Roger Huggins
Encyclopedia
Roger Huggins is a British
former professional basketball
player, notable for earning more than 90 international caps with the England national team
and Great Britain national team
.
in 1988 to go to college at Hawaii Pacific University
, where he was honoured as an All-American in 1993 by the NAIA
. Following graduation in 1993, he unsuccessfully tried out for a career in the NBA and the Seattle Supersonics
before signing with Belgian
team Gent for the 199-94 season. After one season, Huggins returned to England to sign for British Basketball League
rookies Sheffield Sharks
in their first season in the premier division, winning both the Championship and the National Cup, whilst Huggins himself was named as the League's Most Valuable Player
and the English Basketball Association's Player of the Year for 1995. Two more successful seasons, including three consecutive appearances in the All-Star team (1995, 1996 and 1997), were spent at Sheffield where Huggins assured himself of a position as one of the most popular British players of all time.
In 1997 Huggins returned to Belgium, signing for Antwerp Giants, where he spent three seasons, including appearing in the Korać Cup
. In 1999, he was awareded the English Basketball Association's Player of the Year for the second time. In his final season with Antwerp (1999-00), Huggins averaged 14.9 points-per-game in 23 appearances, whilst raising it to 16.6 points-per-game in 8 appearances in the Korać Cup. During his three seasons at Antwerp, he was also honoured on the Belgian League
's All-Star team for 1998, 1999 and 2000. In 2000, Huggins moved to Athlon Ieper where he had an average of 17.7 points-per-game in 24 appearances, before moving to Israeli club Hapoel Jerusalem during the Spring of 2001 for the remainder of the season. Huggins played only 11 games in Jerusalem, but quickly became a fan favorite as he played an instrumental role in an upset of Maccabi Tel Aviv on his debut. He averaged 15.3 points and 5.7 rebounds over 28 minutes in seven playoff games that year as Jerusalem reached the Play-off finals. The following season Huggins returned to Belgium and moved to Spirou Charleroi
who were competing in Europe
's elite competition, the Euroleague, where he averaged a respectable 13.1 points-per-game over 29:49 minutes-per-game.
Huggins' second season at Spirou was just as prominent and he averaged 9.3 points in 30 games domestically and 9.1 points in 11 games in the ULEB Cup
. In 2003 he signed for Euphony Liège
scoring 11 points-per-game in 40 games and in 2004 he returned to Israel to sign with Bnei HaSharon
who were appearing in the FIBA Europe League. Huggins featured heavily in the Group stage, averaging 10.9 points in 12 games, but half-way through the season he returned to Belgium to sign for former Sheffield team-mate Chris Finch
's side Euphony Bree
. Two successful season's at Bree followed, including winning the Belgian League title in 2005, before Huggins returning to Liège and Spirou in 2006 before being reunited with Coach Finch at Dexia Mons-Hainaut
along with fellow Great Britain national team
players Nate Reinking
, Andrew Sullivan
and Mike Lenzly
for the 2007-08 season. Mons enjoyed an incredibly successful season in European competition and finished as Runners-up in the FIBA EuroCup, losing to Latvia
n team Barons LMT
63-62 in the final. Huggins featured for only 4 minutes in the final but averaged 7 points-per-game over the season in the EuroCup. Huggins retired from basketball in 2008, having previously retired from international basketball in 2007, havin helped Great Britain win promotion to Division A
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
former professional basketball
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, notable for earning more than 90 international caps with the England national team
England national basketball team
The England national basketball team represents England in international basketball competitions. The team is organized by England Basketball, the sport's governing body in England...
and Great Britain national team
Great Britain national basketball team
The Great Britain men's national basketball team, known as Great Britain or GB, is the national team for Great Britain in basketball...
.
Playing career
A 6ft7 forward, he started his career with Bracknell Pirates in 1986, where he spent two years before moving to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1988 to go to college at Hawaii Pacific University
Hawaii Pacific University
Hawaii Pacific University, also known as HPU, is a private, Nonsectarian, coeducational university located in Honolulu, Hawaii and Kaneohe, Hawaii. HPU founded in 1965 as Hawaii Pacific College by Paul C.T. Loo, Eureka Forbes, Elizabeth W...
, where he was honoured as an All-American in 1993 by the NAIA
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
. Following graduation in 1993, he unsuccessfully tried out for a career in the NBA and the Seattle Supersonics
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
before signing with Belgian
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...
team Gent for the 199-94 season. After one season, Huggins returned to England to sign for British Basketball League
British Basketball League
The British Basketball League, often abbreviated to the BBL, is the premier men's professional basketball league in the United Kingdom. The BBL runs two knockout competitions alongside the league championship; the BBL Cup and the BBL Trophy....
rookies Sheffield Sharks
Sheffield Sharks
Sheffield Sharks, officially named One Health Sheffield Sharks due to sponsorship, is a professional basketball team from the city of Sheffield, England. Sharks currently play in the British Basketball League and play their home fixtures at English Institute of Sport - Sheffield...
in their first season in the premier division, winning both the Championship and the National Cup, whilst Huggins himself was named as the League's Most Valuable Player
BBL Most Valuable Player Award
The British Basketball League Most Valuable Player is an annual British Basketball League award given since the 1987-1988 season. The award is decided by a panel consisting of each of the league’s head coaches who submit one vote each at the end of the regular season, and the player with the most...
and the English Basketball Association's Player of the Year for 1995. Two more successful seasons, including three consecutive appearances in the All-Star team (1995, 1996 and 1997), were spent at Sheffield where Huggins assured himself of a position as one of the most popular British players of all time.
In 1997 Huggins returned to Belgium, signing for Antwerp Giants, where he spent three seasons, including appearing in the Korać Cup
Korac Cup
The Korać Cup was an annual basketball club competition held by FIBA between the 1971-72 and 2001-02 seasons. It was the third-tier level club competition in European basketball, after the European Champions' Cup and the Cup Winners' Cup...
. In 1999, he was awareded the English Basketball Association's Player of the Year for the second time. In his final season with Antwerp (1999-00), Huggins averaged 14.9 points-per-game in 23 appearances, whilst raising it to 16.6 points-per-game in 8 appearances in the Korać Cup. During his three seasons at Antwerp, he was also honoured on the Belgian League
Basketball League Belgium
The Basketball League Belgium , also known as the Ligue Ethias or Ethias League, is the highest professional basketball league in Belgium.-Teams:* Antwerp Giants* Belgacom Liège Basket* Dexia Mons-Hainaut* Generali Okapi Aalstar...
's All-Star team for 1998, 1999 and 2000. In 2000, Huggins moved to Athlon Ieper where he had an average of 17.7 points-per-game in 24 appearances, before moving to Israeli club Hapoel Jerusalem during the Spring of 2001 for the remainder of the season. Huggins played only 11 games in Jerusalem, but quickly became a fan favorite as he played an instrumental role in an upset of Maccabi Tel Aviv on his debut. He averaged 15.3 points and 5.7 rebounds over 28 minutes in seven playoff games that year as Jerusalem reached the Play-off finals. The following season Huggins returned to Belgium and moved to Spirou Charleroi
Spirou Charleroi
Spirou Charleroi, also known as Spirou Basket, is a Belgian professional basketball club that is located in Charleroi, Belgium. The club competes in the top Belgian League...
who were competing in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
's elite competition, the Euroleague, where he averaged a respectable 13.1 points-per-game over 29:49 minutes-per-game.
Huggins' second season at Spirou was just as prominent and he averaged 9.3 points in 30 games domestically and 9.1 points in 11 games in the ULEB Cup
ULEB Cup
Eurocup Basketball is the second-tier level transnational professional basketball competition in Europe. The Eurocup is the level that is one tier below the Turkish Airlines Euroleague level...
. In 2003 he signed for Euphony Liège
Liege Basket
Liège Basket is a Belgian professional basketball club from Liège, Belgium. Known as Belgacom Liège Basket for sponsorship reasons, The club competes in the Basketball League Belgium. Founded in 1967, the team plays at 5,600 seat Country Hall Ethias Liège, in the Belgian city of Liège.-External...
scoring 11 points-per-game in 40 games and in 2004 he returned to Israel to sign with Bnei HaSharon
Bnei HaSharon
Bnei HaSharon/Herzliya is a professional basketball club based in Herzliya, in central Israel. The club currently plays in Ligat HaAl, the top division of Israeli basketball.The club was created by the merge of Maccabi Ra'anana and Bnei Herzliya in 2002...
who were appearing in the FIBA Europe League. Huggins featured heavily in the Group stage, averaging 10.9 points in 12 games, but half-way through the season he returned to Belgium to sign for former Sheffield team-mate Chris Finch
Chris Finch (basketball)
Chris Finch is a former American professional basketball player, and a current basketball coach. He is currently the assistant coach of the Houston Rockets of the NBA, and the head coach of the senior Great Britain men's national basketball team.-College:Finch is a 1992 graduate of Franklin &...
's side Euphony Bree
Euphony Bree
Bree BBC is a professional basketball team in Belgium. The club competes in the Basketball League Belgium and were founded in 1960. It plays in the Tilmans Expo Centre in Bree....
. Two successful season's at Bree followed, including winning the Belgian League title in 2005, before Huggins returning to Liège and Spirou in 2006 before being reunited with Coach Finch at Dexia Mons-Hainaut
Dexia Mons-Hainaut
Dexia Mons-Hainaut is a Belgian professional basketball club that is based in Mons, Wallonia. The club competes in the highest division of the Belgian League. The club's home arena is Mons Arena.-History:...
along with fellow Great Britain national team
Great Britain national basketball team
The Great Britain men's national basketball team, known as Great Britain or GB, is the national team for Great Britain in basketball...
players Nate Reinking
Nate Reinking
Nathan "Nate" James Reinking is a American-British professional basketball point guard who plays for the Sheffield Sharks.-Pro career:...
, Andrew Sullivan
Andrew Sullivan (basketball)
Andrew Sullivan is a British professional basketball player. He plays for Leicester Riders and captains the Great Britain national team.-School years:...
and Mike Lenzly
Mike Lenzly
Mike Lenzly is a British professional basketball player. He is a 1.89 m tall point guard-shooting guard. He is currently playing with ČEZ Basketball Nymburk in the Czech Republic.-College career:...
for the 2007-08 season. Mons enjoyed an incredibly successful season in European competition and finished as Runners-up in the FIBA EuroCup, losing to Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
n team Barons LMT
Barons LMT
BK Barons/O!Karte is a professional basketball club, which is based in Riga, Latvia. Its head coach is Kārlis Muižnieks.-History:...
63-62 in the final. Huggins featured for only 4 minutes in the final but averaged 7 points-per-game over the season in the EuroCup. Huggins retired from basketball in 2008, having previously retired from international basketball in 2007, havin helped Great Britain win promotion to Division A
EuroBasket 2009 qualification
-Qualified teams:Eight teams have secured their places at the EuroBasket 2009 before the qualifications. Seven teams have qualified through the Qualifying Round, and one more team has qualified through the Additional Qualifying Round....
.