Ricky Skinderis
July 23, 2020
Joe Hillman
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 12/8/66
- Place of Birth: Glendale, California (USA)
- Position: PG
- Height (CM): 188
- Weight (KG): 88
- Junior Assoc: None
- College: Indiana (1984–1989)
- NBL DEBUT: 30/03/90
- AGE AT DEBUT: 23
- LAST NBL GAME: 14/10/90
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 24
- NBL History: North Melbourne 1990
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Hillman starred at Hoover High School in Glendale, California where as a senior he averaged 41.4 points per game and 26.6 points per game for his three-year high school career.
He was a extra in the film 1994 film Blue Chips starring Shaquille O’Neal, Anfernee Hardaway and Nick Nolte.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Joe Hillman made his NBL debut with the North Melbourne Giants at 23 years of age. He scored 15 points in his first game.
After graduating college and failing to make a NBA roster in 1989, Hillman finished out the baseball season with the Modesto A’s, a minor league baseball team in California, a season which would prove to be his last attempt at pro baseball.
He signed a contract to play for the North Melbourne Giants where he impressed during his one and done season here but was not offered a contract in 1991.
Joe Hillman played one season in the NBL. He averaged 22.7 points, 4 rebounds, and 6.3 assists in 29 NBL games.
CAREER RANKINGS:
– 17th in assists per game.
– 22nd in steals per game.
Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 24 | North Melbourne | 20-6 (1) | 29 | 1,223.0 | 661 | 116 | 185 | 42 | 74 | 67 | 3 | 58 | 66 | 265 | 476 | 56% | 59 | 125 | 47% | 72 | 123 | 59% | 62% | 62% | 35 |
| Totals | 29 | 1223 | 661 | 116 | 185 | 42 | 74 | 67 | 3 | 58 | 66 | 265 | 476 | 55.7% | 59 | 125 | 47.2% | 72 | 123 | 58.5% | 62% | 62% | 35 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 24 | North Melbourne | 20-6 (1) | 29 | 42.2 | 22.8 | 4.0 | 6.4 | 1.4 | 2.6 | 2.3 | 0.1 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 9.1 | 16.4 | 56% | 2.0 | 4.3 | 47% | 2.5 | 4.2 | 59% | 62% | 62% | 35 |
| Total | 29 | 42.2 | 22.8 | 4.0 | 6.4 | 1.4 | 2.6 | 2.3 | 0.1 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 9.1 | 16.4 | 55.7% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 47.2% | 2.0 | 4.3 | 58.5% | 62% | 62% | 35 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | 8 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
NBA EXPERIENCE
Following the close of his college basketball career, Hillman was not drafted in the 1989 NBA draft. He paused his minor league baseball career to try out for the National Basketball Associations Utah Jazz.
He played for the Jazz in summer league and earned an invitation to Jazz training camp, but ultimately did not make the team.
| Season | Team | PTS | AST | STL | BLK | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 97% | 99% | 99% | 49% | ||||||
| 2 | 0 | 35 | 12 | 6 | 2 | ||||||
| Total | 265 | 476 | 55.7% | 59 | 125 | 47.2% |
NBA TOTAL STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | TEAM | POS | GP | GS | MINS | PTS | TRB | AST | ORB | DRB | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 24 | North Melbourne | 20-6 (1) | 29 | 1,223.0 | 661 | 116 | 185 | 42 | 74 | 67 | 3 | 58 | 66 | 265 | 476 | 56% | 59 | 125 | 47% | 72 | 123 | 59% | 62% | 62% | 35 |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- England - Manchester (1993)
COLLEGE
Hillman arrived at Indiana University in 1984 as the first player from West of the Mississippi River to be recruited by Hall of Fame coach Bob Knight. Hillman played sparingly as a freshman, averaging 7 minutes and 1.5 points per game, and Knight chose to redshirt him for the 1985–86 season.
Hillman returned for the 1986–87 season and was able to earn 13 minutes per game backing up starters Steve Alford and Keith Smart as the team's third guard. The Hoosiers won the NCAA title that year, defeating Syracuse in the championship game with Hillman collecting 6 assists, tied for team high.In addition to his play on the hardcourt, Hillman also played baseball for the Hoosiers.
He was selected by the Oakland A's in the 25th round of the 1988 Major League Baseball draft and signed with the A's, reporting to their A affiliate, the Southern Oregon A's for the 1988 season.
As a first baseman for Southern Oregon, he hit .310 in his first professional season.
He decided to return to Indiana for the 1988–89 season for his final remaining season of basketball eligibility, working with Coach Knight to allow him to finish his baseball season before returning to IU.
In that redshirt senior season, Hillman became a key player for the Hoosiers, averaging 12.6 points per game and serving as captain of the eventual Big Ten champions. Despite his somewhat modest statistics, Hillman's importance to the team was recognized by opposing coaches, some of whom championed his candidacy for Big Ten Player of the Year (eventually shared by teammate Jay Edwards and Glen Rice of Michigan). He was named second-team all-conference and a honorable mention All-American by the Associated Press.
AWARDS
- 1x All-NBL Second Team- NCAA champion (1987)
-
AP Honorable mention All-American (1989)
-
First-team Academic All-American (1989)
-
Second-team All-Big Ten (1989)
Related
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