John Robert Meeks (born March 16, 1999) is an American basketball player who plays the forward position for Bnei Herzliya Basket in the Israeli Basketball Premier League.[1] He played college basketball for Bucknell University and the College of Charleston. Meeks then played for Kouvot in the Finnish Korisliiga, for Donar Groningen in the Netherlands, and for Santeros de Aguada in Puerto Rico.
| No. 12 – Bnei Herzliya | |
|---|---|
| Position | Forward |
| League | Israeli Basketball Premier League |
| Personal information | |
| Born | March 16, 1999 Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Listed height | 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) |
| Listed weight | 104 kg (229 lb) |
| Career information | |
| High school | The Burlington School |
| College |
|
| Playing career | 2022–present |
| Career history | |
| 2022–2023 | Kouvot |
| 2023–24 | Donar Groningen |
| 2024 | Santeros de Aguada |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Early and personal life
editMeeks is the son of Betsy and Cliff Meeks, and has two younger sisters.[2] He was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and lived in Burlington, North Carolina.[1] He is 6-6 (198 cm) , and weighs 224 pounds (104 kg).[3]
High school
editMeeks played basketball for The Burlington School ('17) for four years at guard and forward, during which time the team had a 119-6 record and won two North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association Class 1-A state championships.[4][1][5] He was twice named an all-state selection, and was a three-time all-conference selection, a two-time Times-News All-Region selection, and 2016-17 Player of the Year.[1][6] As a junior, he averaged 16 points and seven rebounds per game.[7] In his senior year, he averaged 18.2 points per game.[1][8]
He also played baseball and competed in track & field for the school.[2] Fifteen colleges made offers to Meeks out of high school.[9]
College
editBucknell
editIn 2017-18, Meeks played his freshman year at Bucknell University for the Bucknell Bison basketball team, and shot 52.2% from the field.[1] Academically, he was a psychology major.[10]
In 2018-19, he played his sophomore year at Bucknell, and shot 49.6% from the field , 48.5% from three-point range, and averaged 5.7 points per game.[1]
In 2019-20, Meeks played his junior year at Bucknell, and shot 45.3% from the field and 34.9% from three point range, averaging 11.2 points and 5.3 rebounds per game (11th in the league).[1] He was named Third Team All-Patriot League, and was named to the 2020 Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.[1][8][11]
In 2020-21, he played his senior year at Bucknell, and shot 49.5% from the field, 38.5% from three point range, and 85.1% from the free throw line.[1] Meeks led the NCAA in scoring with 25.3 points per game in his six games during the shortened COVID-19 season, and also averaged 6.8 rebounds per game.[1][12] He was named Third Team All-Patriot League for the second straight year, and First Team All-Patriot Tournament, and National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) First Team All-Region.[1][13][14]
College of Charleston
editMeeks then attended the College of Charleston, studying for a masters in Communication.[1][15] Playing for the Charleston Cougars basketball team in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA), in 2021-22, he shot 46.8% from the field, and 79.3% from the free throw line.[13] He averaged 14.1 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.[16] He was named Second Team All-CAA, All-CAA Tournament, and NABC First Team All-Region.[3][13][16]
G-league
editOn Oct 22, 2022, the South Bay Lakers selected Meeks with Pick 17 of the second round in the 2022 NBA G League draft.[3][17] On November 1, 2022, the team placed him on waivers.[3]
International leagues
editKouvot
editIn 2022-23, Meeks played for Kouvot in the Finnish Korisliiga.[3][18][16] He shot 49.2% from the field, and 89.8% (10th in the league) from the free throw line.[3] He averaged 18.3 points (6th in the league) and 6.0 rebounds per game.[3][17]
Donar Groningen
editIn 2023-24 he played for Donar Groningen in the Netherlands.[18][17] Meeks played primarily in the BNXT League, where he shot 54.4% from the floor and 43.0% from three point range (11th in the league), and averaged 18.1 points (2nd) and 6.3 rebounds per game.[3][19]
Santeros de Aguada
editThat year Meeks also played for Santeros de Aguada of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional in Puerto Rico.[3][20] He shot 55.5% from the floor and 46.6% from three point range, while averaging 22.5 points (2nd in the league) and 5.9 rebounds per game.[3]
Bnei Herzliya
editBeginning in 2024, Meeks has played for Bnei Herzliya Basket in the Israeli Basketball Premier League.[3]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "John Meeks," cofcsports.
- ^ a b "John Meeks, Jimmy Sotos sign National Letters of Intent with Bucknell," Pickin' Splinters, November 11, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "John Meeks," Real GM.
- ^ "John Meeks," MaxPreps.
- ^ "John Meeks," Bucknell Bison.
- ^ "John Meeks, former The Burlington School standout, named Patriot League Player of the Week," Times-News, January 20, 2021.
- ^ "Name to Know: 6’6″ Junior John Meeks of The Burlington School," Phenom Hoop Report, March 26, 2016.
- ^ a b "The Burlington School alum John Meeks selected as Patriot League Player of the Week for second time in three weeks," Times-Recorder, February 3, 2021.
- ^ "John Meeks Commits to Bucknell," Phenom Hoop Report, September 19, 2016.
- ^ "2020-21 Patriot League Academic Honor Roll," Patriot League, July 19, 2021.
- ^ "John Meeks Earns Third Team All-Patriot League Honors," Bucknell Bison, March 2, 2020.
- ^ "Cougars' John Meeks is a 'dog', and that's a good thing for CofC coach Pat Kelsey," The Post and Courier, November 11, 2021.
- ^ a b c "John Meeks," Sports Reference.
- ^ "John Meeks Named to Patriot League All-Tournament Team," Bucknell Bison, March 14, 2021.
- ^ "College of Charleston's 'go-to guy' John Meeks bounces back in win over Northeastern," The Post and Courier, January 29, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Kouvot signs rookie John Meeks," Eurobasket, August 29, 2022.
- ^ a b c " Groningen signs John Meeks, ex Kouvot," Eurobasket, August 29, 2023.
- ^ a b "Een Sterke Small Forward Met Heel Veel Inzet," Donar Magazine, 2023-24.
- ^ "Voormalig Donar speler John Meeks speelt komende seizoen in Israel," ericboorsma.nl, February 7, 2024.
- ^ "Voormalig Donar speler John Meeks vertrekt naar Puerto Rico," ericboorsma.nl, May 29, 2024.