Brian Fitzpatrick (basketball)
Irish-American basketball player
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Brian Edward Fitzpatrick (born 6 November 1989) is an Irish-American professional basketball player who plays the power forward position. He has represented the Irish National Team and played college basketball at Bucknell University.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 6 November 1989 Bethpage, New York, U.S. |
| Nationality | Irish / American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Listed weight | 235 lb (107 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | |
| College | |
| NBA draft | 2014: undrafted |
| Playing career | 2014–2023 |
| Position | Power forward |
| Career history | |
| 2014 | Rethymno Aegean |
| 2014 | Panionios |
| 2015–2016 | Horsens IC |
| 2016 | Levanga Hokkaido |
| 2016–2017 | Prostějov |
| 2018–2019 | Borås |
| 2019–2020 | San Martin Corrientes |
| 2021 | Haukar |
| 2021–2022 | BC Odesa |
| 2022 | Olimpia |
| 2022 | Bashkimi |
| 2022–2023 | KR |
| Career highlights | |
| |
High school career
Fitzpatrick played at Xavier High School before doing a post-graduate year at prep power Northfield Mount Hermon.[1]
College career
In October 2008, he committed to the University of Pennsylvania.[2] During his freshman season, head coach Glen Miller was fired[3] and he transferred to Bucknell University.[4] He redshirted for one season and played three more years for the Bison. Fitzpatrick played a limited reserve role in his first two years behind long time NBA veteran Mike Muscala. However he stepped in a bigger role in his final year of eligibility, when he was named to the academic All-Patriot League team in 2014.[5] His 2014 graduating class, headlined by Patriot League Player of the Year, Cameron Ayers, was the winningest class in program history, with a 94-39 record.[6]
Professional career
In August 2014, Fitzpatrick signed a two-year deal with Rethymno Aegean B.C.[7] However, he was released in October and transferred to Panionios[8] also of the Greek Basket League. In January 2015, he signed for the rest of the season with Horsens IC.[9] He helped them win the double and was named Finals MVP.
In September 2015, he resigned with Horsens IC for another season[10] and helped them repeat as champions of the Danish League.
In August 2016, Fitzpatrick signed with Levanga Hokkaido in the first division of the Japanese B.League.[11] Following an calf strain injury, he was released from his contract in early November.[12] On 26 December, he signed with BK Prostějov of the NBL for the rest of the season.[13]
After missing the next season with an ACL tear, he signed with Borås Basket for the 2018–2019 season.[14] He helped Borås Basket to reach the SBL finals, the first in club history.[citation needed]
In July 2019, he signed with San Martin Corrientes of the LNB for the 2019–2020 season.[15]
In January 2021, Fitzpatrick signed with Úrvalsdeild karla club Haukar.[16] In 21 games, he averaged 14.1 points and 10.0 rebounds per game.
In August 2021, Fitzpatrick signed with BC Odesa of the Ukrainian Basketball SuperLeague for the 2021–2022 season.[17] He finished the season with Olimpia of the LUB following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[18] His chaotic escape out of Ukraine was chronicled in the Irish Independent.[19]
In August 2022, Fitzpatrick was announced as a new player for Bashkimi of the Superliga and Balkan League for the 2022-2023 season.[20]
In December 2022, Fitzpatrick signed with Úrvalsdeild karla club KR.[21]
International career
In 2016, Fitzpatrick played on Ireland's national team and their national 3x3 team.[22] He participated in the 2016 FIBA Europe 3x3 Championships qualifier in Escaldes-Engordany, Andorra. He also represented Ireland at the 2016 FIBA European Championship for Small Countries in Ciorescu, Moldova, where he was his team's top scorer and the third-best scorer of the tournament.[23]
In November 2021, he was called up for round 1 for the FIBA Eurobasket 2025 Pre-Qualifiers against Cyprus and Austria.[24]