Zack Bryant (born November 24, 1997) is an American professional basketball player for Maccabi Rishon LeZion of the Israeli Basketball Premier League in Israel. He played college basketball for UAB and Georgia Southern.

Zack Bryant
Bryant in action with Milon
Maccabi Rishon LeZion
PositionPoint guard
LeagueLiga Leumit
Personal information
Born (1997-11-24) November 24, 1997 (age 26)
Hastings, Florida
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school
College
NBA draft2021: undrafted
Playing career2021–present
Career history
2021BG Göttingen
2021–2022Lahti Basketball
2022Pallacanestro Cantù
2022Czarni Słupsk
2022–2024Ermis Schimatariou
2024Milon
2024Piratas de La Guaira
2024–presentMaccabi Rishon LeZion
Career highlights and awards

Early life and high school career

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Bryant grew up in Hastings, Florida and played basketball and football.[1] He attended Pedro Menendez High School for two seasons, and led the team to a district title in 2017. Bryant moved to Jacksonville, Florida to attend the Providence School prior to his junior year. He averaged 20.1 points and 5.9 assists per game as a senior, helping lead the team to a state runner-up finish.[2] Bryant was named The Florida Times-Union's First Coast player of the year in 2017.[3] Two of his brothers played football in college and Bryant was recruited to play college football as well. He committed to play basketball at UAB, the first school to offer him a scholarship, over Clemson, Georgia and Iowa State.[1]

College career

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Bryant averaged 16.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game as a freshman, earning Conference USA All-Freshman Team honors.[4] On January 26, 2019, he scored a career-high 30 points along with five rebounds and three assists in an 89–86 victory over Rice.[5] As a sophomore, Bryant averaged 14.9 points, 3.9 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game.[6] He was named to the Third Team All-Conference USA.[7] Bryant played three games during his junior season, averaging 11.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. He was dismissed from the team on November 18, 2019.[8] Bryant transferred to Georgia Southern and sat out most of the 2019–20 season. He considered transferring after coach Mark Byington left to coach James Madison, but was persuaded to stay after new coach Brian Burg developed a relationship with him.[1] As a senior, Bryant averaged 13.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game.[9]

Professional career

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On July 5, 2021, Bryant signed his first professional contract with BG Göttingen of the Basketball Bundesliga.[9]

On November 30, 2021, it was announced that Bryant had signed with the Finnish team Lahti Basketball of the Korisliiga.[10]

On February 2, 2022, he has signed with Acqua S.Bernardo Cantù of the Serie A2[11]

On September 1, 2022, he has signed with Czarni Słupsk of the Polish Basketball League (PLK). [12]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Baxley, McClain (January 21, 2021). "After 'humbling year' sitting out, Zack Bryant stars for Georgia Southern basketball team". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  2. ^ Barney, Justin (April 14, 2017). "Providence's Zack Bryant is no longer a small-town basketball secret". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  3. ^ Smits, Garry (January 19, 2018). "Providence graduate Zack Bryant has been an immediate hit at UAB". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  4. ^ "Zack Bryant Named to Conference USA Preseason Team". UAB Blazers. October 18, 2018. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  5. ^ "Bryant has career-high 30, UAB edges Rice 89–86". ESPN. Associated Press. January 26, 2019. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  6. ^ Freeman, Clayton (April 10, 2019). "Northeast Florida's best in Division I men's basketball in 2018–19". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  7. ^ Dudley, Evan (November 18, 2019). "Zack Bryant dismissed from UAB basketball program". Al.com. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  8. ^ "UAB dismisses Hastings native Zack Bryant". The St. Augustine Record. November 19, 2019. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  9. ^ a b "Goettingen signs rookie Zack Bryant". Eurobasket. July 5, 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  10. ^ "Zack Bryant Saksan Bundesliigasta Lahti Basketballin takakentälle". Lahtibasketball.fi (in Finnish). November 30, 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  11. ^ "La S.Bernardo-Cinelandia Park Si Rinforza Con Zack Bryant". Sportando. February 2, 2022. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  12. ^ "Zack Bryant w Słupsku". plk.pl (in Polish). September 1, 2022. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
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