Fred VanVleet

Fredderick Edmund VanVleet Sr., better known as Fred VanVleet, was born on 25th February 1994. He is currently a professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The point guard launched his NBA career after playing at Wichita State University in college, which sparked a resurgence in the Wichita State Shockers basketball team.

During his college career, VanVleet contributed significantly to the Shockers’ Final Four run during the 2012–13 season. Moreover, the 2013–14 season saw the Shockers maintain an unbeaten streak in the regular season. His performance earned him the title of the 2014 NCAA Men’s Basketball All-American by multiple media outlets. His successful junior year saw him garner the All-Missouri Valley Conference first team choice and an All-American honorable mention title. In addition, VanVleet stood as the Wichita State career assists leader and was named the Missouri Valley Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Year as both a sophomore and a senior.

Despite his promising college career, VanVleet went undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft. Fortunately, he was offered a contract with the Toronto Raptors. The 2016–17 season saw VanVleet move between the Raptors and their G League affiliate, Raptors 905, even playing a crucial role in Raptors 905’s 2017 championship win. Following this, he continued to be a critical player for the Raptors, even helping them win the NBA championship in 2019.

VanVleet set new records in the Raptors franchise history, with the highest number of single-game assists (20) and the most single-game points (54). He is currently the only player who holds sole records in these two categories for any NBA franchise. His achievement of scoring the highest points in an NBA game by an undrafted player stands in the NBA records. He was also named to his first NBA All-Star Game in 2022.

VanVleet’s roots trace back to Rockford, Illinois, where he played for Auburn High School. He not only led Auburn to a 22-game winning streak but also helped secure their first Illinois High School Association (IHSA) final four since 1975. VanVleet was heavily courted by larger teams in Chicago due to his track record, but he chose to stay loyal to his local Rockford Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) club team, which eventually led him to receive scholarships from multiple high-profile colleges.

Ultimately deciding on Wichita State University, VanVleet quickly rose to stardom during his freshman year, contributing significantly to the Shockers’ scores in the 2013 NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament that led the team to the final four. His contribution included a basket that secured the Shockers’ presence in the Sweet 16, something few teams seeded #9 have achieved since that year.

His performance continued to shine as a sophomore, netting him a spot on the Oscar Robertson Award midseason watchlist and later selection as a 23-strong finalist for the Bob Cousy Award. His performance helped the 2013–14 team maintain a 31–0 unbeaten regular season, earning him a spot on the Missouri Valley Conference All-Conference first team and the title of the Missouri Valley Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Year.

During his junior years, VanVleet stake his claim as one of the best American collegiate players, ranking amongst the top five players according to ESPN. Not only was VanVleet a triple threat by scoring high points, restores rebounds and impressive assist rates, but he also had the ability to steal, making him a diligent all-round player.

His senior year stood testament to this. VanVleet faced myriad physical challenges, yet remained a standout player. Despite hamstring issues and a right ankle sprain, VanVleet was still named to multiple award watchlists, including the John R. Wooden Award and Naismith College Player of the Year.

The end of his college career led him to the pro-life, where his undrafted status did not deter his ambitions. He went on to contribute to his team’s NBA Championship win, set remarkable records and stamp his name in NBA history as one of the most successful undrafted players. Fred VanVleet is a testament to dedication, determination, hard work and resilience. His journey to the peak of professional basketball serves as an inspiration for aspiring players worldwide.