Rob Sawicki
Encyclopedia
Robert Michael Sawicki is a retired American professional basketball
player who most notably played a short stint with the Boston Celtics
in 2002 and several seasons in Europe. Sawicki grew up in Wayne, New Jersey
, and played high school basketball at Wayne Hills High School
. A 6'10" power forward from the University of South Alabama
and the University of Hartford
, Sawicki was a strong-athletic inside player who had tremendous ability to play on the perimeter. He had mid-range skills, was able put the ball on the floor and was a good passer in the post. He was an active rebounder and consistently ranked among the top rebounders in the nation. He averaged a double-double throughout his high school and collegiate career. In his NBA career, Sawicki played in 8 games and scored a total of 12 points. He has also played five years in Europe playing in Greece
(Panionios), Croatia
(KK Cibona Zagreb), Belgium
(Racing Basket Antwerp), Italy
(MABO Livorno), Russia
(CSKA Moscow) and France
(STRASBOURG IG) where he ultimately had a career ending knee injury. After basketball, Sawicki went on to a career in investment banking
.
and was nominated to the McDonald's All American game in 1995-96 as a senior. Sawicki attended the prestigious Adidas ABCD Camp for the top 100 players in the nation two years in a row. He averaged 25 points, 14-plus rebounds and six blocks over his junior and senior seasons. Holds Wayne Hills school record for rebounds and blocked shots and still holds the NJ State record for most three-pointers
in the NJ State 3-Point Shootout Competition where he shot an astounding 29 for 30 in the final round to claim the 3-Point Championship. Sawicki led his high school team to the Group IV state sectional championship as a junior.
in 1996, and earned an M.B.A and B.S., Cum Laude, in Finance from the University of Hartford
.
In college basketball, at the University of South Alabama
Sawicki appeared in five games before suffering a broken ankle. He would return at the end of the season where he appeared in 3 more games including an NCAA Tournament
appearance against the eventual champion Arizona Wildcats
.
Sawicki transferred to Hartford in the fall of 1997. He sat out the 1997-1998 season as a transfer student. In his first year with the Hawks, led the team in rebounding (10.5 rpg). Matched his career-high with 21 points in win against Boston University
. Notched his tenth double-double of the year with a career-best 21 points and 16 rebounds against Maine. Led the Hartford Hawks
with 18 points and a career-high 19 rebounds at University of Vermont
(1999). Scored 25 points in the loss to Holy Cross
. Scored 21 points with 11 rebounds in the Phoenix Classic Championship game against Central Connecticut
.
, first at Legg Mason
, then, since February 2007, at Gilford Securities.
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 who most notably played a short stint with the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
in 2002 and several seasons in Europe. Sawicki grew up in Wayne, New Jersey
Wayne, New Jersey
Wayne is a Township in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States, located less than from midtown Manhattan. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township had a total population of 54,069....
, and played high school basketball at Wayne Hills High School
Wayne Hills High School
Wayne Hills High School is a comprehensive community public high school, in Wayne, in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States, operating as one of the two high schools that are part of the Wayne Public Schools...
. A 6'10" power forward from the University of South Alabama
South Alabama Jaguars
The South Alabama Jaguars represent the University of South Alabama in NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletics.USA competes in the Sun Belt Conference; it is the conference's only remaining charter member from its inception. USA's athletics teams are nicknamed the Jaguars. Popular sports are...
and the University of Hartford
Hartford Hawks
The Hartford Hawks are the athletic teams of the University of Hartford. The school sponsors 18 varsity sports , all of which compete in the Division I America East Conference. The Hawks' colors are scarlet and white.-Teams:...
, Sawicki was a strong-athletic inside player who had tremendous ability to play on the perimeter. He had mid-range skills, was able put the ball on the floor and was a good passer in the post. He was an active rebounder and consistently ranked among the top rebounders in the nation. He averaged a double-double throughout his high school and collegiate career. In his NBA career, Sawicki played in 8 games and scored a total of 12 points. He has also played five years in Europe playing in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
(Panionios), Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
(KK Cibona Zagreb), 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...
(Racing Basket Antwerp), Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
(MABO Livorno), Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
(CSKA Moscow) and 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...
(STRASBOURG IG) where he ultimately had a career ending knee injury. After basketball, Sawicki went on to a career in investment banking
Investment banking
An investment bank is a financial institution that assists individuals, corporations and governments in raising capital by underwriting and/or acting as the client's agent in the issuance of securities...
.
High school
At Wayne Hills High School he was named a Street & Smith's All-AmericaAll-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
and was nominated to the McDonald's All American game in 1995-96 as a senior. Sawicki attended the prestigious Adidas ABCD Camp for the top 100 players in the nation two years in a row. He averaged 25 points, 14-plus rebounds and six blocks over his junior and senior seasons. Holds Wayne Hills school record for rebounds and blocked shots and still holds the NJ State record for most three-pointers
Three-point field goal
A three-point field goal is a field goal in a basketball game, made from beyond the three-point line, a designated arc radiating from the basket...
in the NJ State 3-Point Shootout Competition where he shot an astounding 29 for 30 in the final round to claim the 3-Point Championship. Sawicki led his high school team to the Group IV state sectional championship as a junior.
College
Sawicki began college at the University of South AlabamaUniversity of South Alabama
The University of South Alabama is a public, doctoral-level university in Mobile, Alabama, USA. It was created by the Alabama Legislature in 1963, and replaced existing extension programs operated in Mobile by the University of Alabama. No other areas of the state were willing to support such a...
in 1996, and earned an M.B.A and B.S., Cum Laude, in Finance from the University of Hartford
University of Hartford
The University of Hartford is a private, independent, nonsectarian, coeducational university located in West Hartford, Connecticut. The degree programs at the University of Hartford hold the highest levels of accreditation available in the US, including the Engineering Accreditation Commission of...
.
In college basketball, at the University of South Alabama
University of South Alabama
The University of South Alabama is a public, doctoral-level university in Mobile, Alabama, USA. It was created by the Alabama Legislature in 1963, and replaced existing extension programs operated in Mobile by the University of Alabama. No other areas of the state were willing to support such a...
Sawicki appeared in five games before suffering a broken ankle. He would return at the end of the season where he appeared in 3 more games including an 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...
appearance against the eventual champion Arizona Wildcats
Arizona Wildcats
-Athletic program:The University of Arizona participates in the NCAA's Division I-A in the Pacific-12 Conference Arizona participates in the conference's South Division, along with Arizona State, Colorado, UCLA, USC, and Utah...
.
Sawicki transferred to Hartford in the fall of 1997. He sat out the 1997-1998 season as a transfer student. In his first year with the Hawks, led the team in rebounding (10.5 rpg). Matched his career-high with 21 points in win against Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
. Notched his tenth double-double of the year with a career-best 21 points and 16 rebounds against Maine. Led the Hartford Hawks
Hartford Hawks
The Hartford Hawks are the athletic teams of the University of Hartford. The school sponsors 18 varsity sports , all of which compete in the Division I America East Conference. The Hawks' colors are scarlet and white.-Teams:...
with 18 points and a career-high 19 rebounds at University of Vermont
University of Vermont
The University of Vermont comprises seven undergraduate schools, an honors college, a graduate college, and a college of medicine. The Honors College does not offer its own degrees; students in the Honors College concurrently enroll in one of the university's seven undergraduate colleges or...
(1999). Scored 25 points in the loss to Holy Cross
College of the Holy Cross
The College of the Holy Cross is an undergraduate Roman Catholic liberal arts college located in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA...
. Scored 21 points with 11 rebounds in the Phoenix Classic Championship game against Central Connecticut
Central Connecticut State University
Central Connecticut State University is a state university in New Britain, Connecticut, United States.The school was moved to its present campus in 1922...
.
Basketball Evaluation (ESPN Magazine 2000)
Sawicki is a strong-athletic inside player who has tremendous ability to play on the perimeter. He has mid-range skills, can put the ball on the floor and is a good passer passer in the post. He is an active rebounder and consistently ranked among the top rebounders in the nation. He averaged a double-double throughout his high school and collegiate career and has definite pro potential, whether it be in the NBA or overseas, because players with his combination of height, athleticism and skill are not easy to find.Investment Banking
After basketball, Sawicki worked in investment bankingInvestment banking
An investment bank is a financial institution that assists individuals, corporations and governments in raising capital by underwriting and/or acting as the client's agent in the issuance of securities...
, first at Legg Mason
Legg Mason
Legg Mason, Inc. is an American-based global investment management firm with a focus on asset management. The company’s business is divided in two divisions: Americas and International...
, then, since February 2007, at Gilford Securities.