Trevor Booker Explained

Trevor Booker
Birth Date:November 25, 1987
Birth Place:Newberry, South Carolina, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:8
Weight Lb:228
High School:Union (Union, South Carolina)
College:Clemson (2006–2010)
Draft Year:2010
Draft Round:1
Draft Pick:23
Draft Team:Minnesota Timberwolves
Career Start:2010
Career End:2018
Career Position:Power forward
Career Number:35, 33, 20
Years1:
Team1:Washington Wizards
Years2:
Team2:Utah Jazz
Years3:
Team3:Brooklyn Nets
Team4:Philadelphia 76ers
Team5:Indiana Pacers
Highlights:
  • First-team All-ACC (2010)
  • Second-team All-ACC (2009)
  • ACC All-Defensive Team (2009)
Stat1label:Points
Stat1value:3,679 (6.9 ppg)
Stat2label:Rebounds
Stat2value:2,932 (5.5 rpg)
Stat3label:Assists
Stat3value:566 (1.1 apg)

Trevor Fitzgerald Booker (born November 25, 1987) is an American former professional basketball player who played eight seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was drafted 23rd overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2010 NBA draft, but was immediately traded to the Washington Wizards. Booker primarily played the power forward position.

Early life

Booker was born on November 25, 1987, in Newberry, South Carolina, to Gerald and Tracey, both accomplished athletes. He was brought up in a rural Whitmire neighborhood and grew up eating as many as 20 bowls of cereal each week, sharing the love with his brothers.[1] Booker began playing the game of basketball after his mother tried to get her sons into it by showing them her clippings as a high school player. His brother, Devin, said, "She got us into it when we were younger, and we have been ever since."[2]

High school career

Booker attended Union High School in Union, South Carolina, and played basketball under head coach Joe Pitt. In his senior year in 2005–06, Booker was named Gatorade Player of the Year for South Carolina, after averaging 21.9 points, 16.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. He was also named AAA State Player of the Year and was a first-time All-State selection. Booker left the Union high school team as its all-time leader in rebounds and blocked shots. Later on, Booker played Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball with the South Carolina Celtics.[3]

College career

Freshman

Entering college, Booker was listed as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com and 247Sports.com. He was ranked the 29th best power forward by Rivals and 27th by 247Sports in the Class of 2006. Booker was also given a 0.8778 composite rating at 247Sports.com.[4] [5] He committed to play for the Clemson Tigers men's basketball team on May 13, 2005, officially visited Clemson on September 16, 2005, signed the National Letter of Intent with Clemson on February 1, 2006, and enrolled on May 30, 2006. Booker also considered Auburn, Florida State, Georgia Tech, James Madison, Pittsburgh, Purdue, South Carolina, Tennessee, William & Mary, and Wofford as possible destinations. He received offers from Wofford, William & Mary, and South Carolina.[4]

On October 31, 2006, Booker made his collegiate debut with Clemson, recording six points, seven rebounds, three blocks, and three steals as starting power forward in an exhibition game against Lithuania Academy.[6] He was allowed 18 minutes on the court, and along with Sam Perry, led the team in rebounds.[7] Booker made his first regular season appearance with the Tigers on November 10, 2006, in the first round of the Cox Communications Classic against Arkansas State. After starting as center, he became the first true freshman to start in that position for Clemson since Tom Wideman in 1995–96. He finished the game with 6 points, a team-high 7 rebounds, and 1 block in 19 minutes of playing time.[8] [9] On November 12, 2006, Booker grabbed a career-best 9 rebounds vs Old Dominion for the Cox Communications Classic title. He also contributed 10 points.[10] On November 17, 2006, Booker scored a career-high 15 points in 20 minutes against Appalachian State.[11] Booker recorded 11 rebounds on November 24 of the same year in a win over Charleston Southern. It was his first collegiate game with 10+ boards. On December 31, 2006, he recorded his first career double-double, with 15 points and 12 rebounds on Georgia State. James Mays, one of his teammates, when asked about Booker's accomplishments, said, "What didn't he do?" Booker helped Clemson reach 14–0, their best start in 20 years.[12] On January 6, 2007, Booker had Georgia Tech freshman Zach Peacock ejected from the game after he hit him with an elbow.[13] On March 19, 2007, Booker scored a career-high 21 points against Ole Miss.[14] By the end of his freshman season, Booker averaged 10.4 points, a team-high 6.7 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks. He ranked fourth nationally among freshmen in shots blocked.[15]

Sophomore and Junior

In his sophomore and junior seasons, Clemson had its first back-to-back NCAA appearances in nearly ten years. In Booker's junior year he led the ACC in rebounding (9.7 per game) and field goal percentage (.571), and finished second in blocked shots (2.0 per game).[16] For his efforts, Booker was named second-team All-ACC and was named to the 2009 All-Defensive Team.[17] On the National level, he was named USBWA All-District[18] and NABC second team All-District.[19] Following his junior year, Booker announced that he would return to Clemson for his senior year.[20] He spent the summer following his junior campaign playing for Team USA in the World University Games, helping the team win a bronze medal.

Senior

During his senior year, Booker was selected the All-ACC first team.[21]

Professional career

Washington Wizards (2010–2014)

Booker was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the 23rd overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft. His rights were later traded to the Washington Wizards on draft night.

On August 4, 2011, Booker signed with Bnei Hasharon of Israel for the duration of the NBA lockout.[22] In October 2011, he returned to the United States due to a bruised right quadriceps.[23] In December 2011, following the conclusion of the lockout, Booker returned to the Washington Wizards before appearing in a game for Bnei Hasharon.

Utah Jazz (2014–2016)

On July 21, 2014, Booker signed with the Utah Jazz[24] to a reported two-year, $10 million contract.[25] On April 11, 2015, Booker scored a career-high 36 points in a win over the Portland Trail Blazers.[26]

Brooklyn Nets (2016–2017)

On July 8, 2016, Booker signed with the Brooklyn Nets.[27] On December 14, 2016, he grabbed a season-high 18 rebounds in a 107–97 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.[28] On April 1, 2017, he scored a season-high 23 points in a 121–111 win over the Orlando Magic.[29]

Philadelphia 76ers (2017–2018)

On December 7, 2017, Booker was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Jahlil Okafor, Nik Stauskas and a 2019 second-round pick.[30] On February 28, 2018, he was waived by the 76ers.[31]

Indiana Pacers (2018)

On March 3, 2018, Booker signed with the Indiana Pacers.[32]

In August 2018, Booker signed a one-year contract to play with the Shanxi Brave Dragons in the CBA.[33] On October 11, 2018, Booker returned to the United States to have surgery performed on his foot.[34]

On April 14, 2020, Booker announced his retirement from his basketball career at age 32.[35] [36]

Booker started working out with the minor league PrimeTime Players of the East Coast Basketball League and The Tournament fame. He made his ECBL debut on March 6, 2021, scoring 36 points and 18 rebounds.[37]

Career statistics

NBA

Regular season

|-| style="text-align:left;"|| style="text-align:left;"|Washington| 65 || 14 || 16.4 || .549 || .000 || .673 || 3.9 || .5 || .4 || .6 || 5.3|-| style="text-align:left;"|| style="text-align:left;"|Washington| 50 || 32 || 25.2 || .531 || .500 || .602 || 6.5 || .8 || 1.0 || .9 || 8.4|-| style="text-align:left;"|| style="text-align:left;"|Washington| 48 || 14 || 18.5 || .491 || .000 || .556 || 5.0 || .8 || .7 || .3 || 5.3|-| style="text-align:left;"|| style="text-align:left;"|Washington| 72 || 45 || 21.6 || .551 || .000 || .618 || 5.3 || .9 || .6 || .6 || 6.8|-| style="text-align:left;"|| style="text-align:left;"|Utah| 79 || 5 || 19.8 || .487 || .345 || .581 || 5.0 || 1.1 || .5 || .5 || 7.2|-| style="text-align:left;"|| style="text-align:left;"|Utah| 79 || 2 || 20.7 || .490 || .293 || .670 || 5.7 || 1.1 || .7 || .5 || 5.9|-| style="text-align:left;"|| style="text-align:left;"|Brooklyn| 71 || 43 || 24.7 || .516 || .321 || .673 || 8.0 || 1.9 || 1.1 || .4 || 10.0|-| style="text-align:left;"|| style="text-align:left;"|Brooklyn| 18 || 6 || 21.9 || .513 || .250 || .558 || 6.6 || 2.1 || .4 || .3 || 10.1|-| style="text-align:left;"|| style="text-align:left;"|Philadelphia| 33 || 0 || 15.0 || .560 || .286 || .821 || 3.7 || .8 || .5 || .3 || 4.7|-| style="text-align:left;"|| style="text-align:left;"|Indiana| 17 || 1 || 15.8 || .464 || .214 || .909 || 4.5 || 1.0 || .2 || .3 || 5.4|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career| 532 || 162 || 20.4 || .515 || .305 || .636 || 5.5 || 1.1 || .7 || .5 || 6.9

Playoffs

|-| style="text-align:left;"|2014| style="text-align:left;"|Washington| 9 || 1 || 16.2 || .448 || .000 || .667 || 4.3 || .9 || .2 || 1.0 || 3.3|-| style="text-align:left;"|2018| style="text-align:left;"|Indiana| 7 || 0 || 9.1 || .600 || .000 || .857 || 2.6 || .0 || .1 || .1 || 2.6|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career| 16 || 1 || 13.1 || .487 || .000 || .769 || 3.6 || .5 || .2 || .6 || 3.0

College

|-| style="text-align:left;"|2006–07| style="text-align:left;"|Clemson| 36 || 36 || 25.9 || .602 || || .615 || 6.4 || 1.1 || .9 || 2.2 || 10.4|-| style="text-align:left;"|2007–08| style="text-align:left;"|Clemson| 34 || 34 || 26.6 || .555 || .333 || .573 || 7.3 || 1.5 || .6 || 1.9 || 11.0|-| style="text-align:left;"|2008–09| style="text-align:left;"|Clemson| 32 || 32 || 30.7 || .571 || .409 || .707 || 9.7 || 1.7 || 1.5 || 2.0 || 15.3|-| style="text-align:left;"|2009–10| style="text-align:left;"|Clemson| 32 || 32 || 30.8 || .521 || .265 || .591 || 8.4 || 2.5 || 1.3 || 1.4 || 15.2|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career| 134 || 134 || 28.4 || .559 || .324 || .624 || 7.9 || 1.7 || 1.1 || 1.9 || 12.9

Personal life

Booker has three younger brothers; Devin, Darrion, and Jared. Devin also played college basketball for Clemson University and now plays professionally in Europe.[38] Darrion played college basketball for the University of West Alabama,[39] and Jared competes with the Union County High School basketball team.[40] Booker is also the cousin of NBA player Jordan Hill.[41]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Steinberg. Dan. Trevor Booker leaves Wizards with final cereal interview. WashingtonPost.com. 23 December 2014.
  2. Web site: Cobbs. Matt. Booker brothers synonymous with Union County basketball. GoUpstate.com. 23 December 2014.
  3. Web site: Trevor Booker to Receive Key to the City of Mauldin, SC. ClemsonTigers.com. 23 December 2014.
  4. Web site: Trevor Booker. Rivals.com. 26 December 2014.
  5. Web site: Trevor Booker at Union. 247Sports.com. 26 December 2014.
  6. Web site: Clemson Downs Lithuania Academy 99–50. ClemsonTigers.com. 25 December 2014.
  7. Web site: Lithuania Academy vs Clemson (10/31/06 at Clemson, SC (Littlejohn Coliseum). NMNAthletics.com. 25 December 2014.
  8. Web site: Clemson Downs Arkansas State, 83–44, in Season Opener. ClemsonTigers.com. 25 December 2014.
  9. Web site: Trevor Booker Game Logs. RealGM.com. 25 December 2014.
  10. Web site: Clemson Tops ODU For Cox Communications Classic Title. ClemsonTigers.com. 25 December 2014.
  11. Web site: Tigers Improve To 5–0 With 79–49 Rout Of Mountaineers. ClemsonTigers.com. 25 December 2014.
  12. Web site: Tigers Reach 14–0 With 67–57 Victory Over Georgia State. ClemsonTigers.com. 25 December 2014.
  13. Web site: Mays' Layup Sends No. 23 Tigers To Victory Over Yellow Jackets, 75–74. ClemsonTigers.com. 25 December 2014.
  14. Web site: Booker, Hammonds Lead Clemson Rout Over Ole Miss, 89–68, In NIT Second Round. ClemsonTigers.com. 25 December 2014.
  15. Web site: Trevor Booker – Basketball Player Profile. TigerNet.com. 25 December 2014.
  16. https://archive.today/20120304043454/http://clemsontigers.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/040709aaa.html Booker Led ACC in Rebounding and Field Goal Percentage
  17. http://clemsontigers.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/030909aaa.html Booker Named to Second-Team All-ACC & ACC's All-Defensive Team
  18. http://www.sportswriters.net/usbwa/news/2009/alldistrict090310.html USBWA NAMES 2008–09 MEN'S ALL-DISTRICT TEAMS
  19. http://www.nabc.org/genrel/030409aaa.html NABC Announces 2009 Division I All-District Teams
  20. https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/news/story?id=4022000 Booker will return to Clemson
  21. http://www.tigernet.com/view/story.do?id=8458 Trevor Booker Named First-Team All-ACC
  22. http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/israel/87848/bnei-hasharon-adds-size-with-trevor-booker.html Bnei Hasharon adds size with Trevor Booker
  23. http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/israel/88726/jj-hickson-agreed-to-terms-with-bnei-hasharon.html JJ Hickson agreed to terms with Bnei Hasharon
  24. http://www.nba.com/jazz/news/jazz-signs-free-agent-trevor-booker Jazz Signs Free Agent Trevor Booker
  25. http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/234309/Trevor-Booker-Agrees-To-Two-Year-$10M-Deal-With-Jazz Trevor Booker Agrees To Two-Year, $10M Deal With Jazz
  26. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865626256/Trevor-Bookers-36-points-2-a-career-high-2-lift-the-Utah-Jazz.html Trevor Booker's career-high 36 points power Jazz past Blazers
  27. Web site: Brooklyn Nets Sign Trevor Booker. NBA.com. July 8, 2016. July 8, 2016.
  28. Web site: Nets send Lakers to 8th straight loss, 107–97. ESPN.com. December 14, 2016. December 14, 2016.
  29. Web site: Lopez leads Nets over Magic, 121–111. ESPN.com. April 1, 2017. April 2, 2017.
  30. Web site: 76ers Acquire Trevor Booker From Brooklyn. NBA.com. December 7, 2017. December 7, 2017.
  31. Web site: Philadelphia 76ers Sign Forward Ersan Ilyasova. NBA.com. February 28, 2018. February 28, 2018.
  32. Web site: Pacers Sign Trevor Booker. NBA.com. March 3, 2018. March 3, 2018.
  33. Web site: NBA free agency news: Trevor Booker signs 1-year deal with China's Shanxi Brave Dragons NBA Sporting News . www.sportingnews.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180809150415/http://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/nba-free-agency-news-trevor-booker-signing-china-utah-jazz-pacers-contract-shanxi-brave-dragons/zhxi6orea3zy1323x3xeuskgv . 2018-08-09.
  34. Web site: Trevor Booker: To undergo foot surgery. CBS Sports. February 20, 2019. October 11, 2018.
  35. Web site: April 14, 2020. Former Wizards forward Trevor Booker announces retiremen after eight seasons. NBC Sports Washington.
  36. News: Coles. Joe. April 15, 2020. Former Jazz forward Trevor Booker retires from the NBA. en. Deseret News. April 20, 2020.
  37. Web site: March 6, 2021. Carolina Crusaders vs. PrimeTime Players. PrimeTime Players.
  38. Web site: Devin Booker Bio. ClemsonTigers.com. 23 December 2014.
  39. Web site: Darrion Booker Bio. UWAAthletics.com. 23 December 2014.
  40. Web site: Jared Booker Profile. MaxPreps.com. CBS Sports. 23 December 2014.
  41. https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wizards-insider/post/wizards-trevor-booker-still-waiting-to-play-his-cousin-jordan-hill/2012/01/27/gIQAkyzVWQ_blog.html Wizards’ Trevor Booker still waiting to play his cousin, Jordan Hill