Fred VanVleet

Fred VanVleet

VanVleet in 2015
No. 23 – Wichita State Shockers
Position Point guard
League Missouri Valley Conference
Personal information
Born February 25, 1994
Nationality American
Listed height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Listed weight 195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school Auburn (Rockford, Illinois)
College Wichita State (2012–present)
Career highlights and awards

Fred VanVleet (born February 25, 1994) is an American college basketball player for Wichita State where he has completed his junior season for the 2014–15 team. At Auburn High School in Rockford, Illinois, he was an All-State player who was mostly recruited by mid-major basketball programs. In college, he has contributed to a resurgence of Wichita State Shockers basketball that included a final four run in the 2013 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament by the 2012–13 Shocker team as a freshman and a undefeated regular season by the 2013–14 team as a sophomore. By his sophomore year, he was on midseason watchlists for most major awards. He was named as a 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball All-American by a variety of media outlets. He is the Wichita State career assists leader.

High school

VanVleet played for Auburn High School in Rockford, Illinois, where he was an All-State first team selection by the Chicago Sun-Times (Class 4A),[1] Associated Press (Class 4A),[2] and Chicago Tribune as a senior in 2012.[3] In 2012, VanVleet helped lead Auburn to a 22-game winning streak which resulted in the school's first Illinois High School Association (IHSA) final four since 1975.[4] He led the Knights to a 3rd-place finish in the IHSA state tournament.[4][5][6]

Van Vleet remained loyal to his local Rockford Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) club team rather than accept offers to more high profile teams in Chicago. Van Vleet did not feel it would make a difference in his recruiting: "As long as you're leading whoever you're playing with, the coaches are going to see that. If they see you competing and winning with guys maybe I shouldn't be winning with, that's maybe even an advantage for me."[7] He received basketball scholarship offers from Colorado State,[8] Northern Illinois, Southern Illinois, Drake, Detroit and Kent State.[9] His stepfather felt that he was being overlooked by many Chicago metropolitan area schools because of his decision not to join a Chicago AAU team.[10] He cut his list down to Kent State, Northern Illinois and Wichita State.[7] When he accepted an offer to play for Wichita State, he became the only member of the national class of 2012 Rivals.com top 150 to attend a Missouri Valley Conference school.[11]

Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Fred VanVleet
PG		 Rockford, IL Auburn High School (IL) 5 ft 10.5 in (1.79 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Jul 4, 2011 
Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 92
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 99, 18 (PG)   Rivals: 138, 19 (PG)  ESPN: 83, 15 (PG), 1 (IL)
  • 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

Freshman year

VanVleet as a freshman for the 2012–13 Wichita State Shockers

As a freshman, VanVleet contributed double digit scoring twice (versus Gonzaga and Ohio State) in the 2013 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament from off the bench as the 2012–13 Shockers team reached the final four.[12] Against Gonzaga, his 13 points[13] included basket with 1:28 remaining that helped the Shockers secure only the fifth sweet sixteen appearance by a number 9 seed since the tournament went to 64 teams in 1985.[14][15] His 12 points against Ohio State included a late basket that helped the Shockers become the fifth team with a seeding higher than eight to make it to the final four since 1979 when seeding began.[16]

Sophomore year

He broke out as a sophomore,[17] as expected.[18] On January 8, he posted 10 assists against Illinois State.[19] On January 23, 2014, he was selected to the 23-man Oscar Robertson Award midseason watchlist by the United States Basketball Writers Association.[20] On February 13, he was named one of the 30 finalists for Naismith College Player of the Year.[21] On February 17, Vanvleet was selected as one of 23 finalists for the Bob Cousy Award.[22] When the Rockford native returned to the Chicago metropolitan area on February 19 to lead Wichita State against Loyola, he went 6-for-6 from the field and 10-for-10 on his free throw attempts for a game-high 22 points and added 8 rebounds and 6 assists to help Wichita State raise its record to 28–0.[23] On February 28, he was named one of the 10 semi-finalists for the Naismith Award.[24]

VanVleet helped lead the 2013–14 team to the first 31–0 regular season in NCAA Division I men's basketball history.[25] As a result, he was named to the Missouri Valley Conference All-Conference first team and selected as the Missouri Valley Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year.[26][27] He was also selected to the 2014 Missouri Valley Conference Most-Improved Team.[28] Following the 2014 Missouri Valley Conference Men's Basketball Tournament, VanVleet was a 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball All-American second team selection by Sports Illustrated[29] and Bleacher Report,[30] third-team selection by the Sporting News and the NABC.[31][32] He earned honorable mention recognition from the Associated Press.[33] On March 11 VanVleet was named to the all-District VI (IA, MO, KS, OK, NE, ND, SD) team by the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA).[34] VanVleet was listed on the The National Association of Basketball Coaches Division I All‐District 16 first team on March 12.[35] VanVleet was named as one of six finalists for the Cousy Award (along with Kyle Anderson, Aaron Craft, Tyler Ennis, Shabazz Napier and Marcus Paige).[36] Following his sophomore season, he delivered the commencement address at his high school alma mater and became a highly demanded public speaker.[37]

Junior year

VanVleet as a junior for the 2014–15 Wichita State Shockers

VanVleet was Preseason All-American first team selection by USA Today,[38] Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook,[39] Bleacher Report,[40] CBSSports.com,[41] Sports Illustrated,[42] and Associated Press.[43] He was a second team selection by Athlon Sports,[44] SB Nation,[45] and NBCSports.com.[46] In its preseason top 100 player ranking, VanVleet was listed at number 5 by ESPN.[47] VanVleet was named to the 36-man Bob Cousy Award Preseason Watch List.[48] He was also listed as a John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 candidate and a Oscar Robertson Trophy Watch List selection.[49][50] VanVleet was also included in the early December Naismith Award top 50 watch list.[51]

On November 14 VanVleet tallied 7 steals in the opener against New Mexico State,[52] which tied a school record.[53] On December 3, against #25 Utah VanVleet, helped Wichita State recover from a 9-point deficit in the final 2:45 of regulation with 8 points (including two three-point shots in the final 1:15) and an assist on a three-point shot, but with 7 seconds remaining in overtime and Wichita trailing by one, he missed the front end of a one and one.[54][55] In his return visit to Chicago and the Gentile Center to play Loyola on January 11, he again was perfect from the field with a 5-for-5 performance and added a career-high tying 10 assists (as well as 6 rebounds and 3 steals) for his first career double-double.[56][57] VanVleet, however, snapped his perfect streak of 20 free throws made in his home state with a 3-for-4 performance.[58] In the rematch against Loyola on January 28, VanVleet posted a career-high 27 points.[59] On February 7, VanVleet posted the first triple double for Wichita State Shockers men's basketball in 43 years with a 10-point 10-rebound 11-assist 4-steal performance against Missouri State.[60] On February 16, VanVleet was Missouri Valley Conference Co-Player of the Week (with Seth Tuttle).[61] On February 26, VanVleet broke the all-time Wichita State career assist record against Evansville with 431 assists, surpassing Warren Armstrong who had 429 and Toure Murry who had 430.[62] VanVleet was one of 17 finalists for the Cousy Award.[63] The Shockers defeated Northern Iowa on February 28 to win the Missouri Valley Conference regular season title.[64] In the opening game of the 2015 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament for the Shockers, VanVleet matched a career high with 27 points against Indiana.[65] He finished the tournament with 17-point and 25-point performances against #2-seeded Kansas and #3-seeded Notre Dame, respectively.[66][67]

VanVleet was named an All-MVC first team selection following the regular season.[68] He was also recognized by the Associated Press as an honorable mention selection for its All-America team.[69]

Personal

VanVleet is the son of Fred Manning, who was shot dead in 1999. Manning had played basketball at Guilford High School in Rockford. VanVleet's mother is named Susan.[70] VanVleet has a brother named Darnell.[43] VanVleet's stepfather is Joe Danforth.[12]

Notes

  1. ↑ O'Brien, Michael (2012-03-14). "Boys Basketball: Class 3A/4A All-State teams loaded with talent". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2012-03-17.
  2. ↑ "Boys basketball: Associated Press 4A, 3A All-State teams announced". Chicago Tribune. 2012-03-14. Retrieved 2012-03-23.
  3. ↑ Helfgot, Mike (2012-03-31). "Boys basketball - Chicago Tribune All-State first team". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2012-04-05.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Narang, Bob (2012-03-16). "Boys basketball - 4A semifinal: Proviso East wins ugly against Auburn". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2014-02-20.
  5. ↑ Narang, Bob (2012-03-13). "Boys basketball - 4A Northern Illinois Supersectional: Fred Van Vleet carries Rockford Auburn past Warren". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2014-02-20.
  6. ↑ Travis, Clyde (2012-03-17). "Boys Basketball: Bloom falls to Auburn, finishes season in 4th". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2014-02-20.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Powers, Scott (2011-05-30). "VanVleet gets attention from mid-majors". ESPN. Retrieved 2014-02-20.
  8. ↑ "Fred Van Vleet". Rivals.com. Retrieved 2014-02-20.
  9. ↑ Helfgot, Mike (2011-05-31). "Basketball recruiting bits - Lake Forest Academy's Harris has something to prove". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2014-02-20.
  10. ↑ Morrissey, Rick (2014-03-19). "Wichita State local Fred VanVleet snubbed by almost all state schools". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
  11. ↑ "Rising Star: Wichita State Guard Fred VanVleet". KYW-TV. 2014-02-11. Retrieved 2014-02-18.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Hamilton, Brian (2014-02-05). "Fred VanVleet finds harmony for unbeaten Wichita State Shockers". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2014-02-18.
  13. ↑ "(9) Wichita State 76 (28-8, 12-6 MVC); (1) Gonzaga 70 (32-3, 16-0 WCC)". ESPN. 2013-03-23. Retrieved 2014-02-18.
  14. ↑ "Wichita State shocks top-ranked and top-seeded Gonzaga". ESPN. 2013-03-23. Retrieved 2014-02-18.
  15. ↑ Winn, Luke (2013-03-10). "Four Days In Shock: Trailing Wichita State for Arch Madness". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2014-03-14.
  16. ↑ "Wichita State upsets Buckeyes to reach Final Four". ESPN. 2013-03-30. Retrieved 2014-02-18.
  17. ↑ Todd, Thomas (2014-01-17). "Fred VanVleet breaking out as part of undefeated Wichita State team". SB Nation. Retrieved 2014-01-20.
  18. ↑ Medcalf, Myron (2013-05-28). "Top 10 Tuesday: Impactful sophomores". ESPN. Retrieved 2014-01-20.
  19. ↑ "No. 6 Wichita State stifles Illinois State, 66-47". ESPN. Associated Press. 2014-01-08. Retrieved 2015-01-12.
  20. ↑ "Oscar Robertson Trophy Midseason Watch List Announced". United States Basketball Writers Association. 2014-01-23. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  21. ↑ "2013–14 Men's Naismith Trophy Midseason 30". Naismith Awards. February 13, 2014. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  22. ↑ "MBB: VanVleet Named to 2014 Bob Cousy Award Watch List". GoShockeers.com. 2014-02-17. Retrieved 2014-02-20.
  23. ↑ "No. 3 Wichita State handles Loyola, is nation's last unbeaten". ESPN. 2014-02-19. Retrieved 2014-02-20.
  24. ↑ "Top 10 National Semifinalists Named for 2014 Men's Naismith Trophy presented by AT&T". Naismith Awards. February 28, 2014. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
  25. ↑ "No. 2 Wichita State finishes perfect regular season with rout". ESPN. 2014-03-01. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  26. ↑ "MVC Announces 2014 All-Conference Teams". Missouri Valley Conference. 2014-03-04. Retrieved 2014-03-07.
  27. ↑ "VanVleet is Larry Bird Player of the Year". Missouri Valley Conference. 2014-03-04. Retrieved 2014-03-07.
  28. ↑ "Buss, VanVleet Highlight All-Bench, Most-Improved Teams". Missouri Valley Conference. 2014-03-05. Retrieved 2014-03-07.
  29. ↑ "Doug McDermott, Jabari Parker lead SI.com's All-America teams". Sports Illustrated. 2014-03-11. Retrieved 2014-03-31.
  30. ↑ King, Jason (2014-03-09). "Bleacher Report's 2013–14 College Basketball All-American, All-Conference Picks". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2014-03-31.
  31. ↑ DeCourcy, Mike (2014-03-10). "Sporting News' college basketball All-Americans for 2013–14". Sporting News. Retrieved 2014-03-10.
  32. ↑ Leddy, Rick (2014-03-26). "National Association of Basketball Coaches Announces: 2014 NABC Coaches' Division I All-America Teams" (PDF). National Association of Basketball Coaches. Retrieved 2014-03-26.
  33. ↑ "College basketball: Creighton's Doug McDermott leads AP All-America team; Gator's Wilbekin on third team". Naples News. Associated Press. March 31, 2014. Retrieved April 29, 2014.
  34. ↑ "USBWA Names 2013–14 Men's All-District Teams". United States Basketball Writers Association. 2014-03-11. Retrieved 2014-03-12.
  35. ↑ "National Association of Basketball Coaches Announces 2013–14 Division I All-District Teams" (PDF). National Association of Basketball Coaches. 2014-03-12. Retrieved 2014-03-12.
  36. ↑ "Van Vleet a finalist for Bob Cousy Award". KWCH-TV. 2014-03-14. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
  37. ↑ Parrish, Gary (2014-10-01). "Fred VanVleet using newfound fame to spread a positive message". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2014-10-23.
  38. ↑ "USA TODAY Sports' 2014-15 preseason college basketball All-American team". USA Today. 2014-11-12. Retrieved 2014-11-13.
  39. ↑ Dortch, Chris (2014-09-22). "Blue Ribbon announces complete All-America teams, player of year and newcomer of year". Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook. Retrieved 2014-12-10.
  40. ↑ Moore, C. J. (2014-11-13). "B/R's 2014-15 Preseason College Basketball All-American Picks". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2014-12-10.
  41. ↑ Parrish, Gary (2014-10-07). "CBSSports.com 2014-15 Preseason All-America basketball teams". CBS Sports. Retrieved 2014-10-23.
  42. ↑ "Marcus Paige, Jahlil Okafor lead SI's preseason All-America team". Sports Illustrated. 2014-11-12. Retrieved 2014-11-13.
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 "AP reveals preseason All-Americans". ESPN. Associated Press. 2014-11-03. Retrieved 2014-11-03.
  44. ↑ Fox, David (2014-11-10). "Athlon Sports' 2014-15 College Basketball All-America Team". Athlon Sports. Retrieved 2014-12-10.
  45. ↑ Rutherford, Mike (2014-11-13). "The Preseason All-Americans". SB Nation. Retrieved 2014-11-13.
  46. ↑ Dauster, Rob (2014-11-03). "College Basketball Talk’s 2014-2015 Preseason All-American Teams". NBC Sports. Retrieved 2014-11-05.
  47. ↑ "College Hoops Rankings: 10-1". ESPN. 2014-11-05. Retrieved 2014-11-05.
  48. ↑ Vecenie, Sam (2014-11-04). "Bob Cousy Award Preseason Watch List for 2015 released". CBS Sports. Retrieved 2014-11-12.
  49. ↑ "Wooden Top 50 watch list unveiled". ESPN. 2014-11-17. Retrieved 2014-11-18.
  50. ↑ "Five Named To USBWA Watch List". Big12Sports.com. 2014-11-24. Retrieved 2014-11-25.
  51. ↑ "Naismith Watch List of 50 announced". NCAA. 2014-12-03. Retrieved 2014-12-09.
  52. ↑ "College Hoops Rankings: 10-1". ESPN. 2014-11-14. Retrieved 2014-11-15.
  53. ↑ "MBB: Shockers Win Opener Against Aggies, 71-54". GoShockers.com. 2014-11-14. Retrieved 2015-02-24.
  54. ↑ "(8) Wichita State 68 (4-1, 0-1 away); (25) Utah 69 (6-1, 6-0 home)—play-by-play". ESPN. 2014-12-03. Retrieved 2014-12-04.
  55. ↑ "Utah pulls out OT win vs. No. 8 Wichita State, ending Shockers' streak". ESPN. Associated Press. 2014-12-03. Retrieved 2014-12-04.
  56. ↑ "Cotton leads Wichita State over Loyola-Chicago, 67-53". ESPN. Associated Press. 2015-01-11. Retrieved 2015-01-12.
  57. ↑ "VanVleet leads Wichita State past Loyola-Chicago". KHBS/KHOG-TV. 2014-01-11. Retrieved 2015-01-12.
  58. ↑ Suellentrop, Paul (2014-01-11). "Shocker report (Jan. 11)". The Wichita Eagle. Retrieved 2015-01-12.
  59. ↑ "VanVleet lifts No. 12 Wichita State to 58-47 win over Loyola". ESPN. Associated Press. 2015-01-28. Retrieved 2015-01-29.
  60. ↑ "No. 16 Wichita State dominates in 78-35 win over Missouri St". ESPN. Associated Press. 2015-02-07. Retrieved 2015-02-08.
  61. ↑ "Weekly Men's Basketball Notebook". Missouri Valley Conference. 2015-02-16. Retrieved 2015-02-17.
  62. ↑ "Shocker report: Wichita State 62, Evansville 43". The Wichita Eagle. 2015-02-23. Retrieved 2015-02-24.
  63. ↑ "Shocker Duo Named Finalists For West, Cousy Awards". Missouri Valley Conference. 2015-02-21. Retrieved 2015-02-24.
  64. ↑ "Wichita St. beats Northern Iowa to win Missouri Valley title". ESPN. Associated Press. 2015-02-28. Retrieved 2015-03-10.
  65. ↑ "Fred VanVleet matches career-high 27 points as Shockers top Indiana". ESPN. Associated Press. 2015-03-20. Retrieved 2015-03-21.
  66. ↑ "Wichita State shocks Kansas with shooting barrage". ESPN. Associated Press. 2015-03-22. Retrieved 2015-03-28.
  67. ↑ "Notre Dame races by Wichita State for Elite Eight spot". ESPN. Associated Press. 2015-03-26. Retrieved 2015-03-28.
  68. ↑ "Tuttle Highlights 2014-15 All-Missouri Valley". Missouri Valley Conference. 2015-03-03. Retrieved 2015-03-10.
  69. ↑ "Payne Named Associated Press All-America" (Press release). Murray State Racers. March 31, 2015. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  70. ↑ Mitchell, Fred (2014-02-14). "Teammate remembers Fred VanVleet's father: High school teammate of Wichita State guard's late father will share memories of time spent playing ball with him". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2014-02-18.

External links