Keith Van Horn

Template:Short description Template:Distinguish Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox basketball biography Keith Adam Van Horn (born October 23, 1975) is an American former professional basketball player. A forward, Van Horn played for five teams in a National Basketball Association (NBA) career that spanned from 1997 to 2006.

Van Horn finished his college basketball career with the Utah Utes as the all-time leading scorer in the history of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). He was a consensus first-team All-American in 1997.

Van Horn was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the second pick in the 1997 NBA draft and was traded to the New Jersey Nets on draft night. He was named to the 1998 NBA All-Rookie Team. Van Horn played for the Nets from 1997 to 2002, leading the team in scoring in the 1997–98 and 1998–99 seasons and finishing fifth in the NBA in scoring in the 1998–99 season. He was a member of the 2001–02 Nets team that made the NBA Finals. Van Horn would also go on to play for the 76ers, the New York Knicks, the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Dallas Mavericks. He averaged 16 points and nearly seven rebounds per game during his NBA career.

College career

Van Horn graduated from Diamond Bar High School in Diamond Bar, California<ref>Carl W. Grody. Sports Great Keith Van Horn (2000), p.12.</ref> and attended the University of Utah. Rick Majerus recruited him to replace departing star Josh Grant. He played for Utah from 1993 to 1997.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A forward, Van Horn was named WAC Rookie of the Year in 1994.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In Van Horn's first season, he averaged a Utah-freshman record 18.3 points on 51 percent shooting and 8.3 rebounds per game even though his father died during his freshman year. As a sophomore, Van Horn led his team to the NCAA Tournament.

Van Horn was a member of two Utah teams that won the WAC tournament (one in 1995<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and one in 1997<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>).

Van Horn known for his last-second heroics, making back-to-back game-winning shots against SMU and New Mexico in the 1997 WAC Conference Tournament.<ref>Grody, p.7.</ref> In 1997, he shot 90.4 percent from the free throw line and averaged 22.0 points and 9.5 rebounds per game to lead the Utes to a 29–4 finish and #2 national ranking, the highest in school history.<ref name="autogenerated1996"/> This led to advancing to the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight. As a senior in 1997, he was a consensus first team All American selection<ref name="autogenerated1996"/> and was named ESPN Men's College Player of the Year.<ref name="autogenerated1996">1996–97 Season Recap, {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}. Retrieved February 15, 2010.</ref><ref name="espnmediazone1">ESPN ESPY Winners, http://www.espnmediazone.com/press_kits/espys/ESPYs_Winners_All_TIme.htm. Retrieved January 12, 2010. Template:Dead link</ref>

Among Van Horn's collegiate accomplishments is being the first player in WAC history to be named Player of the Year three times (1995, 1996, and 1997),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> being the second player in WAC history to make first team all-WAC four years in a row and being the all-time leading scorer in University of Utah and WAC history with 2,542 points. Van Horn is the University of Utah career leader in points, defensive rebounds, three-point field goals made, free throw percentage and is second in total rebounds.<ref name="autogenerated1996"/> He averaged 20.8 points and 8.8 rebounds in his collegiate career. His #44 basketball jersey was retired by the University of Utah in 1998.<ref>Grody, p.47.</ref> In February 2008, he was among 16 players named to the University of Utah's "All-Century" basketball team.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Van Horn was inducted to Utah's Crimson Club Hall of Fame in 2012.<ref name="sltrib.com">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Professional career

New Jersey Nets

Van Horn was drafted as the second overall pick in the 1997 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers; however, his rights were immediately traded to the New Jersey Nets along with Michael Cage, Lucious Harris and Don MacLean in exchange for the draft rights to Tim Thomas and Anthony Parker and player contracts of Jim Jackson and Eric Montross.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Van Horn played for the Nets from 1997 to 2002. Initially, he was a star player for the team.<ref name="auto1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He was named to NBA All-Rookie First Team in his first season, averaging a team leading 19.7 points and 6.5 rebounds and leading the Nets to the 1998 NBA Playoffs, where they were swept in three games by the Chicago Bulls.Template:Cn His best season came in 1999, where he averaged 21.8 points per game<ref name="auto2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> (fifth in the NBA<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>) as well as 8.5 rebounds per game.<ref name="auto2"/> That season, on March 26, Van Horn blocked a career-high 6 shots, along with scoring 22 points, during a 100–91 loss to the Indiana Pacers.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Following the Nets' acquisition of point guard Jason Kidd in 2001, Van Horn's role on the team was reduced.<ref name="auto1"/> He averaged 14.8 points per game in the 2001-2002 season, his lowest scoring average during his Nets tenure.<ref name="auto">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Nevertheless, Van Horn led the team in rebounding and placed second in scoring that season.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In the deciding Game 5 of the Nets' first-round matchup with the Indiana Pacers, Van Horn scored a postseason career-high 27 points in a 120–109 victory.Template:Citation needed The Nets reached the 2002 NBA Finals, where they were swept by the Los Angeles Lakers in four games. Van Horn was criticized for his performance and effort in the 2002 NBA Finals,<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> in which he averaged 10.5 points per game and shot 38.6% from the floor.<ref name="auto"/>

Philadelphia 76ers

On August 6, 2002, Van Horn was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers (the team that had drafted him) along with Todd MacCulloch for center Dikembe Mutombo.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He spent one year with the 76ers, placing second on the team in scoring (15.9 per game) and rebounding (7.1 per game). In the postseason, the 76ers advanced past the New Orleans Hornets in the first round before being eliminated by the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

New York Knicks and Milwaukee Bucks

After spending a year with the 76ers, Van Horn was traded to the New York Knicks for Latrell Sprewell in a four team deal that also included the Atlanta Hawks and Minnesota Timberwolves.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> His stint with the Knicks, although productive, was short; on February 16, 2004, he was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in a three team trade involving the Atlanta Hawks, where he was traded for Tim Thomas, marking the second time Thomas and Van Horn were traded for each other.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On March 21, 2004, Van Horn scored his highest single game total in Milwaukee, 32 points during a 104–103 loss to the Lakers.Template:Citation needed In the playoffs, however, Van Horn and the Bucks would be eliminated in the first round by the eventual-champion Pistons.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Dallas Mavericks

In order to make salary cap room for the signing of free-agent-to-be Michael Redd in the coming off-season, on February 24, 2005, the Bucks traded Van Horn to the Dallas Mavericks for the expiring contracts of Alan Henderson, Calvin Booth and cash.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He spent nearly two seasons with the Mavericks playing a key sixth man role and helping the Mavericks win the 2006 Western Conference Finals before losing in the NBA Finals to the Miami Heat.

Free agency and retirement

Following the 2005–06 season, Van Horn stated that he was taking a year off from the NBA to spend time with his family.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On February 19, 2008, Van Horn signed a three-year deal (only the first year guaranteed) with the Mavericks in order to help complete a blockbuster trade that sent Jason Kidd from the Nets to the Mavericks and Devin Harris to the Nets.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> As expected, Van Horn did not play at all for the Nets and was waived on October 23, 2008,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> earning $4.3 million without playing.

Van Horn finished his NBA career with averages of 16.0 points per game and nearly seven rebounds per game.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He earned $88 million in the NBA.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Post-NBA endeavors

As of 2014, Van Horn ran the Colorado Premier Basketball Club, a non-profit youth basketball program involving around 1,000 kids from the Denver area.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The club, claimed to be Colorado's largest basketball club, provides leagues, coaching, camps and tournaments for around 1,000 kids from the Denver area.<ref name="blocku.com">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Personal life

Van Horn is married to his wife, Amy,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and has four children.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Van Horn lived in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, during his time with the New Jersey Nets.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Career statistics

College

Template:NBA player statistics start |- | align="left" | 1993–94 | align="left" | Utah | 25 || 24 || 29.6 || .516 || .443 || .775 || 8.3 || .8 || .8 || 1.6 || 18.3 |- | align="left" | 1994–95 | align="left" | Utah | 33 || 33 || 30.1 || .545 || .386 || .856 || 8.5 || 1.4 || .8 || .8 || 21.0 |- | align="left" | 1995–96 | align="left" | Utah | 32 || 32 || 30.9 || .538 || .409 || .851 || 8.8 || 1.0 || .7 || .7 || 21.4 |- | align="left" | 1996–97 | align="left" | Utah | 32 || 32 || 31.5 || .492 || .387 || .904 || 9.5 || 1.4 || .7 || 1.2 || 22.0 |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career | 122 || 121 || 30.6 || .522 || .401 || .851 || 8.8 || 1.2 || .7 || 1.0 || 20.8 Template:S-end

Regular season

Template:NBA player statistics start |- | style="text-align:left;"| 1997–98 | style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey | 62 || 62 || 37.5 || .426 || .308 || .846 || 6.6 || 1.7 || 1.0 || .4 || 19.7 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 1998–99 | style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey | 42 || 42 || 37.5 || .428 || .302 || .859 || 8.5 || 1.5 || 1.0 || 1.3 || 21.8 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 1999–00 | style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey | 80 || 80 || 34.8 || .445 || .368 || .847 || 8.5 || 2.0 || .8 || .8 || 19.2 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2000–01 | style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey | 49 || 47 || 35.4 || .435 || .382 || .806 || 7.1 || 1.7 || .8 || .4 || 17.0 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2001–02 | style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey | 81 || 81 || 30.4 || .433 || .345 || .800 || 7.5 || 2.0 || .8 || .5 || 14.8 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2002–03 | style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia | 74 || 73 || 31.6 || .482 || .369 || .804 || 7.1 || 1.3 || .9 || .4 || 15.9 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2003–04 | style="text-align:left;"| New York | 47 || 47 || 33.5 || .445 || .373 || .819 || 7.3 || 1.8 || 1.1 || .4 || 16.4 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2003–04 | style="text-align:left;"| Milwaukee | 25 || 15 || 30.6 || .472 || .458 || .945 || 6.3 || 1.5 || .6 || .6 || 15.7 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2004–05 | style="text-align:left;"| Milwaukee | 33 || 13 || 24.8 || .449 || .385 || .862 || 5.0 || 1.2 || .6 || .3 || 10.4 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2004–05 | style="text-align:left;"| Dallas | 29 || 3 || 23.6 || .462 || .375 || .783 || 4.4 || 1.2 || .5 || .3 || 12.2 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2005–06 | style="text-align:left;"| Dallas | 53 || 0 || 20.6 || .424 || .368 || .832 || 3.6 || .7 || .6 || .2 || 8.9 |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career | 575 || 463 || 31.6 || .443 || .361 || .835 || 6.8 || 1.6 || .8 || .5 || 16.0 Template:S-end

Playoffs

Template:NBA player statistics start |- | style="text-align:left;"| 1998 | style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey | 3 || 3 || 25.7 || .448 || .000 || .800 || 3.0 || .3 || .0 || .0 || 12.7 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2002 | style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey | 20 || 20 || 32.2 || .402 || .440 || .714 || 6.7 || 2.1 || 1.0 || .5 || 13.3 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2003 | style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia | 12 || 12 || 33.5 || .382 || .438 || .900 || 7.5 || .8 || .8 || .2 || 10.4 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2004 | style="text-align:left;"| Milwaukee | 5 || 2 || 27.4 || .333 || .364 || .667 || 4.6 || 1.4 || 1.4 || .6 || 8.0 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2005 | style="text-align:left;"| Dallas | 3 || 0 || 11.0 || .467 || .000 || .889 || 2.0 || .3 || .3 || .0 || 7.3 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2006 | style="text-align:left;"| Dallas | 14 || 3 || 12.3 || .339 || .286 || 1.000 || 2.3 || .1 || .0 || .3 || 3.6 |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career | 57 || 40 || 25.7 || .388 || .391 || .795 || 5.1 || 1.1 || .6 || .3 || 9.5 Template:S-end

See also

• List of NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds

Further reading

• Richard Corman (1999). Glory: Photographs of Athletes
• Terri Ellefsen and Salt Lake Tribune (1998). Runnin’ Utes Basketball
• Carl W. Grody (2001). Sports Great Keith Van Horn
• Diane Long (2000). He's Just My Dad, Portraits of Celebrity Athletes and their Children
• Rick Majerus with Gene Wojciechowski (2000). My Life on a Napkin: Pillow Mints, Playground Dreams and Coaching the Runnin' Utes

External links

• Keith Van Horn biography on NBA.com (archived from 2003)