Kyle Kuric
 Kyle Kuric during a game with Estudiantes in 2013 | |
| No. 14 – Tuenti Móvil Estudiantes | |
|---|---|
| Position | Shooting guard / Small forward |
| League | Liga ACB |
| Personal information | |
| Born | August 25, 1989 |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) |
| Listed weight | 195 lb (88 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Memorial (Evansville, Indiana) |
| College | Louisville (2008–2012) |
| NBA draft | 2012 / Undrafted |
| Pro playing career | 2012–present |
| Career history | |
| 2012–present | CB Estudiantes |
Kyle Kuric (born August 25, 1989[1]) is an American basketball player who plays for Tuenti Móvil Estudiantes in Spain. Kuric grew up in Evansville, Indiana and graduated from Memorial High School in 2008. Kuric is most noted for leading the Cardinals to a win in the last game Louisville played at Freedom Hall[2] and being named winner of the "2011 Papa John's Dunk of the Year".[3]
High School
Kuric as a senior averaged 20.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.3 blocked shots.[1] Kuric led a senior heavy Memorial team to the schools first sectional championship in 12 years.[4] Memorial was ranked number 1 in the 3A in Indiana for several weeks during the season.[1]
Kuric was named the 2008 Evansville Courier & Press All-Metro Player of the Year,[5] a second team AP all-state honoree and was ranked No. 147 in the ESPN 150 listing of the top players in the class of 2008. He was selected to the Indiana All-Star team in 2008.[1] Following high school he signed a letter of intent to play for the University of Louisville Cardinals.
College
Kuric saw little game action his freshman year mainly playing behind Terrence Williams who was a lottery pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. Kuric's most notable game as a sophomore was Louisville's final game held in Freedom Hall against then No. 1 ranked Syracuse Orange. He scored 22 points, all in the second half to lead Louisville to the upset win.[6] Kuric added three rebounds, two assists, a steal, and four dunks while connecting on 9-of-11 field goals (4-of-6 three-pointers) to the 22 points.[7] Pat Forde of ESPN called him the "unlikely hero" of that game.[8]
Kuric ended his junior season as the 2nd leading scorer for a Louisville team that many believe overachieved. Preseason predictions had them 8th in the Big East Conference and they did not receive a single vote in the preseason top 25 poll nationally.[9] The Cardinals ended the season with a record of 25-10 and ranked number 11. They placed third in the Big East regular season and reached the final game of the Big East Conference tournament losing to UConn Huskies by 3 points. The Cardinals were seeded 3rd in the NCAA tournament, but were upset in the first round by 14th seed Morehead State University. Kuric came on strong in Big East Conference play by averaging a team-high 15.1 points and 5.8 rebounds over the last 13 games, hitting 34-of-74 three-pointers (.459) and 53.8 percent from the field. He was third in the Big East in Three-point field goal percentage (.449, 70-of-156) and was seventh in field goal percentage(.514).[10]
Kuric scored the winning layup on a pass from Preston Knowles with four seconds left to cap a 24-5 run against Marquette Golden Eagles in the last 5:44 of the game.[9] This game has been dubbed the "Miracle on Main Street".[11] Kuric was selected to the Big East Honor Roll on Feb. 14 after averaging 25.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and hitting 62.1 percent from the field—including 9-of-14 three-point goals (.643) -- as Louisville split games against Notre Dame and Syracuse.[10]
Kyle Kuric’s monster slam dunk in the waning seconds of the first half at Notre Dame was voted as the "2011 Papa John’s Dunk of the Year". Kuric’s dunk received 45 percent of the votes in a Facebook fan poll to earn the national title.[12]
Kuric was selected a tri-captain of the 2011-12 University of Louisville Men's basketball team along with Peyton Siva and Chris Smith.[13] Kuric was the leading scorer during his senior season. The Cardinals won the Big East Tournament and Kuric was named to the Big East All-tournament team. Louisville went to the Final Four after a came back win over Florida in the Elite Eight game but lost to Kentucky in a highly anticipated game in New Orleans.
Kuric was crowned U of L’s Homecoming King on Oct. 9, 2010 at halftime of the Cards’ homecoming football game vs. Memphis Tigers.[9] He is frequently called "King Kyle" because of this selection.
Kuric has some significant off court accomplishments as well. He has been selected for the Dean's List and AD honor role at U of L several times. He also served as the student representative on the U of L Athletic Association Board of Directors, the governing body for the Cardinals’ athletic department. He was honored as U of L’s Most Outstanding Sophomore in April 2010.[9] During his senior year at Louisville, Kuric founded a charity to assist children in the Kentuckiana area. Kyle's Korner for Kids in cooperation with the University of Louisville athletic department collected halloween costumes for the Home for the Innocents and toys for children hospitalized on Christmas at Kosairs Children's Hospital.<kylekornerforkids.com> .[14]
College Honors
- 4x Big East Men's Basketball Tournament (2009–2012)
- Big East All Tournament Team 2012
- 4x NCAA Tournament Appearance (2009–2012)
- Final Four 2012
- 2011 Dunk of the Year Winner
- 2012 Capitol One Academic All District 2 Team
Pro career
After playing at Louisville in the NCAA, Kuric started his pro career in 2012 at Spanish league club Asefa Estudiantes.[15]
Personal Information
Kuric was born in Pennsylvania but grew up in Evansville, Indiana. He has one sister, Katie, who was a goalkeeper on the women's soccer team at University of Louisville.[13] Kuric's father is a neurosurgeon and mother is a nurse practitioner.[16]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Kyle Kuric player bio
- ↑ http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=4971890
- ↑ http://www.uoflsports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/040311aaa.html
- ↑ Courier Press Memorial's 12-year sectional drought is over
- ↑ Courier Press Memorial's Kuric lived up to all the hype
- ↑ Courier Journal Kuric writes final legend of the Hall
- ↑ Louisville rocks No. 1 Syracuse in Freedom Hall finale Kuric scores 22 after half
- ↑ ESPN Forde Unlikely hero closes out Freedom Hall
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 2010-11 Basketball Information
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Big East Season Summary
- ↑ Courier Journal MIRACLE ON MAIN THE CARDINALS' COMEBACK
- ↑ Lousiville’s Kyle Kuric Named the 2011 Papa John’s Dunk of the Year
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 UofL basketball web site
- ↑ Kyle's Korner for Kids
- ↑ Kyle Kuric sign for Estudiantes at Spanish league website
- ↑ Matt Norlander, "Kyle Kuric proves he learned nothing in college, proposes at graduation", "CBS Sports", 5/14/2012