Demetri McCamey

Demetri McCamey

McCamey in the Nike summer basketball Chi-League in 2014
Oita Heat Devils
Position Point guard / Shooting guard
League bj league
Personal information
Born February 21, 1989
Bellwood, Illinois
Nationality American
Listed height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight 200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school St. Joseph
(Westchester, Illinois)
College Illinois (2007–2011)
NBA draft 2011 / Undrafted
Pro career 2011–present
Career history
2011 Mersin Büyükşehir Belediyesi
2011–2012 Hapoel Jerusalem
2012 Rio Grande Valley Vipers
2012–2013 Erie BayHawks
2013 Fort Wayne Mad Ants
2013–2014 Cairns Taipans
2014–present Oita Heat Devils
Career highlights and awards

Demetri McCamey, Jr. (born February 21, 1989) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Oita Heat Devils of the Japanese bj league. His prior professional experience includes time with the NBA Development League's Erie BayHawks, Rio Grande Valley Vipers and Fort Wayne Mad Ants, as well as time abroad with Hapoel Jerusalem, Mersin Büyükşehir Belediyesi and Cairns Taipans. He played college basketball for the University of Illinois where he completed his senior season in 2010–11 and was the 2009–10 Big Ten assists champion (7.06) and the 2009–10 NCAA runner-up.

He played high school basketball with Big Ten Conference foe Evan Turner on the St. Joseph High School (in Westchester) basketball team. He was a first-team All-state selection according to numerous publications.

As a sophomore, he led the 2008–09 team in scoring average, and he was chosen as a third team 2008–09 All-Big Ten Conference player by both the coaches and the media. During his junior season, he led the big ten in assists per game.[1] He holds the Illinois single-season assist/game (7.06) and single-game assists (16) records. Following the 2009–10 All-Big Ten Conference regular season, he was named a first-team All-conference selection by both the coaches and the media. He became the first Fighting Illini to average over seven assists per game over the course of a season during the 2009–10 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. As a senior, he was a third team All-Big Ten selection for the 2010–11 Big Ten season. As a senior his assist numbers fell, but his shooting percentages rose.

High school career

He was part of a 2005 Chicago area sophomore class that was considered to be the best in the history of the state of Illinois.[2] It included Derrick Rose and his St. Joseph's teammate Turner. Isiah Thomas is St. Joseph's most famous basketball alum, but McCamey was at the time mentioned as the potential next great St. Joseph's product. The class of 2007 was compared to the Chicago area class of 1979 that included Thomas, Terry Cummings, and Darrell Walker as well as the class of 1998 that included Quentin Richardson, Corey Maggette, Frank Williams, Bobby Simmons, Michael Wright.[2] McCamey was considered the second best area prospect after Rose.[3][4]

As a junior, he and Turner attended 2005 Midnight Madness with the Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team.[5] At the beginning of his junior season, Chicago Tribune named him to its annual top Chicago metropolitan area basketball players list,[6] and it ranked St. Joseph number three in the area.[7] The team went to the state sectional final before its season ended with a 75–72 sectional final loss to Proviso East High School.[8] After his junior season, he was considered one of the top 25 prospects in the country in his class according to one scout,[9] and he was given special mention by the Chicago Tribune and honorable mention by the Associated Press for all-state honors.[10]

During his senior season, his team was listed second to Rose's Simeon Career Academy in the preseason Tribune Chicago area high school basketball team rankings.[11] That season, he was named to the second-team Associated Press 2006–07 Class AA all-state team, a day before Rose's Simeon eliminated Turner's St. Joseph in the Illinois Class AA supersectional.[12][13] McCamey and Turner finished sixth and third to Rose in the Illinois Mr. Basketball voting,[14] and the Chicago Tribune chose both of them as first team All-state selections along with Rose.[15] He was also a first team selection by Chicago Sun-Times, Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette and Illinois Basketball Coaches Association.[16] McCamey was ranked as the #10, #11 and #10 point guard in the nation as a high school senior by ESPN, Rivals.com, and Scout.com respectively.[17][18][19]

Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Demetri McCamey
PG		 Chicago, Illinois St. Joseph (IL) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Jun 30, 2006 
Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 96
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 10 (PG)   Rivals: 72, 11 (PG)  ESPN: 63, 10 (PG)
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

College career

Freshman season

When McCamey posted 31 points on February 7, 2008 against Indiana,[20] it was the season high for the 2007-08 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team and the most by an Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball freshman in fourteen years.[16] During the 2008 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament he made six three point shots in six attempts against Purdue,[21] which set a Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament single-game record and tied the Illinois school single-game record for three point field goal percentage (most made with no misses).[16]

Sophomore season

He was chosen as a third team 2008–09 All-Big Ten Conference player by both the Big Ten coaches and the Big Ten media.[22] McCamey was also a National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division I District 7 All‐District second team choice.[23][24] Since the Big Ten Conference was its own district, this is equivalent to being named second team All-Big Ten by the NABC.[25] He led the 2008–09 Illinois Fighting Illini team in scoring average and was second in assists.[26] On February 12, 2009, he scored the game-winning bank shot with 2.9 seconds remaining against Northwestern.[27] Although he only ranked fourth in the conference in assists,[28] he had the highest assist average in conference games.[29]

Junior season

McCamey driving to the basket (2009-11-13)
McCamey dribbling upcourt (2009-11-13)
McCamey signals a play (2010-01-23)
McCamey doing a finger roll (2010-01-23)

McCamey was named co-Big Ten Conference Player of the Week for February 8, 2010.[30] On February 20, he recorded 16 assists, which is the fourth highest single-game total in Big Ten history.[31] This total set an Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball single-game record.[32]

McCamey led the Big Ten in assists (7.06). He was also tenth in scoring and eighth in steals.[33] His 254 assists in 36 games resulting in a 7.06 assist per game average eclipsed Deron Williams' 264 in 39 games (6.77 average) posted during the 2004–05 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Thus, McCamey took over the Fighting Illini single-season assist per game record.[34] His total of 254 was the fourth highest in Big Ten history and only 20 shy of Mateen Cleaves' Big Ten single-season record of 274. Williams' 264 is the Fighting Illini record. McCamey's total of 525 after his junior season left him 291 short of Cleaves' career record of 816. Bruce Douglas holds the Fighting Illini record with a total of 765.[35]

At the end of the regular season, he was a first-team All-Big Ten selection by both the coaches and the media.[36][37] McCamey was selected by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association to the ten-man All-District V team covering college basketball players in the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.[38] McCamey was selected to the 2010 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament team.[39] He was recognized as an All-District first-team selection by the National Association of Basketball Coaches, making him eligible for the State Farm Division I All‐America teams.[40] McCamey had entered his name for the 2010 NBA Draft, but did not hire an agent and withdrew his name prior to the May 8, 2010 deadline.[41]

Senior season

He was a preseason first team all-conference selection by the Big Ten media for the 2010–11 Big Ten Conference men's basketball season.[42] He was a preseason top 50 candidate for the Wooden Award.[43] McCamey scored 30 points for the first time since his freshman season on December 8, 2010 against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies.[44] On January 3, 2011, he was named co-Big Ten Player of the Week.[45] On January 15, 2011 against Wisconsin, he made a career-high 17 free throws.[46]

In December he was named to the 67-man Bob Cousy Award watchlist,[47] and he was named as one of 20 finalists in January.[48][49] McCamey was selected to the Naismith Award Midseason Top 30 List.[50] Following the 2010–11 Big Ten Conference men's basketball season, he was a third team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches and the media.[51][52] McCamey was selected by the United States Basketball Writers Association to its 2010–11 Men's All-District Team.[53] He was among the final ten candidates for the Bob Cousy Award.[54]

As a senior, his assist average fell from 7.1 to 6.1 per game, but his three point shot and free throw percentages rose from his prior years. He shot 45.1% versus 34.1% in three point shots the prior year, which had been a career best. Both his junior and senior seasons he took 164 attempts, but he made 74 as a senior versus just 56 as a junior. His free throw percentage also recovered a bit in his senior season moving to 72.4% from 70.7% but still below his sophomore effort of 76.4%.[55] He finished second in the Big Ten in assists to Darius Morris, but also finished third in three point shooting percentage.[56]

Professional career

Europe

McCamey went undrafted in the 2011 NBA draft. On July 14, 2011, he signed with Mersin Büyükşehir Belediyesi of the Turkish Basketball League.[57][58] On December 8, 2011, he parted ways with Mersin after just seven games.[59] On December 16, 2011, he signed with Hapoel Jerusalem.[60] In January 2012, he left Hapoel after just four games.

National Basketball Association

In July 2012, McCamey joined the Chicago Bulls for the 2012 NBA Summer League.[61] On September 25, 2012, he signed with the Houston Rockets.[62] However, he was later waived by the Rockets on October 12, 2012.[63] In November 2012, he was acquired by the Rio Grande Valley Vipers as an affiliate player.[64] He played in games for the Vipers until December 21.[65] On December 25, 2012, he was waived by the Vipers. Two days later, he was acquired by the Erie BayHawks and debuted with the team on December 28.[66] On March 12, 2013, he was waived by the BayHawks.[67] Later that month, he was acquired by the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.[68]

In July 2013, McCamey joined the Minnesota Timberwolves for the 2013 NBA Summer League.[69]

Australia

On August 27, 2013, McCamey signed a one-year deal with Cairns Taipans.[70]

Japan

In August 2014, McCamey signed with the Oita Heat Devils of the Japanese bj league.[71]

Personal

McCamey is the son of Demetri McCamey, Sr. and Sabrina Watson. He has three brothers and one sister. He was a member of the Jessie White Tumbling Team as a youngster.[16]

References

  1. ↑ "Men's Basketball Release: Week 15: Several teams in race for Big Ten title". CBS Interactive. 2010-02-16. Retrieved 2010-02-17.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Bell, Taylor (2005-04-08). "Sophomore hoop class could be best ever". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2009-03-16.
  3. ↑ Tucker, Steve (2005-05-06). "Multiplier impact out of bounds". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2009-03-16.
  4. ↑ Tucker, Steve (2005-09-02). "Bigger not always better at prep level". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2009-03-16.
  5. ↑ Sakamoto, Bob and Brian Hamilton (2005-10-16). "News from NU not good for Deerfield QB". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2009-03-16.
  6. ↑ "Chicago area's top boys basketball players". Chicago Tribune. 2005-11-18. Retrieved 2009-03-16.
  7. ↑ Sakamoto, Bob (2005-11-18). "Boys Top 20". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2009-03-16.
  8. ↑ Reaven, Steve (2006-03-11). "Pirates set sail with the big man – Proviso East 75, St. Joseph 72". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2009-03-16.
  9. ↑ Bell, Taylor (2006-06-09). "St. Joseph duo moving up charts: McCamey, Turner considered among top 25 in the nation". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2009-03-16.
  10. ↑ Sakamoto, Bob (2006-03-24). "First Team – Gym rats raise game – Countless hours of extra practice pay off for Scheyer, Beverley". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2009-03-16.
  11. ↑ Sakamoto, Bob (2006-11-17). "Boys Top 20". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2009-03-16.
  12. ↑ "Cole, Roth named AP first team – AP all-state boys basketball teams". The Peoria Journal Star. 2007-03-13. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
  13. ↑ Sakamoto, Bob (2007-03-14). "More than 1-man show – Rose's foul trouble doesn't slow Simeon – Simeon 75, St. Joseph 61". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2009-03-16.
  14. ↑ Sakamoto, Bob (2007-03-31). "2007 Mr. Basketball of Illinois – Thinking big – Derrick Rose's life and basketball career were guided by his family, and now he's ready for the next step". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2009-03-16.
  15. ↑ Sakamoto, Bob (2007-03-23). "Sharing rock 'n' rolling – Music to any coach's ears: All-Staters who know teamwork trumps a one-man show". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2009-03-16.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 "32 Demetri McCamey". CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2010-02-12.
  17. ↑ "Demetri McCamey". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved 2010-02-12.
  18. ↑ "Demetri McCamey". Rivals.com. Retrieved 2010-02-12.
  19. ↑ "Demetri McCamey". Scout.com. Retrieved 2010-02-12.
  20. ↑ "Bassett scores 11 of his 16 in second OT to lift Indiana". ESPN. 2008-02-08. Retrieved 2010-02-12.
  21. ↑ "Purdue's offense goes cold down stretch in Big Ten tourney loss". ESPN. 2008-03-14. Retrieved 2010-02-12.
  22. ↑ "2008–09 All-Big Ten Men’s Basketball Team". CBS Interactive. 2008-03-09. Retrieved 2009-03-12.
  23. ↑ "National Association of Basketball Coaches Announces 2009 Division I All-District Teams" (PDF). National Association of Basketball Coaches. 2009-03-05. Retrieved 2009-03-12.
  24. ↑ "2008–09 NABC Division I Men's Basketball". CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2009-03-12.
  25. ↑ "2008–09 NABC Division I Men's Basketball: District Realignment". National Association of Basketball Coaches/CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2010-02-12.
  26. ↑ "Illinois Fighting Illini Statistics – 2008–09". ESPN. Retrieved 2010-02-11.
  27. ↑ "McCamey, closing run carry No. 20 Illinois past Northwestern". ESPN. 2009-02-12. Retrieved 2010-02-12.
  28. ↑ "2008–09 Big Ten Conference: Conference Basketball Statistics: Through games of May 06, 2009 (All games)". CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2010-02-12.
  29. ↑ "2008–09 Big Ten Conference: Conference Basketball Statistics: Through games of May 06, 2009 (Conference games only)". CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2010-02-12.
  30. ↑ "Illinois' McCamey and Ohio State's Turner Share Weekly Laurel". CBS Interactive. 2010-02-08. Retrieved 2010-02-11.
  31. ↑ "Late push, steady FT shooting help No. 4 Purdue into tie atop Big Ten". ESPN. 2010-02-20. Retrieved 2010-02-21.
  32. ↑ "Men's Basketball Release: Week 16: Eight teams vying for five first-round Big Ten Tournament byes". CBS Interactive. 2010-02-23. Retrieved 2010-03-02.
  33. ↑ "The Automated ScoreBook: Overall Statistics". CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2010-03-30.
  34. ↑ "2009-10 Illinois Basketball" (PDF). p. 164. Retrieved 2010-03-25.
  35. ↑ "Individual Records All-Games". Big Ten Conference. p. 27. Retrieved 2010-03-25.
  36. ↑ "Big Ten Announces All-Big Ten Teams and Individual Honorees: Ohio State's Evan Turner Named Big Ten Player of the Year". CBS Interactive. 2010-03-08. Retrieved 2010-03-09.
  37. ↑ "Big Ten to announce men's All-Big Ten teams". Big Ten Network. 2010-03-08. Retrieved 2010-03-09.
  38. ↑ "USBWA Names 2009–10 Men's All-District Teams". U.S. Basketball Writers Association. 2010-03-09. Retrieved 2010-03-10.
  39. ↑ "All-Big Ten Tournament Team Announced". CBS Interactive. 2010-03-14. Retrieved 2010-03-15.
  40. ↑ "National Association of Basketball Coaches Announces 2010 Division I All-District Teams" (PDF). National Association of Basketball Coaches. 2010-03-16. Retrieved 2010-03-16.
  41. ↑ "2010 NBA Draft early entry watch list". CBS Sports. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
  42. ↑ "Big Ten Media Tab Michigan State as Conference's Preseason Favorite: Spartans' Kalin Lucas selected as Preseason Player of the Year". CBS Interactive. 2010-10-28. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
  43. ↑ "2010-2011 Men’s Preseason Top 50 Candidates". Woodenaward.com. 2010-10-04. Retrieved 2010-11-13.
  44. ↑ "Oakland 63 (5-4, 2-0 Summit); (17) Illinois 74 (9-1, 6-0 home)". ESPN. 2010-12-08. Retrieved 2010-12-10.
  45. ↑ "Illinois, Ohio State and Purdue Receive Men's Basketball Weekly Honors: Illinois' McCamey and Purdue's Moore share Player of the Week honors;". Big Ten Conference. 2011-01-03. Retrieved 2011-01-21.
  46. ↑ "(16) Illinois 66 (13-5, 3-2 Big Ten); (21) Wisconsin 76 (13-4, 3-2 Big Ten)". ESPN. 2011-01-15. Retrieved 2011-01-16.
  47. ↑ O'Connor, Paul T. (2010-12-22). "Five Big 10 Point Guards Up for Naismith Bob Cousy Award". Big 10 Rant. Retrieved 2011-02-03.
  48. ↑ O'Connor, Paul T. (2011-01-13). "Trio of Big 10 Guards Finalists for HOF Bob Cousy Award". Big 10 Rant. Retrieved 2011-02-03.
  49. ↑ "McCamey One of 20 Finalists for Cousy Award". FightingIllini.com. CBS Interactive. 2011-01-13. Retrieved 2011-02-03.
  50. ↑ "Big Ten Men's Basketball Weekly Release - Feb. 28, 2011: Big Ten title on the line in final week of regular season". CBS Interactive. 2011-02-28. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
  51. ↑ "Big Ten Releases All-Big Ten Teams: Purdue's Johnson named Player of the Year". Big Ten Network. 2011-03-07. Retrieved 2011-03-08.
  52. ↑ "2010-11 All-Big Ten Men’s Basketball Team" (PDF). CBS Interactive. 2011-03-07. Retrieved 2011-03-08.
  53. ↑ "USBWA Names 2010-11 Men's All-District Teams". U.S. Basketball Writers Association. 2010-03-10. Retrieved 2010-03-16.
  54. ↑ "BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES FINAL TEN CANDIDATES FOR 2011 BOB COUSY AWARD" (PDF). Bob Cousy Award. February 7, 2011. Retrieved July 7, 2011.
  55. ↑ "Demetri McCamey #32 G". ESPN. Retrieved 2011-03-22.
  56. ↑ "2010-11 Big Ten Conference: Conference Basketball Statistics". CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2011-03-21.
  57. ↑ Mersin signs rookie Demetri McCamey
  58. ↑ Demetri McCamey to play in Turkey
  59. ↑ Demetri McCamey to part ways with Mersin
  60. ↑ Hapoel Migdal signs Demetri McCamey
  61. ↑ "Teague headlines six players confirmed to summer league roster". Comcast SportsNet. 2012-07-03. Retrieved 2012-07-05.
  62. ↑ "Rockets Add Fogg and McCamey". Houston Rockets. 2012-09-25. Retrieved 2012-09-26.
  63. ↑ "Rockets waive Fogg, McCamey". Yahoo! Sports. 2012-10-12. Retrieved 2012-10-14.
  64. ↑ Martin, Tom (2012-11-07). "Rio Grande Valley Vipers release 2012-2013 training camp roster". SB Nation. Retrieved 2012-11-09.
  65. ↑ "Vipers top Charge in Overtime HIDALGO, Texas – The Rio Grande Valley Vipers topped the Canton Charge 110-102 in overtime tonight at State Farm Arena.". NBA.com. 2012-12-21. Retrieved 2012-12-30.
  66. ↑ "BayHawks Corral the Toros, 105-91". NBA.com. 2012-12-28. Retrieved 2012-12-30.
  67. ↑ Fernandes, Victor (2013-03-13). "Changes don't help BayHawks in loss to Legends". Erie Times-News. GoErie.com. Retrieved 2013-03-13.
  68. ↑ Mad Ants Acquire Demetri McCamey
  69. ↑ "Timberwolves Announce 2013 Summer League Roster". WCCO. 2013-07-09. Retrieved 2013-07-16.
  70. ↑ "Snakes sign Demetri McCamey, complete 2013/14 roster". NBL.com.au. August 27, 2013. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  71. ↑ Demetri McCamey will play in Japan next season

External links