Mike McGuirl explained

Mike McGuirl
Position:Point guard
Height Ft:6
Height In:2
Weight Lb:194
Team:Hapoel Haifa
Number:11
League:Israeli Basketball Premier League
Birth Date:4 December 1998
Birth Place:Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
High School:East Catholic (Manchester, Connecticut)
College:Kansas State (2017–2022)
Draft Year:2022
Career Start:2022
Years1:2022–2023
Team1:FOG Næstved
Years2:2023
Team2:MLP Academics Heidelberg
Years3:2023–present
Team3:Hapoel Haifa
Highlights:

Mike McGuirl (born December 4, 1998) is an American professional basketball player for Hapoel Haifa of the Israeli Basketball Premier League. McGuirl played five years for Kansas State, from 2017 to 2022.

Early life and college career

Mike McGuirl was born in Hartford, Connecticut, in the United States, and attended East Catholic High School in Manchester, Connecticut.[1]

He played five years for Kansas State (2017–2022).[2]

In March 2018, he expected to redshirt but was pressed into action after sitting out the first 13 games. He scored 17 points in the NCAA Tournament opener against Creighton and averaged over 20 minutes a game during Kansas State's NCAA Elite Eight run.[2]

He was a key contributor to the 2019 Big 12 regular season championship team.[2]

McGuirl was the team's 2020-21 second-leading scorer at 11.8 points per game.[2] He was the only Wildcat to start all 29 games.[3]

In 2021, his teammate Nijel Pack called McGuirl's return for a fifth season “a blessing for all of us.”[2]

Yet, in 2021-22, the Wildcats added a pair of talented transfers in Mark Smith and Markquis Nowell so that McGuirl had been in and out of the starting lineup, averaging 7.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.[2]

Club career

In his first season as a professional basketball player, McGuirl averaged 22 points, 4,9 rebounds and 4,1 assists a contest for Team FOG Næstved of Denmark's Basketligaen. He was named 2022-23 Basketligaen Most Valuable Player.[4]

In July 2023, he joined MLP Academics Heidelberg.[5]

In 2023 November he joined Hapoel Haifa in the Israeli Basketball Premier League.[6] [7]

Player profile

McGuirl's college coach Bruce Weber stated that: "The best thing has been his energy, especially on defense." Weber also praised McGuirl's character and work ethic. Weber said "Despite everything going on, he didn’t miss one practice or game."[2]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: East Catholic High School dominates Connecticut basketball. SC Student. Media. January 14, 2023. The Springfield Student.
  2. https://eu.cjonline.com/story/sports/college/cat-zone/2022/03/04/kansas-state-basketball-mike-mcguirl-glad-he-returned-one-more-year-oklahoma-big-12-tournament/9358120002/ Why Kansas State's Mike McGuirl says he's glad he returned for one more year
  3. News: Kansas State guard Mike McGuirl to return for second senior season. 8 August 2023 . . 23 March 2021.
  4. Web site: Kåringer i BL . 2024-05-12 . Basketligaen . en-US.
  5. Web site: Mike McGuirl, MVP in Dänemark, zu den MLP Academics. Eva. Birkelbach. July 7, 2023. MLP Academics Heidelberg - Basketball mit Zukunft.
  6. Web site: ISRAEL BASKETBALL SUPER LEAGUE | Israel Basketball | 2023-24 Season | Hapoel Shoval Haifa. basket.co.il.
  7. Web site: Dom Amore’s Sunday Read: When there were Giants in CT; Xavier becomes ‘Quarterback High,’ Dan Hurley’s promised kept, and more. November 25, 2023.