Luke Zeller

Last updated

Luke Zeller
Personal information
Born (1987-04-07) April 7, 1987 (age 37)
Ames, Iowa, U.S.
NationalityAmerican / Georgian
Listed height6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Listed weight245 lb (111 kg)
Career information
High school Washington (Washington, Indiana)
College Notre Dame (2005–2009)
NBA draft 2009: undrafted
Playing career2009–2014
Position Power forward / center
Career history
2009–2010 Shiga Lakestars
2010 Naglis-Adakris
2010–2011 Bakersfield Jam
2011–2012 Austin Toros
2012–2013 Phoenix Suns
2013–2014Austin Toros
Career highlights and awards
Stats   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg at Basketball-Reference.com

Lucas Joseph Zeller (born April 7, 1987) is an American-Georgian [1] former professional basketball player. He is the brother of NBA players Tyler and Cody Zeller, and the nephew of former NBA player Al Eberhard. [2]

Contents

High school career

Zeller attended Washington High School in Washington, Indiana where he played for the basketball team all four years under coach Dave Omer. As a freshman in 2001–02, he averaged 15.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, and as a sophomore in 2002–03, he averaged 18.1 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. As a junior in 2003–04, he averaged a near double-double with 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds per game, becoming the first player in Washington High School history to eclipse the 1,000-point career mark. He participated in the Nike All-America camps in 2003 and 2004, and was a member of the USA North Team that captured the silver medal at the 2004 Men's Youth Development Festival. In five games, Zeller averaged 9.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. [3]

On November 10, 2004, Zeller signed a National Letter of Intent to play college basketball for the University of Notre Dame. [3]

As senior in 2004–05, Zeller averaged 19.6 points, 8.9 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game while leading his team to a 27–2 record and the Indiana Class 3A state championship. He finished the state championship game with 27 points, nine rebounds and 11 assists (a Class 3A state finals record). [4] In that game, he hit the game-winning shot from midcourt as time expired in overtime to lead the Hatchets to a 74–72 win over Plymouth. [5] He finished his high school career as a four-time all-state, all-section and all-conference honoree, and finished as Washington's all-time leader in points (1,727) and second in rebounds (820). The three-time team captain and two-time MVP became the only player in Washington High School history to be selected all-conference four times. He earned McDonald's All-American [6] and Indiana Mr. Basketball honors at the season's end, [7] was named the school's co-valedictorian, and earned National Honor Roll selection. [4]

College career

As a freshman at Notre Dame in 2005–06, Zeller averaged 3.4 points and 3.1 rebounds per game, and played in 27 contests and made nine starts. At the season's end, he earned Big East Academic All-Star Team honors, and was a member of the Athletes in Action team that captured the gold medal at the 2006 William Jones Cup in Taipei City, Taiwan. [4]

As a sophomore in 2006–07, Zeller started the first 16 games of the season and played in all 32 contests, while averaging 3.8 points and 2.2 rebounds per game. [4] On December 16, 2006, he scored a then career-high 14 points in a 94–63 win over Elon. [8] On March 9, 2007, he scored four points in 18 minutes in the team's Big East Championship semi-final loss to Georgetown. [9] At the season's end, he was named the recipient of the Notre Dame Club of St. Joseph Valley Rockne Student-Athlete Award. [4]

In August 2007, Zeller travelled with Athletes in Action to Australia [10] where he played in eight exhibition games and averaged 11.3 points and 6.6 rebounds while netting double figures in five of those contests. [4]

As a junior in 2007–08, Zeller earned the Notre Dame Most Improved Player Award after averaging 4.5 points and 2.2 rebounds coming off the bench in all 33 contests. [4]

As a senior in 2008–09, Zeller served as one of four captains. He played in all 36 games and earned seven starts during his final season, averaging a career-high 4.9 points per game, while bringing down 2.8 rebounds per contest. [4] Zeller had a career outing against USC Upstate in the season opener as he came off the bench in 19 minutes of action to score a career-high 18 points on 6-of-7 from the field and was 4-of-6 from three-point range. In addition to the 18 points, he grabbed five rebounds. [11] On November 24, 2008, he recorded his first career double-double in win over Indiana at the EA Sports Maui Invitational as he finished with 10 points and a career-high 11 rebounds. [12] He concluded his career tied for third with 128 games played; he made 32 career starts and averaged 4.2 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. [4]

College statistics

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2005–06 Notre Dame27913.7.364.339.4713.11.0.1.33.4
2006–07 Notre Dame321612.4.489.395.6672.2.5.3.43.8
2007–08 Notre Dame 33011.8.426.381.5382.2.4.4.24.5
2008–09 Notre Dame 36714.6.396.342.6152.8.6.2.24.9
Career1283213.2.417.360.5742.5.6.2.34.2

Professional career

2009–10 season

After going undrafted in the 2009 NBA draft, Zeller joined the Chicago Bulls for the 2009 NBA Summer League [13] where he averaged 3.0 points and 2.3 rebounds in four games. On July 31, 2009, he signed a one-year deal with the Shiga Lakestars of the Japanese bj league. [14] In 50 games for Shiga in 2009–10, he averaged 8.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.

2010–11 season

On September 22, 2010, Zeller signed a one-year deal with Naglis-Adakris of the Lithuanian Basketball League. [14] However, he was released by the club on October 24 after appearing in six games. [14] On November 1, he was selected by the Iowa Energy in the second round of the 2010 NBA Development League Draft. A week later, he was traded to the Bakersfield Jam. [15] In 52 games for the Jam in 2010–11, he averaged 6.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. [16]

2011–12 season

On November 1, 2011, Zeller was acquired by the Austin Toros in a trade with the Bakersfield Jam. [17] On December 9, he signed with the San Antonio Spurs. However, he was later waived by the team on December 24 after appearing in one preseason game, one day prior to the start of the 2011–12 NBA season. [18] He subsequently returned to the Toros, the Spurs' D-League affiliate team, and played out the 2011–12 season. In 33 games for the Toros, he averaged 8.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game, [16] helping Austin win the 2012 D-League championship. [19]

2012–13 season

In July 2012, Zeller joined the San Antonio Spurs for the 2012 NBA Summer League where he averaged 6.7 points and 2.3 rebounds in three games. On September 28, 2012, he signed a partially guaranteed, two-year minimum salary contract with the Phoenix Suns. [14] On October 25, he was named in the Suns' opening-night roster. [20] He made his NBA debut on November 4, recording no stats in just under three minutes of action against the Orlando Magic. The following night, he scored a season-high 7 points in a loss to the Miami Heat. On November 27, he played against the Cleveland Cavaliers and his brother Tyler. [21] He played sparingly for the Suns in 2012–13, appearing in 16 out of a possible 55 games before being waived by the team on February 21, 2013. [22]

2013–14 season

On December 27, 2013, Zeller was reacquired by the Austin Toros. [23] He played out the rest of the season with the Toros, averaging 5.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 36 games. [16]

NBA career statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage 3P%  3-point field goal percentage FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high

Regular season

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2012–13 Phoenix 1603.6.346.200.000.6.2.0.01.2
Career1603.6.346.200.000.6.2.0.01.2

Personal

Zeller is the son of Steve and Lorri Zeller, and has two younger brothers who also play basketball, Tyler and Cody. [24]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moses Wright</span> American basketball player

Moses Anthony Wright is an American professional basketball player for Olympiacos of the Greek Basket League (GBL) and the EuroLeague. He played college basketball for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. He is also known as Wright the Right.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Austin Carr</span> American basketball player (born 1948)

Austin George Carr is an American former professional basketball player who played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, and Washington Bullets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is known by Cleveland basketball fans as "Mr. Cavalier". He was part of the Notre Dame team which defeated the UCLA Bruins on January 19, 1971, which was UCLA's last defeat until being beaten by Notre Dame exactly three years later, breaking the Bruins' NCAA men's basketball record 88-game winning streak.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adrian Dantley</span> American basketball player (born 1955)

Adrian Delano Dantley is an American former professional basketball player and coach who played 15 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Dantley is a six-time NBA All-Star, a two-time All-NBA selection and a two-time NBA scoring champion. Dantley finished ninth on the all-time NBA scoring list at the time of his retirement and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008. He served as an assistant coach for the Denver Nuggets of the NBA from 2003 to 2011. He played college basketball for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dwayne Jones (basketball)</span> American basketball player (born 1983)

Dwayne Clinton Jones is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is currently an assistant coach for the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josh Boone (basketball)</span> American basketball player (born 1984)

Oscar Joshua Boone is an American former professional basketball player. A 6'10" power forward-center, he played three years of college basketball for UConn. He declared for the 2006 NBA draft after his junior season, forgoing his final year of college.

Richard Kadeem Jackson is an American professional basketball player who last played for Satria Muda Pertamina of the Indonesian Basketball League (IBL). He played college basketball for Syracuse and attended Neumann-Goretti High School with former Syracuse teammate, Scoop Jardine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Da'Sean Butler</span> American basketball coach (born 1988)

Da'Sean Butler is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is currently an assistant coach for the West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team. He played college basketball for West Virginia University. Butler was drafted 42nd overall by the Miami Heat in the 2010 NBA draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luke Harangody</span> American basketball player

Luke Cameron Harangody is an American former professional basketball player who last played for Divina Seguros Joventut of the Spanish Liga ACB. He completed his college career at the University of Notre Dame in 2010. He is the only men's player in the history of the Big East Conference to average 20 points and 10 rebounds per game in conference play for his career. He was the 2008 Big East Player of the Year, and was named to the second team on the 2008 Associated Press All-America team. He is also the first Notre Dame men's player to be a three-time first-team All-Big East selection (2008–2010), and the first men's player to lead the conference in both scoring and rebounding in consecutive seasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rob Kurz</span> American basketball player

Robert Karl Kurz is an American former professional basketball player. He played one season in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Golden State Warriors, and later played in the top leagues in Spain, Germany, and France.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leo Lyons (basketball)</span> American basketball player

Leo Lyons is an American professional basketball player for Altiri Chiba of the B3 League. Lyons was born in Topeka, Kansas, and went to high school at Coastal Christian Academy and Piper High School. At both of these high schools, he excelled on the basketball teams. He went to the University of Missouri for college and played four seasons of basketball before going undrafted in the 2010 NBA draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cody Zeller</span> American basketball player (born 1992)

Cody Allen Zeller is an American professional basketball player for the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Indiana Hoosiers. Zeller was selected with the fourth pick in the 2013 NBA draft by the then-Charlotte Bobcats. He is the brother of former NBA players Tyler and Luke, and the nephew of former NBA player Al Eberhard.

Carldell "Squeaky" Johnson is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball at the University of Alabama-Birmingham from 2003 to 2006 after beginning his collegiate career at Salt Lake Community College. Since turning professional in 2006, he has spent time with three different teams in Mexico and two in Belgium, as well as having multiple stints with the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League. He has been a non-roster invitee of the San Antonio Spurs on two occasions and played with the New Orleans Hornets during the 2011–12 NBA season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Dawson</span> American basketball player (born 1984)

Eric Lamont Dawson is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for McLennan CC and Midwestern State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Cooley</span> American basketball player

Jack Ryan Cooley is an American professional basketball player for Ryukyu Golden Kings of the Japanese B.League. He played college basketball for the University of Notre Dame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerian Grant</span> American basketball player (born 1992)

Holdyn Jerian Grant is an American professional basketball player for Panathinaikos of the Greek Basket League and the EuroLeague. He played college basketball with the University of Notre Dame and was considered one of the top college players in the nation for the 2014–15 season. After being selected with the 19th overall pick by the Washington Wizards in the 2015 NBA draft, his rights were sent to the Atlanta Hawks and then moved again to the New York Knicks on draft night.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zach Auguste</span> American basketball player (born 1993)

Zachary Elias Auguste is a Greek-American professional basketball player for SeaHorses Mikawa of the B.League. He is a 6'10" center. Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Auguste started playing high school basketball for Marlborough. In 2011, he moved to the university preparatory New Hampton School in New Hampshire, where he was nominated for the 2012 McDonald's All-American Game. After graduating from New Hampton, Auguste enrolled in the University of Notre Dame, to play college basketball for the Fighting Irish. Spending his freshman and sophomore seasons mainly as a reserve player, Auguste rose to prominence during his junior season in 2014–15, when his team won the ACC tournament title, and went to the NCAA Elite Eight. He has one kid with girlfriend, Paris Vaughn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demetrius Jackson</span> American basketball player

Demetrius Montell Jackson Jr. is an American former professional basketball player. He played three seasons of college basketball for the University of Notre Dame before being drafted 45th overall by the Celtics in the 2016 NBA draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bonzie Colson</span> American basketball player (born 1996)

Bonzie Alexander Colson II is an American professional basketball player for Fenerbahçe of the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL) and the EuroLeague. He played college basketball for the University of Notre Dame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">V. J. Beachem</span> American basketball player

Victor Eric "V. J." Beachem Jr. is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Windy City Bulls of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blake Wesley (basketball)</span> American basketball player (born 2003)

Blake Carrington Wesley is an American professional basketball player for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

References

  1. ↑ "Hickman a surprise inclusion in Georgia's squad". TalkBasket. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  2. ↑ Miller, Sam (October 19, 2011). "Hoops Runs Through Luke Zeller's Family Tree". usab.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Notre Dame Men's Basketball Signs Four To National Letters of Intent". und.com. November 10, 2004. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Luke Zeller Bio". und.com. Archived from the original on September 10, 2012. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  5. ↑ "The Shot". YouTube.com. February 28, 2007. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Luke Zeller Named To 2005 McDonald's All-American Team". und.com. February 23, 2005. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Luke Zeller Named Indiana Mr. Basketball". und.com. April 10, 2005. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Notre Dame 94, Elon 63". ESPN.com. December 16, 2006. Retrieved January 14, 2016.[ dead link ]
  9. ↑ "Hoyas nip Irish, advance to first Big East final since '96". ESPN.com. March 9, 2007. Retrieved January 14, 2016.[ dead link ]
  10. ↑ "Luke Zeller To Tour Australia With Athletes In Action". und.com. June 20, 2007. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  11. ↑ "#7/10 Irish Set To Ring In 2009 With New Year's Eve Contest In BIG EAST Opener At DePaul". und.com. December 30, 2008. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  12. ↑ Bishop, Mary Beth (November 25, 2008). "Hoosiers lack 'resistance' in blowout". CourierPress.com. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  13. ↑ "Zeller picked for Chicago Bulls summer league team". WashTimesHerald.com. June 26, 2009. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  14. 1 2 3 4 "Luke Zeller player profile". ShamSports.com. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  15. ↑ "2010-2011 Iowa Energy Transactions History". RealGM.com. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  16. 1 2 3 "Luke Zeller D-League Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Austin Toros Trade With Bakersfield Jam for Luke Zeller". NBA.com. November 1, 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  18. ↑ "Spurs Waive Hassell and Zeller". NBA.com. December 11, 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  19. ↑ "Austin Toros Win 2012 NBA Development League Championship". NBA.com. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  20. ↑ Coro, Paul (October 25, 2012). "Phoenix Suns' Luke Zeller, Diante Garrett living out dreams". AZCentral.com. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Luke Zeller 2012-13 Game Log". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  22. ↑ "Suns Acquire Marcus Morris". NBA.com. February 21, 2013. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  23. ↑ "Austin Toros Acquire Luke Zeller". NBA.com. December 27, 2013. Archived from the original on September 17, 2015. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  24. ↑ Odeven, Ed (October 31, 2012). "Zeller's long journey to NBA began with Shiga Lakestars". JapanTimes.co.jp. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Indiana Mr. Basketball award
2005		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.