Aleks Maric
Encyclopedia
Aleksandar "Aleks" Marić (Serbian Cyrillic: Александар "Алекс" Марић, born 22 October 1984 in Sydney
, Australia
) is an Australia
n professional basketball player of Serbian
descent. He stands 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) tall and weighs 125 kg (275 lbs).
. He played high school basketball in the United States at Life Center Academy
in Burlington, New Jersey
. He then played college basketball
at the University of Nebraska
with the Nebraska Cornhuskers
from 2004–08, where he was named to the All-Big 12 Conference
2nd Team in both 2007 and 2008. Alex finished school in Sydney at Reddam House in Sydney's Bondi Beach.
. In 2009, he moved to the Adriatic League club Partizan Belgrade
. During his first season in Partizan, Marić went from the status of a relatively unknown basketball player to one of Euroleague
star, all thanks to his great games throughout the season.
He was named to the 2009-10 All-Euroleague First Team. With Partizan, he managed to win the national cup trophy (the Radivoj Korac Cup Trophy), as well as the Adriatic Championship.
In the summer of 2010, he was signed by Greek Panathinaikos BC.
. He also played at the 2005 FIBA Under-21 World Championship
with Australia's junior national team. He wanted to play for the Serbian national team but FIBA wouldn't let him due to his past with the Australian junior team.
Marić played for Australia at the 2010 FIBA World Championship
in Turkey
.
a
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
) is an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n professional basketball player of Serbian
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
descent. He stands 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) tall and weighs 125 kg (275 lbs).
Amateur career
Marić began playing basketball as a youth in Sydney before attending the Australian Institute of SportAustralian Institute of Sport
The Australian Institute of Sport is a sports training institution in Australia with world class facilities and support services. The Institute's headquarters is situated in Canberra, the capital city of Australia. The 66.0 hectare site campus is in the northern suburb of Bruce, but some of the...
. He played high school basketball in the United States at Life Center Academy
Life Center Academy
Life Center Academy is a private K-12 school located in Burlington, New Jersey.A school associated with the Assemblies of God church, The Fountain of Life Center. The Dean of Students is Robert Newman and the business administrator Rev...
in Burlington, New Jersey
Burlington, New Jersey
Burlington is a city in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States and a suburb of Philadelphia. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 9,920....
. He then played college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
at the University of Nebraska
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is a public research university located in the city of Lincoln in the U.S. state of Nebraska...
with the Nebraska Cornhuskers
Nebraska Cornhuskers men's basketball
The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college basketball. The program saw its first game in 1896 playing 7-on-7 basketball. The first collegiate game was against Nebraska Wesleyan University...
from 2004–08, where he was named to the All-Big 12 Conference
Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
2nd Team in both 2007 and 2008. Alex finished school in Sydney at Reddam House in Sydney's Bondi Beach.
Pro career
Marić began his professional career in 2008 with the Spanish ACB League club GranadaCB Granada
Club Baloncesto Granada, S.A.D. is a professional basketball team based in Granada, Andalusia. It plays in the LEB Oro. The team was founded in 1994 and has had notable players during its history, as Curtis Borchardt, Darvin Ham, Giorgos Sigalas, Scott Padgett, Pops Mensah-Bonsu and Richard...
. In 2009, he moved to the Adriatic League club Partizan Belgrade
KK Partizan
Košarkaški klub Partizan is a Serbian professional basketball club. It is part of the multi-sports Belgrade-based club Partizan. The club competes in the Serbian League, Adriatic League and the Euroleague....
. During his first season in Partizan, Marić went from the status of a relatively unknown basketball player to one of Euroleague
Euroleague
Euroleague Basketball, commonly known as the Euroleague, is the highest level tier and most important professional club basketball competition in Europe, with teams from up to 18 different countries, members of FIBA Europe. For sponsorship reasons, for five seasons starting with 2010–2011, it is...
star, all thanks to his great games throughout the season.
He was named to the 2009-10 All-Euroleague First Team. With Partizan, he managed to win the national cup trophy (the Radivoj Korac Cup Trophy), as well as the Adriatic Championship.
In the summer of 2010, he was signed by Greek Panathinaikos BC.
Australian national team
With the Australian junior national team, Marić won the gold medal at the 2003 FIBA Under-19 World ChampionshipFIBA Under-19 World Championship
The FIBA Under-19 World Championship is a men's under-19 only basketball competition organized by FIBA. From its inauguration in 1979 until 2007 it was held every four years...
. He also played at the 2005 FIBA Under-21 World Championship
FIBA Under-21 World Championship
The FIBA Under-21 World Championship was a men's under-21-only basketball competition organized by FIBA. It was formerly the FIBA 22 & Under World Championship before FIBA lowered the age limit to 21 years in December 1998, and had its name changed to World Championship for Young Men. The...
with Australia's junior national team. He wanted to play for the Serbian national team but FIBA wouldn't let him due to his past with the Australian junior team.
Marić played for Australia at the 2010 FIBA World Championship
2010 FIBA World Championship
The 2010 FIBA World Championship, hosted by Turkey, was the international basketball competition contested by the men's national teams. The tournament ran from August 28 to September 12, 2010. It was co-organized by the International Basketball Federation , Turkish Basketball Federation and the...
in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
.
Pro statistics
| SEASON | LEAGUE | TEAM | GP | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-10 | Euroleague | Partizan | 18 | 14.6 | 8.4 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0.6 |
| 2010-11 | Euroleague | Panathinaikos | 4 | 5 | 5.3 | 0 | 1.3 | 0.3 |
a