Alterique Gilbert

Alterique Gilbert
Gilbert at the 2016 McDonald's All-American Game
No. 1 – Górnik Wałbrzych
PositionPoint guard
LeaguePolish Basketball League
Personal information
Born (1997-10-06) October 6, 1997 (age 27)
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Listed weight180 lb (82 kg)
Career information
High schoolMiller Grove
(Lithonia, Georgia)
College
NBA draft2021: undrafted
Playing career2022–present
Career history
2022KK Paulus Pärnu
2022–2023Kalev/Cramo
2023Rapid București
2024Helsinki Seagulls
2024–presentGórnik Wałbrzych
Career highlights and awards

Alterique Lamont Gilbert (born October 6, 1997) is an American professional basketball player for Górnik Wałbrzych of the Polish Basketball League (PLK). He played college basketball for the UConn Huskies and the Wichita State Shockers.

Early life

Gilbert is originally from Richmond, Virginia but moved to Lithonia, Georgia as he entered his teenage years.[1] He was raised by his mother, Tamonica Alexander, and was not acquainted with his father, Alcuero Gilbert, who was incarcerated for about 10 years.[2] Gilbert grew up playing football and started focusing on basketball in seventh grade.[3]

High school career

Gilbert played basketball for Miller Grove High School near Lithonia.[4] As a sophomore, he averaged 18.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 4.1 steals, leading his team to a 28–5 record. As a junior, he averaged 18.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 5.3 steals, leading his team to a 27–4 record. As a senior, he averaged 20.1 points, 5.8 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 4.3 steals, leading his team to a 31–3 record and the Class 5A state championship, his third state title in four years at Miller Grove.[5] He helped his team reach the semifinals at High School Nationals despite sleeping one hour before the previous game.[6] Gilbert was named Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year and Mr. Georgia Basketball.[7] He was selected to play in the McDonald's All-American Game and Jordan Brand Classic.[8] He left the Jordan Brand Classic early on April 15, 2016 after dislocating his left shoulder.[9] In May, he underwent surgery on his shoulder.[10] A four-star recruit and one of the best point guards in the 2016 class by the end of high school, Gilbert committed to UConn on July 4, 2015 over Louisville, Illinois, Syracuse and Texas.[11]

College career

On November 11, 2016, Gilbert made his collegiate debut, scoring 14 points in a 67–58 loss to Wagner.[5] Two games later, on November 17 versus Loyola Marymount, he suffered a torn labrum in his left shoulder that would require season-ending surgery.[12] Gilbert subsequently redshirted the season.[13] On November 23, 2017, as a redshirt freshman, he scored a then-career-high 16 points in a 71–63 win over Oregon at the Phil Knight Invitational.[14] In his next game versus Michigan State, Gilbert injured his left shoulder. He attempted to play through the pain in his following game against Arkansas before being sidelined. On December 28, it was announced that he would miss the remainder of the season and likely undergo surgery.[15]

On December 5, 2018, during his sophomore season, Gilbert recorded a career-high 11 assists with no turnovers, five rebounds and three steals in a 90–63 victory over Lafayette.[16] Three days later, he recorded a career-high 24 points, five steals and four three-pointers in a 79–71 loss to 11th-ranked Florida State at the Never Forget Tribute Classic.[17] On January 26, Gilbert aggravated his left shoulder against Wichita State and missed five games.[18] On March 7, in a 78–71 loss to Temple, he collapsed and began bleeding profusely from his nose after being hit in the face. He missed the final three games of the season with a concussion and right eye injury.[19] He started in 23 of 25 games and averaged 12.6 points, 3.6 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game.[5]

On November 13, 2019, Gilbert scored a junior season-high 22 points in a 96–87 loss to Saint Joseph's.[20] As a junior, he played 30 games for UConn, starting in 20, and averaged 8.5 points, 3.8 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game.[5] Gilbert suffered from mental health issues, attending weekly therapy and taking daily medication to stabilize his mood.[2] After the season, he announced that he was transferring from UConn.[21]

On March 28, 2020, Gilbert committed to play for Wichita State in his senior season. He is immediately eligible as a graduate transfer, filling a void at point guard and teaming up with Dexter Dennis in the backcourt.[22] Gilbert averaged 10.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. He was named to the Third Team All-American Athletic Conference.[23]

Professional career

In January 2022, Gilbert signed with KK Paulus Pärnu of the Latvian-Estonian Basketball League for the rest of the 2021–22 season.[24]

For the 2022–23 season, Gilbert joined BC Kalev/Cramo of the Latvian-Estonian Basketball League.[25]

Gilbert started the 2023–24 season with Rapid Bucharest of the Romanian Basketball League but left in December 2023.[25] In March 2024, he joined the Helsinki Seagulls of the Korisliiga.[25]

In July 2024, Gilbert signed with Górnik Wałbrzych of the Polish Basketball League.[26]

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games 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

College

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2016–17 UConn 3 2 29.0 .500 .222 .700 3.3 2.0 2.3 .0 10.3
2017–18 UConn 6 6 27.8 .317 .227 .550 4.0 2.8 1.2 .3 9.0
2018–19 UConn 25 23 29.4 .381 .336 .775 2.9 3.6 1.3 .1 12.6
2019–20 UConn 30 20 27.2 .346 .318 .671 2.6 3.8 1.1 .1 8.5
2020–21 Wichita State 22 20 29.6 .348 .289 .714 3.1 4.1 1.6 .1 10.3
Career 86 71 28.6 .360 .308 .706 2.9 3.7 1.3 .1 10.3

Professional career

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2021–22 KK Paulus Pärnu 13 13 28.80 .500 .285 .787 3.23 5.08 3.15 0.8 14.92

References

  1. ^ Cordova, David (January 30, 2019). "Alterique Gilbert: Comeback Season". Dave's Joint. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Anthony, Mike (March 12, 2020). "Alterique Gilbert's battle with mental health shows the strength of a player we should consider a UConn great". Hartford Courant. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  3. ^ Amore, Dom (January 30, 2016). "Alterique Gilbert The Heart Of UConn Recruiting Class". New York Daily News. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  4. ^ Borges, David (June 14, 2016). "Alterique Gilbert ready to be leader for UConn men". The Register Citizen. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d "Alterique Gilbert". University of Connecticut Athletics. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  6. ^ "Sleep-deprived Alterique Gilbert leads Miller Grove (Ga.) into DICK'S Nationals semifinals". USA Today High School Sports. March 31, 2016. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  7. ^ "Georgia Boys Basketball POY: Alterique Gilbert". USA Today High School Sports. March 17, 2016. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  8. ^ "For Alterique Gilbert, McDonald's All American Game selection is full of emotion". USA Today High School Sports. January 25, 2016. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  9. ^ "UConn commit Alterique Gilbert 'should be fine' despite separating shoulder". New Haven Register. April 15, 2016. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  10. ^ Amore, Dom (November 29, 2016). "More Losses For UConn As Gilbert, Diarra Out For Season". Hartford Courant. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  11. ^ Borzello, Jeff (July 4, 2015). "Five-star PG Alterique Gilbert commits to UConn". ESPN. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  12. ^ Norlander, Matt (November 29, 2016). "UConn's season in big trouble now: Star frosh Alterique Gilbert out for year". CBS Sports. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  13. ^ Madigan, Dan (October 16, 2017). "Alterique Gilbert repeating freshman year". The UConn Blog. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  14. ^ Borges, David (November 24, 2017). "UConn men knock off Oregon in PK80 Invitational opener". New Haven Register. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  15. ^ Borges, David (December 28, 2017). "UConn's Alterique Gilbert done for season, likely headed for surgery". New Haven Register. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  16. ^ Amore, Dom (December 5, 2018). "Alterique Gilbert's passing helps UConn men find shooting touch, rout Lafayette 90–63". Hartford Courant. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  17. ^ "Late Comeback Bid Falls Short as UConn Falls to No. 11 Florida State, 79–71". University of Connecticut Athletics. December 8, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  18. ^ Anthony, Mike (February 14, 2019). "No need for UConn to rush Alterique Gilbert, whose sore shoulder and damaged psyche have led to a prolonged absence". Hartford Courant. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  19. ^ "UConn's Gilbert sidelined again, this time with eye injury". WTNH. Associated Press. March 9, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  20. ^ "MBB Rally Comes up Short, Huskies Fall to Saint Joseph's". University of Connecticut Athletics. November 13, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  21. ^ Connolly, Daniel (March 19, 2020). "Alterique Gilbert enters transfer portal". The UConn Blog. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
  22. ^ Marty, Sean (March 28, 2020). "Wichita State lands graduate transfer Alterique Gilbert". The Sunflower. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  23. ^ Eldridge, Taylor (March 18, 2021). "'We all need more self-love': Two WSU basketball players open up about mental health". The Wichita Eagle. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  24. ^ Eldridge, Taylor (February 14, 2022). "What happened to Alterique Gilbert? Updates on former Shockers playing pro basketball". The Wichita Eagle. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  25. ^ a b c "Alterique Gilbert". usbasket.com. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  26. ^ "Alterique Gilbert nowym zawodnikiem!". gornikwalbrzych.com.pl (in Polish). July 24, 2024. Retrieved August 12, 2024.