Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||
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Born | Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada | November 26, 1960|||||||||||||||||
Listed height | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) | |||||||||||||||||
Listed weight | 245 lb (111 kg) | |||||||||||||||||
Career information | ||||||||||||||||||
High school | Parkland (Sidney, British Columbia) | |||||||||||||||||
College |
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NBA draft | 1984: 2nd round, 43rd overall pick | |||||||||||||||||
Selected by the Chicago Bulls | ||||||||||||||||||
Playing career | 1984–1997 | |||||||||||||||||
Position | Centre | |||||||||||||||||
Number | 14 | |||||||||||||||||
Career history | ||||||||||||||||||
1984–1985 | Basket Brescia (Italy) | |||||||||||||||||
1985–1986 | FC Barcelona (Spain) | |||||||||||||||||
1986–1987 | Cajamadrid (Spain) | |||||||||||||||||
1987–1989 | Aris Thessaloniki (Greece) | |||||||||||||||||
1989–1992 | Omaha Racers (CBA) | |||||||||||||||||
1992-1993 | Peñas Huesca (Spain) | |||||||||||||||||
1992-1993 | Oklahoma City Calvary (CBA) | |||||||||||||||||
1993-1994 | Atlético Echagüe (Argentina) | |||||||||||||||||
1993-1994 | Quad City Thunder | |||||||||||||||||
1994–1995 | Tours Joué Basket (France) | |||||||||||||||||
1996-1997 | Guialmi Estrelas (Portugal) | |||||||||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||||||
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Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | ||||||||||||||||||
Medals
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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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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