BIOGRAPHY
Kyle Jarred “Flip” Filipowski’s basketball journey began in the heartland of America on November 7, 2003. An ace basketball athlete today, Flip hails from the bustling town of Middletown, New York. His journey in the basketball world ignited with his schooling at Minisink Valley High School, located in Slate Hill, New York. An ambitious Flip decided to elevate his game, and for the same, he transferred to Fordham Preparatory School after a year in Minisink. Keeping the ball rolling, he reclassified himself and moved onto Wilbraham & Monson Academy, in Wilbraham, Massachusetts after completing his sophomore year.
On the court, Kyle Filipowski was a dynamo, who quickly accumulated a list of accolades. In 2021, he was applauded as the Gatorade Basketball Player of the Year for Massachusetts. Known as a hard player with an acute understanding of the game, he quickly scaled the ranks in the class of 2022. Although he was set to rip the court at the coveted 2022 McDonald’s All-American Boys Game, he found himself ineligible to play due to being a fifth-year player. However, his journey was far from over.
Flip’s strategic play caught the eye of the talent hunter, making him a consensus five-star recruit and one of the highest-ranked players in the 2022 class. On July 29, 2021, he chose to charge the court for Duke, one of the top college basketball teams in the United States.
His time at Duke was marked by powerful play and consistent performances. On January 11, 2023, Filipowski secured an impressive double-double, scoring 28 points and chalking up 15 rebounds leading Duke to a 77–69 victory over Pittsburgh. Remarkably, this was not a one-off performance. Filipowski regularly managed to score in the twenties while securing numerous rebounds, leading Duke to win many games including the 59–49 victory against Virginia in the ACC Tournament championship game. In recognition of his performance, he was named the Tournament MVP.
As a freshman, Filipowski averaged 15.1 points and nine rebounds per game. He shone during his freshman season, ranking first among Division I freshmen with impressive stats of 16 double-doubles. His exceptional performance consequently led to him being recognized as the ACC Rookie of the Year.
Despite being earmarked as a first-round selection for the 2023 NBA draft, Flip surprised all by opting to return for his sophomore season. He underwent hip surgery in April 2023, which required repairing malformed hip joints atop both legs. But Filipowski returned undeterred, scaling new heights in December 2023, when he was named the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Player of the Week.
Tragedy struck in February 2024, when during a game against Wake Forest, Flip suffered a knee injury after a collision with a court storming fan. With sheer determination and grit, he was back on the court for the next game.
In April 2024, Flip finally declared for the NBA draft foregoing his remaining college eligibility. His professional journey saw a big leap when on June 27, 2024, he was selected as the 32nd overall pick by the Utah Jazz in the 2024 NBA draft. Soon after, on August 12, he signed with the Jazz solidifying his position as a professional NBA player.
Basketball runs in Filipowski’s family as his brother, Matt, played alongside Kyle at Wilbraham & Monson and committed to playing college basketball for Harvard. Beyond the court, Kyle Filipowski is engaged to Caitlin Hutchison, embracing his personal life as he does his professional.
Thus, Kyle Jarred “Flip” Filipowski, born in a small American town has gradually made a name for himself in the arena of professional basketball with his remarkable skills, determination, and love for the game.
