David Aliu Explained

David Aliu
Position:Power forward
Height M:1.98
Number:11
Birth Date:13 March 1981
Birth Place:Liverpool, England
High School:Notre Dame Academy
(Middleburg, Virginia)
College:Morehead State University (2000–2004)
Draft Year:2004
Career Start:2004
Career End:2016
Years1:2004
Team1:Scottish Rocks
Years2:2005
Team2:Tindastóll
Years3:2005–2006
Team3:Hamar/Selfoss
Years4:2006–2007
Team4:Leicester Riders
Years5:2006–2007
Team5:Þór Þorlákshöfn
Years6:2007
Team6:Celso Míguez Procolor
Years7:2007–2008
Team7:Everton Tigers
Years8:2008–2009
Team8:Lausanne
Years9:2010–2012
Team9:Mersey Tigers
Years10:2012–2014
Team10:Manchester Giants
Years11:2014–2016
Team11:Cheshire Phoenix
Highlights:

David Aliu (born 13 March 1981) is a British retired professional basketball player. He last played for Cheshire Phoenix in the British Basketball League (BBL). Aliu was part of the Mersey Tigers' treble-winning 2010/11 team, and in November 2011, became the Tigers' record points scorer in the BBL.[1]

Early life and career

Born in Liverpool, England, Aliu started playing basketball at the age of 14 in his home town of Liverpool, playing for local side Toxteth Tigers. He landed a scholarship in the US, playing at the Notre Dame Academy in Virginia, before moving on to and graduating from Morehead State University, Kentucky in 2004.[2]

Professional career

The power forward made his British Basketball League debut on 01/10/2004 playing for Scottish Rocks against Newcastle Eagles, and he went on to make 11 appearances for the Rocks, averaging 6.27 PPG.

He then moved on to play for three teams in the Icelandic Úrvalsdeild karla - Tindastóll (15.7 ppg and 5.0 rpg), Hamar/Selfoss (20.7 ppg and 8.9 rpg) and Þór Þorlákshöfn (23.6 ppg and 9.5 rpg) - from 2005 to 2007, with a short spell at Leicester Riders in the BBL in the middle.

After a brief spell with Celso Míguez Procolor in Spain, Aliu returned to his home city to play for the new professional franchise, Everton Tigers.

He averaged 15.8 points per game in 33 appearances for the Tigers, before leaving to play for BBC Lausanne in Switzerland. He took a year out of the sport following the birth of his daughter, but returned to the re-branded Mersey Tigers for the 2010/11 season. Aliu won the BBL Championship, BBL Trophy and BBL play-off titles, playing alongside Great Britain players Andrew Sullivan and Nate Reinking, in a very successful season.

In August 2011, Aliu signed a new two-year deal with the Tigers to keep him at the club until the end of the 2012/13 season.[3]

In September 2012, Aliu signed with a contract with the Manchester Giants.[4]

In June 2014, Aliu signed a two-year contract with the Cheshire Phoenix. On 20 July 2016 Aliu retired from basketball.[5] [6]

Other Notes

Aliu was the first person to score a basket at the ECHO Arena in Liverpool.[7]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Basketball: Mersey Tigers captain David Aliu racks up 1000 BBL points . 14 January 2020 . . 16 December 2011.
  2. News: Dave Powell . The unlikely career path paved with success for Cheshire Phoenix star David Aliu . 14 January 2020 . Cheshire Live . 20 August 2015.
  3. News: David Aliu signs new two-year deal with Mersey Tigers . 14 January 2020 . . 7 May 2013.
  4. News: David Aliu signs for Manchester Giants . 14 January 2020 . davidaliu.com . 16 September 2012 . https://archive.today/20130121085837/http://www.davidaliu.com/blog/david-aliu-signs-for-manchester-giants/ . 21 January 2013.
  5. Web site: Gains . Bradley. David Aliu Retires from Professional Basketball . Hoopsfix.com . 20 July 2016 . 26 July 2016.
  6. News: David Aliu announces retirement from professional basketball . 14 January 2020 . . 20 July 2016.
  7. Web site: Nix add league legend Aliu to roster . The Chester Chronicle . 4 June 2014 . 22 August 2015 . Powell, Dave.