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Fred Hetzel

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Fred Hetzel
Hetzel as a sophomore at Davidson
Personal information
Born (1942-07-21) July 21, 1942 (age 82)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Listed height6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school
CollegeDavidson (1962–1965)
NBA draft1965: 1st round, 1st overall pick
Selected by the San Francisco Warriors
Playing career1965–1971
PositionPower forward / center
Number44, 21, 20, 30
Career history
1965–1968San Francisco Warriors
1968–1969Milwaukee Bucks
1969Cincinnati Royals
1969–1970Philadelphia 76ers
1970–1971Los Angeles Lakers
Career highlights and awards
Career NBA statistics
Points4,658 (11.2 ppg)
Rebounds2,444 (5.9 rpg)
Assists462 (1.1 apg)
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference

Fred B. Hetzel (born July 21, 1942) is an American former professional basketball player. He was an All-American college player for Davidson College. Hetzel was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1965 NBA draft by the San Francisco Warriors and played six seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

High school career

Hetzel initially attended Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington, D.C., and played for the Tigers in the 1958 season. He then transferred to Landon School in Bethesda, Maryland and was a 3 time All Met.[1] As a sophomore, he averaged 20.5 ppg and 20.4 rebounds per game as a junior. As a 3 time All Met in the Washington Daily News, Washington Post, and Evening Star, he followed in the footsteps of Lew Luce and George Leftwich as the only 3-peats. He averaged 24.1 ppg in his senior season and finished with 1,210 points during his Bears career. On March 2, 1961, Undefeated Landon and DeMatha Catholic High School (ranked 1–2 in the city) faced off in Cole Field House before a crowd of 6400. Fred Hetzel led Landon that night with 18 points but it was the tandem of John Austin and Gary Ward that led the Stags to victory 57–52.

College career

Hetzel played collegiately at Davidson College of the Southern Conference, recruited by Hall of Fame Coach Lefty Driesell. He was the Southern Conference Player of the Year in all three seasons for the Wildcats. Freshmen did not play varsity level, by NCAA rule in Hetzel's era. Davidson lost in the Southern Conference tournament in all three seasons of Hetzel's career, negating NCAA Tournament trips.[2]

In 1962–1963, Hetzel averaged 23.7 points and 13.5 rebounds as Davidson finished 20–7.[3] Davidson finished 18th in the AP/UPI polls

Davidson was 22–4 in 1963–1964, led by Hetzel's 27.3 points and 13.5 rebounds, winning the Southern Conference.[4] Davidson finished 10th in the AP/UPI polls

As a senior, Davidson was 24–2, a perfect 12–0 in the Southern Conference in 1964–1965. behind Hetzel's 26.5 points and 14.8 rebound averages.[5] Hetzel was a consensus All-American in 1965, along with Bill Bradley of Princeton, Cazzie Russell of Michigan, Gail Goodrich of UCLA and Rick Barry of Miami (FL).[6] Sports Illustrated projected Davidson as the number one preseason basketball team in the US followed by Michigan.. Davidson ended the year at 6th in the AP/UPI polls.

Overall, Hetzel averaged 25.7 [2032] points and 13.8 rebounds in 79 games at Davidson, leading them to a 66–13 record over three seasons.[2]

Before Hetzel embarked on his NBA career, he played for Team USA along with Bill Bradley in the 1965 Fifth World University Games in Budapest, Hungary. He helped the United States to a gold medal that he displayed in his living room. He averaged 12.9 points in the eight games.[7][8]

Professional career

A 6 feet 8 inches (2.03 m) forward-center from Davidson, Hetzel was selected by the San Francisco Warriors with the first overall pick of the 1965 NBA draft on May 6, 1965.[9]

As a rookie, Hetzel was named to the 1966 NBA All-Rookie Team, along with Rick Barry, Billy Cunningham, Dick Van Arsdale and Tom Van Arsdale. Hetzel averaged 6. 8 points and 5.2 rebounds for Coach Alex Hannum and the Warriors, with Hall of Famers Rick Barry, Guy Rodgers and Nate Thurmond.[10][9]

In 1966–1967, the Warriors improved to 44–37 under Coach Bill Sharman and advanced to the 1967 NBA Finals, where they lost to Wilt Chamberlain and the Philadelphia 76ers 4–2. Hetzel averaged 9.3 points and 4.0 rebounds in the series as the Warriors' 6th man.[11] During the regular season, Hetzel was the team's 4th leading scorer with 12.2 points per game, along with 8.3 rebounds.[12]

In 1967–1968, Hetzel had his finest professional season, averaging 19.0 points and 7.1 rebounds for the Warriors. The team finished 49–39, and defeated the St. Louis Hawks in the playoffs, before being swept by the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Division Finals.[13]

On May 6, 1968, Hetzel's Warrior career ended. He was chosen by the new Milwaukee Bucks from the San Francisco Warriors in the NBA expansion draft. During the 1968–1969 season, after 53 games with the Bucks, with Hetzel averaging 15.9 points and 8.9 rebounds, he was traded. On January 31, 1969, he was traded by the Bucks to the Cincinnati Royals for Donald Smith and cash. He finished the year with averages of 14.4 points and 7.3 rebounds.[9]

Just before the start of the 1969–1970 season, on October 4, 1969, Hetzel was traded by the Cincinnati Royals to the Philadelphia 76ers for Craig Raymond and a future draft pick. Playing for Coach Jack Ramsey, Hetzel averaged 6.1 points and 3.3 rebounds in a reserve role for the 76ers.[9]

On May 11, 1970, Hetzel was again claimed by a new team, when he was drafted by the new Portland Trail Blazers from the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA expansion draft. Later, on August 28, 1970, he was claimed on waivers by the Los Angeles Lakers from the Trail Blazers.[9]

Hetzel played 1970–1971 with the Lakers in his final season. He averaged 4.8 points and 2.9 rebounds in 59 games, playing a reserve role on a team with Hall of Famers Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, Gail Goodrich and Pat Riley. The Lakers finished 48–34, losing to Lew Alcindor and the Milwaukee Bucks in the Western Division Finals.[14]

Overall, Hetzel played six seasons in the NBA (1965–1971), averaging 11.2 points and 5.9 rebounds in 416 games.[15]

NBA career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

Regular season

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1965–66 San Francisco 56 – 12.9 .399 – .685 5.2 0.5 – – 6.8
1966–67 San Francisco 77 – 27.6 .400 – .810 8.3 1.4 – – 12.2
1967–68 San Francisco 77 – 31.1 .414 – .833 7.1 1.7 – – 19.0
1968–69 Milwaukee 53 – 30.0 .416 – .837 8.9 1.6 – – 15.9
1968–69 Cincinnati 31 – 22.1 .488 – .838 4.5 0.9 – – 11.9
1969–70 Philadelphia 63 – 12.0 .483 – .835 3.3 0.7 – – 6.1
1970–71 Los Angeles 59 – 10.4 .434 – .779 2.5 0.6 – – 4.8
Career 416 – 21.4 .421 – .817 5.9 1.1 – – 11.2

Playoffs

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1966–67 San Francisco 13 – 23.7 .383 – .786 7.2 1.8 – – 9.5
1967–68 San Francisco 10 – 32.1 .460 – .820 6.6 1.6 – – 18.8
1969–70 Philadelphia 5 – 15.0 .520 – .818 3.6 0.6 – – 7.0
1970–71 Los Angeles 7 – 5.4 .333 – 1.000 1.0 0.3 – – 1.7
Career 35 – 21.2 .427 – .814 5.3 1.3 – – 10.3

Personal life

Hetzel resides in Virginia and Florida.[8] *Starting in 1980 he owned and operated Fred Hetzel & Associates a Real Estate and Development Company in Leesburg, Virginia. In 1985 he was elected the President of the Virginia Association of Realtors.

Reflecting on his career, Hetzel said “I was injured and had some problems that impacted my pro career,” he said.“However, I am happy to have had the experience of the NBA, to meet such great personalities and to have relationships with such great people is very special."[8]

Hetzel's brother Will Hetzel played at Maryland from 1967 to 1970, averaging 18.0 points and 9.1 rebounds in his career. Will Hetzel played for Coach Lefty Drisell in his senior year at Maryland.[16]

Hetzel's father, Fred Sr, played basketball at Maryland from 1928 to 1930.[17]

Honors

  • In 1985, Hetzel was inducted into the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Basketball Hall of Fame.[18]
  • 1990 Recipient of the NABC Balfour Silver Anniversary Award
  • Inducted into the Davidson Hall of Fame in 1990.[19]
  • 1996 SoCon 75th All Time All Star Team [Jerry West, Hot Rod Hundley, Fred Hetzel, Dick Groat, Frank Selvy]
  • In 2010, Hetzel was inducted into the Southern Conference Hall of Fame.[20]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Athletics – Landon 2021". September 6, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Fred Hetzel College Stats". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com.
  3. ^ "1962–63 Davidson Wildcats Roster and Stats". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com.
  4. ^ "1963–64 Davidson Wildcats Roster and Stats". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com.
  5. ^ "1964–65 Davidson Wildcats Roster and Stats". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com.
  6. ^ "Consensus All-America Teams (1959–60 to 1968–69)". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com.
  7. ^ "FIFTH WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES – 1965". www.usab.com. Archived from the original on September 7, 2015.
  8. ^ a b c Geddie, John (July 6, 2010). "Leesburg resident inducted into SoCon Hall of Fame". LoudounTimes.com.
  9. ^ a b c d e "Fred Hetzel Stats". Basketball-Reference.com.
  10. ^ "1965–66 San Francisco Warriors Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com.
  11. ^ "1967 NBA Finals – San Francisco Warriors vs. Philadelphia 76ers". Basketball-Reference.com.
  12. ^ "1966–67 San Francisco Warriors Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com.
  13. ^ "1967–68 San Francisco Warriors Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com.
  14. ^ "1970–71 Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com.
  15. ^ "Fred Hetzel Stats".
  16. ^ "Will Hetzel College Stats". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com.
  17. ^ "Catching up with ... Ex-Terps basketball star Will Hetzel". March 18, 2015.
  18. ^ "wmbhall". wmbhall.
  19. ^ "Fred Hetzel '65 (1990) – Hall of Fame". Davidson College Athletics.
  20. ^ "2010 Hall of Fame – Fred Hetzel". Official Internet Home of the Southern Conference.
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