Gerald Fitch
Encyclopedia
Gerald Edwind Fitch is an American professional basketball
player currently with the Euroleague
team Unicaja Málaga in Spain. He played college basketball at the University of Kentucky
and has played internationally and in the National Basketball Association
in the United States.
his senior year at Westside High School
in Macon, Georgia
. Fitch entered the starting lineup early in his freshman year, and was named to the All-SEC
Freshman Team. Fitch had a successful four years at Kentucky, leading the team to records of 32-4 and 27-5 in his junior and senior years, respectively. His college career ended, however, with a missed shot at the buzzer to seal an upset loss to UAB
in the second round of the 2004 NCAA Tournament
.
, Fitch signed with the Washington Wizards
prior to the 2004-05 season
. He received playing time in the preseason, but was cut prior to the start of the regular season. Fitch then spent that season playing overseas in the Euroleague
and the Ukraine
Superleague. Prior to the 2005-06 season
, Fitch signed with the Miami Heat
, where he was used as third string point guard
behind Jason Williams and Gary Payton
. At the trade deadline on February 23, 2006, he was shipped to the Houston Rockets
in exchange for Derek Anderson, and waived before ever playing a game for them. On March 7, 2006, Fitch was assigned to the Austin Toros
of the NBA Development League
. The following season he played for Turkish team Galatasaray Café Crown
. On October 1, 2007, the Detroit Pistons
signed Fitch via free agency, but he was eventually released during preseason. At the end of 2007 he transferred to Pallacanestro Cantù
.
On January 25, 2011 he signed with Unicaja Málaga in Spain until the end of 2011-12 season.
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 currently with the Euroleague
Euroleague
Euroleague Basketball, commonly known as the Euroleague, is the highest level tier and most important professional club basketball competition in Europe, with teams from up to 18 different countries, members of FIBA Europe. For sponsorship reasons, for five seasons starting with 2010–2011, it is...
team Unicaja Málaga in Spain. He played college basketball at the University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
and has played internationally and in the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
in the United States.
College career
Fitch came to Kentucky in 2000 after being named Mr. Basketball in the state of GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
his senior year at Westside High School
Westside High School (Macon, Georgia)
Westside High School is a public high school located in Macon, Georgia. Opened in 1997, it is the largest school in the Bibb County school district. They educate students in grades 9-12. Pat Coxsey was the school's principal from Westside's establishment in 1997 until her retirement in 2006....
in Macon, Georgia
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
. Fitch entered the starting lineup early in his freshman year, and was named to the All-SEC
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
Freshman Team. Fitch had a successful four years at Kentucky, leading the team to records of 32-4 and 27-5 in his junior and senior years, respectively. His college career ended, however, with a missed shot at the buzzer to seal an upset loss to UAB
University of Alabama at Birmingham
The University of Alabama at Birmingham is a public university in Birmingham in the U.S. state of Alabama. Developing from an extension center established in 1936, the institution became an autonomous institution in 1969 and is today one of three institutions in the University of Alabama System...
in the second round of the 2004 NCAA Tournament
NCAA 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...
.
Professional career
After going undrafted in the 2004 NBA Draft2004 NBA Draft
The 2004 NBA Draft was held on June 24, 2004 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York and was broadcast live on ESPN at 7:00 pm . In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible...
, Fitch signed with the Washington Wizards
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
prior to the 2004-05 season
2004-05 NBA season
The 2004–05 NBA season was the 59th season of the National Basketball Association . It began on November 2, 2004 and ended June 23, 2005. The season ended with the San Antonio Spurs defeating defending champion Detroit Pistons 4–3 in the NBA Finals....
. He received playing time in the preseason, but was cut prior to the start of the regular season. Fitch then spent that season playing overseas in the Euroleague
Euroleague
Euroleague Basketball, commonly known as the Euroleague, is the highest level tier and most important professional club basketball competition in Europe, with teams from up to 18 different countries, members of FIBA Europe. For sponsorship reasons, for five seasons starting with 2010–2011, it is...
and the Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
Superleague. Prior to the 2005-06 season
2005-06 NBA season
The 2005–06 NBA season was the 60th season of the National Basketball Association. It began on November 1, 2005 and ran through April 19, 2006...
, Fitch signed with 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...
, where he was used as third string point guard
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
behind Jason Williams and Gary Payton
Gary Payton
Gary Dwayne Payton is a former American professional basketball point guard. He is best known for his 13-year tenure with the Seattle SuperSonics, and holds Seattle franchise records in points, assists, and steals...
. At the trade deadline on February 23, 2006, he was shipped to the Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
in exchange for Derek Anderson, and waived before ever playing a game for them. On March 7, 2006, Fitch was assigned to the Austin Toros
Austin Toros
The Austin Toros are a NBA Development League minor league basketball team based in Cedar Park, Texas, United States.The team plays home games at Cedar Park Center.Their logo is the design of a bull and basketball with the state of Texas in the background...
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...
. The following season he played for Turkish team Galatasaray Café Crown
Galatasaray Café Crown
Galatasaray Medical Park is a professional basketball team based in the city of Istanbul in Turkey. It is a part of the Galatasaray Sports Club.Galatasaray play matches in Abdi İpekçi Arena which has a seating capacity for 12,500 spectators...
. On October 1, 2007, the Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
signed Fitch via free agency, but he was eventually released during preseason. At the end of 2007 he transferred to Pallacanestro Cantù
Pallacanestro Cantù
Pallacanestro Cantù is an Italian League professional basketball club that is based in Cantù. For sponsorship reasons, it is also known as Bennet Cantù, after Bennet, an Italian supermarket chain. For past club sponsorship names, see the list below...
.
On January 25, 2011 he signed with Unicaja Málaga in Spain until the end of 2011-12 season.