the Palais des Sports in Toulon....
. In November 2011, he signs with Bilbao Basket for a month and a half.