Larry Abney
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born |
May 19, 1977 Nyack, New York |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Listed weight | 236 lb (107 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Nyack (Nyack, New York) |
| College |
|
| NBA draft | 2000 / Undrafted |
| Playing career | 2000–2012 |
| Position | Power forward |
| Career history | |
| 2000 | Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs (USBL) |
| 2000–2001 | Trenton Shooting Stars (IBL) |
| 2001 | Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs (USBL) |
| 2002 | Adirondack Wildcats (USBL) |
| 2002–2003 | Asheville Altitude (D-League) |
| 2003–2004 | Beauvais BC (France) |
| 2004–2005 | ETHA Engomis (Cyprus) |
| 2005 | Cocodrilos de Caracas (Venezuela) |
| 2005 | New Jersey Flyers (USBL) |
| 2005 | Reales de La Vega (Dominican Rep.) |
| 2005–2007 | Townsville Crocodiles (Australia) |
| 2006 | Étendard de Brest (France) |
| 2007 | Al Jaish Damascus (Syria) |
| 2007–2008 | Cairns Taipans (Australia) |
| 2009 | EiffelTowers Den Bosch (Netherlands) |
| 2009 | Ciclista Olímpico (Argentina) |
| 2009 | Estudiantes (Argentina) |
| 2010 | Halcones Rojos Veracruz (Mexico) |
| 2010 | Khimik (Ukraine) |
| 2010 | Gimnasia (Argentina) |
| 2012 | Southland Sharks (New Zealand) |
| 2012 | Townsville Crocodiles (Australia) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Lawrence "Larry" Abney (born May 19, 1977) is an American former professional basketball player. Born in Nyack, New York, he was nicknamed Birdman throughout his career for his athleticism.
High school career
Abney attended Nyack High School in Nyack, New York. As a junior in 1993–94, he averaged 16.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game as he earned fourth team all-state honors. As a senior in 1994–95, he averaged 18.5 points, 15.0 rebounds and 5.0 blocks per game as he earned honorable mention All-America honors from USA Today as well as first team all-state honors.[1]
In April 1995, he signed a National Letter of Intent to play college basketball for Fresno State University.[2]
College career
After sitting out the 1995–96 season while meeting NCAA eligibility requirements, Abney spent his freshman season at Fresno City College in 1996–97 where he helped the Rams to their first Central Valley Conference title since 1987 and a berth in the state final four. In 34 games, he averaged 10.8 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.[1][3]
In 1997, Abney returned to Fresno State where as a sophomore in 1997–98, he was one of three players to play in all 34 games, starting in 13. He posted seven double-digit scoring games and had three double-doubles. In those 34 games, he averaged 5.5 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.[1][3]
In his junior season, he finished second on the team in field goal percentage with .559 and spent two weeks as an American representative on the People to People basketball tour in Greece. In 33 games (25 starts), he averaged 6.2 points and 7.0 rebounds per game.[1][3]
In his senior season, he was named to the All-WAC second team after he helped Fresno State win the Western Athletic Conference championship. In 34 games, he averaged 10.3 points, 11.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game.[3] On February 17, 2000, he broke an NCAA record when he pulled down a staggering 35 rebounds in a game against Southern Methodist University – the most in a single game since 1965.
Professional career
Early years (2000–2005)
After graduating from Fresno State, Abney joined the Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs for the 2000 United States Basketball League season. In July 2000, he joined the Denver Nuggets for the Rocky Mountain Revue. Later that year, he signed with the Trenton Shooting Stars for the 2000–01 IBL season.
In 2001, he re-joined the Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs. Later that year, he signed with the Mobis Automons for the 2001–02 Korean Basketball League season. Following the KBL season, he joined the Adirondack Wildcats for the 2002 USBL season. In July 2002, he joined the Boston Celtics for the 2002 NBA Summer League.
On October 31, 2002, he was selected in the 10th round of the 2002 NBA D-League draft by the Asheville Altitude. In 2003, he signed with Beauvais BC of France for the 2003–04 LNB Pro B season, and in 2004, he signed with ETHA Engomis of Cyprus for the 2004–05 Cyprus Basketball Division 1 season.
In the 2005 off-season, he played for Cocodrilos de Caracas, the New Jersey Flyers and Reales de La Vega.
Australia (2005–2008)
In August 2005, Abney signed with the Townsville Crocodiles for the 2005–06 NBL season. He went on to be named to the All-NBL first team and garnered NBL All-Star honors. On February 10, 2006, he re-signed with the Crocodiles on a two-year deal.[4] Later that month, he joined Étendard de Brest of France for the rest of the 2005–06 LNB Pro A season.
In 2006–07, he was again an NBL All-Star honoree and was named to the All-NBL second team. In March 2007, he joined Al Jaish Damascus of Syria. On April 19, 2007, he signed a new two-year deal with the Cairns Taipans, reportedly leaving the Crocodiles for more money.[5] In 2007–08, he was again an NBL All-Star honoree.
On December 11, 2008, Abney was released by the Taipans because the club could not longer afford him, fellow import Dave Thomas or head coach Alan Black. The Taipans did continue playing, however, only after the entire team agreed to a blanket 45 per cent pay cut for the rest of the season.[6][7][8]
Europe and Argentina (2009–2010)
On January 19, 2009, Abney signed with EiffelTowers Den Bosch for the rest of the 2008–09 season.[9]
In the summer of 2009, he signed with Ciclista Olímpico of Argentina for the 2009–10 season. In November 2009, he left Ciclista Olímpico and signed with Estudiantes de Bahía Blanca.[10] In December 2009, he left Estudiantes after seven games. In February 2010, he signed with Halcones Rojos Veracruz of Mexico but left after just eight games. On March 18, 2010, he signed with BC Khimik of the Ukrainian Basketball SuperLeague.[11] However, on April 8, 2010, he was waived by Khimik after just four games.[12]
In the summer of 2010, he signed with Gimnasia y Esgrima of Argentina for the 2010–11 season. In November 2010, he left Gimnasia. The next month, he received a try-out from BC Odessa of the Ukraine.[13]
Return to NBL (2012)
On January 11, 2012, Abney signed with the Southland Sharks for the 2012 New Zealand NBL season.[14]
On October 2, 2012, Abney returned to the Townsville Crocodiles, signing with the club for the 2012–13 NBL season.[15] However, on November 28, 2012, he announced his retirement on advice from his surgeon, who discovered a small hole in his thigh bone.[16][17] He managed just nine games for the Crocodiles in 2012–13, averaging 4.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.[18]
Personal
Abney is the son of Robin Hauser, and has one younger brother and three younger sisters.[1]
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Larry Abney Bio". GoBulldogs.com. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
- ↑ Cyphers, Luke (April 28, 1995). "MARBURY SIGNS ON DOTTED LINE". nydailynews.com. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 "Larry Abney Stats". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
- ↑ "Crocs' Abney signs two-year deal". ABC.net.au. February 10, 2006. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
- ↑ "Abney heading to the Taipans". ABC.net.au. April 19, 2007. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
- ↑ Davis, Sam (December 11, 2008). "Taipans to finish season but imports Abney and Thomas go". ABC.net.au. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
- ↑ Greenwood, Emma (December 16, 2008). "Cairns Taipans administrators sack head coach Alan Black". FoxSports.com. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
- ↑ "Cairns Taipans import Larry Abney has spoken out against dumped coach Alan Black". TheAustralian.com.au. December 19, 2008. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
- ↑ "EiffelTowers Inks Former Fresno Star". Sportando.com. January 19, 2009. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
- ↑ "EUROBASKET NEWS REPORT - 11/27/2009". Eurobasket.com. November 27, 2009. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
- ↑ "Khimik adds size with Larry Abney". Sportando.com. March 18, 2010. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
- ↑ "Khimik waives Abney and Wethers". Sportando.com. April 8, 2010. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
- ↑ "BC Odessa lands Larry Abney". Sportando.com. December 15, 2010. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
- ↑ Egan, Brendon (January 11, 2012). "'Birdman' Larry Abney lifts game for Sharks". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
- ↑ Nagy, Boti (October 2, 2012). "Larry Abney to help Townsville go from pretenders to contenders this season". News.com.au. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
- ↑ Nagy, Boti (November 29, 2012). "Battle of the Lukes looms for Sixers v Crocodiles battle". HeraldSun.com.au. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
- ↑ "EUROBASKET NEWS REPORT - 12/10/2012 4:04:01 AM". Eurobasket.com. December 10, 2012. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
- ↑ "Player statistics for Larry Abney". FoxSportsPulse.com. Retrieved September 16, 2014.