Brian Sigafoos
About

My basketball career, in numbers

From getting cut at Harvard as a freshman to starting at center as a sophomore and a short pro career in Portugal, Denmark, the USBL, and Taiwan.

Sep 1, 2008 24 min read

Basketball took me from New Jersey to Cambridge, Porto, Hørsholm, Taipei, Ramallah, and Jeddah. This is the story of those years playing the game, in memories and numbers.

Opening tip at the National Invitational Tournament in 1993

I was recruited by Harvard in 1999, cut from the team as a freshman, and starting at center midway through my sophomore year. Four years later I was playing professionally overseas.

Career at a glance

  • Harvard, 2000–03 — NCAA Division I: 77 games, 39 starts, 5.6 points and 4.2 rebounds per game, 58.4% FG.
  • Sporting Clube Vasco da Gama, 2004 — Portugal Proliga: 6 games, 15.2 points and 12.2 rebounds per game; late-season signing in Porto.
  • Hørsholm 79ers, 2004–05 — Danish Basketligaen: 26 games, 15.5 points and 11.2 rebounds per game; league rebounding leader.
  • New Jersey Flyers, 2005 — USBL: 30 games including the playoffs, 25 starts, 5.7 points and 5.9 rebounds in 25.4 minutes per game.
  • Passing Lane Sports, 2005 — William Jones Cup, Taiwan: 9 games, gold medal, 9–0 team record.

Taipei was the last stop of my professional career. After that, I played alongside full-time work rather than under professional contracts:

  • Orthodox Ramallah Club, 2006–08 — West Bank: Seven-game 2008 tournament log below.
  • De La Salle Jerusalem, 2007 — Arab Clubs Championship, Jeddah: 3 games.

PTS and REB are per-game averages.

Before college

My AAU career began with the Central Jersey Pirates in 1994, when our 13-and-under team won the NIT in Cocoa Beach, Florida. One of my teammates was Jay Williams. From 1995 through 1999 I played for Brian Crawford and the Newark Rams, with teammates including Troy Murphy and Josh Moore.

Three high schools and one AAU team

I did not make the varsity team as a freshman or sophomore at Delbarton. I transferred to Seton Hall Prep for my junior year, when the team finished No. 2 in New Jersey, but I still did not play as much as I wanted. For my final year, 1998–99, I transferred again—this time to the Winchendon School in Massachusetts. The program had more than 15 players who would go on to play NCAA Division I basketball, plus an already-drafted future Boston Celtic, Bruno Sundov. Even the second team had two future Division I players. I started there, served as co-captain, and finally played a lot of minutes against good regional competition.

The constant through all of those school changes was the Newark Rams. Brian Crawford coached me for four years and gave me exposure to adversity, great competition, and the hard work required to improve. We played tournaments in New York City and Newark and traveled as far as Ohio, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. He helped me develop, put me in front of college coaches, and helped me get recruited by Harvard, Brown, Cornell, Bucknell, and other schools. I chose Harvard.

More than anyone, though, my mom deserves the most credit. Whenever I hit an obstacle, she helped me find another way to get better and encouraged me never to give up. She drove me all over New Jersey for basketball—to every Newark Rams practice—and then packed players into her custom blue-and-white van for games across New Jersey and New York City, including the Gauchos Gym, Riverside Park, and Gun Hill in the Bronx.

Cut at Harvard

I arrived at Harvard in the fall of 1999 as one of six freshman recruits. Two of us were cut before the season. I was one of them, and it was devastating.

I played JV basketball that year, but I did not give up on making the varsity. My mom found a private trainer named Mike Procopio, who was doing film and video-analysis work in Boston. I started working with him one-on-one. Mike later became a Boston Celtics scout and worked closely with Kobe Bryant, who called him his “eyes and ears” during the Lakers’ 2010 championship run.

That summer, Brian Crawford and the Newark Rams helped me get into the famous Adidas ABCD Camp in New Jersey as a college counselor. There was some irony in that title: I had not played a minute of varsity college basketball. But I was suddenly in a gym with the best high-school prospects in the country, and Kobe Bryant was there too. Seeing that level up close—and being allowed into that basketball world—gave my confidence a huge boost.

When I returned to Harvard that fall, I made the team. Halfway through my sophomore season I was the starting center. I finished the year with 12 starts in 24 games and was voted the team’s most improved player.

Harvard, 2000–2003

Brian Sigafoos wearing number 54 for Harvard at Lavietes Pavilion

Harvard career summary 77 games
SeasonClassGGSMINFGFTPTSREBASTSTLBLK
2000–01Sophomore241215.463.2%56.6%6.84.40.10.50.9
2001–02Junior26012.248.5%48.6%3.22.90.20.50.3
2002–03Senior272718.159.8%68.5%6.85.30.40.40.4
Career total77391,174173–29684–142430323173441
Career average773915.258.4%59.2%5.64.20.20.40.5
2000–01 24 games
DateOpponentSiteResultMINPTSFG3PFTORDRREBASTSTLBLKTOPF
Nov 21Holy CrossHomeL 55–60500–10–00–002200000
Nov 25LehighHomeW 73–521182–20–04–503300201
Nov 28NortheasternAwayW 88–65821–30–00–022402032
Dec 2AlbanyAwayL 78–821363–50–00–110100114
Dec 5Boston UniversityHomeW 76–601984–40–00–105501132
Dec 9ColgateAwayL 79–881221–10–00–001101012
Dec 16DartmouthHomeW 79–78421–10–00–000000003
Dec 18VermontHomeW 89–7114124–50–04–534701044
Dec 28Georgia TechAwayL 59–901262–30–02–200000005
Dec 30MercerAwayW 65–51200–10–00–000000012
Jan 8New HampshireHomeW 91–581094–40–01–123500113
Jan 12YaleHomeL 83–8527155–110–05–8731000405
Jan 13BrownHomeW 91–691584–50–00–002210115
Jan 29HartfordHomeW 80–7824125–60–02–233603233
Feb 2CornellAwayW 65–572473–50–01–4381100312
Feb 3ColumbiaAwayL 55–651642–30–00–221300125
Feb 9PennHomeW 77–622452–50–01–242600115
Feb 10PrincetonHomeL 67–691921–20–00–002200223
Feb 16BrownAwayL 82–9018126–80–00–1661211123
Feb 17YaleAwayL 58–661373–60–01–232500014
Feb 23PrincetonAwayL 48–6225135–70–03–624601013
Feb 24PennAwayL 47–70600–30–00–010101015
Mar 2ColumbiaHomeW 66–612273–70–01–124600015
Mar 3CornellHomeW 93–8426176–80–05–1016700143
Season total36916467–1060–030–534263105211213479
Season average15.46.863.2%—56.6%1.82.64.40.10.50.91.43.3
2001–02 26 games
DateOpponentSiteResultMINPTSFG3PFTORDRREBASTSTLBLKTOPF
Nov 16FairfieldHomeW 68–62731–10–01–200000013
Nov 20Holy CrossAwayL 57–651721–20–00–000000323
Nov 24LehighAwayW 64–621421–20–00–211201013
Nov 27NortheasternHomeW 68–61931–20–01–203300011
Dec 1Stony BrookHomeW 64–591121–40–00–013401024
Dec 4Boston UniversityAwayL 41–511131–10–01–202220002
Dec 8ColgateHomeL 64–76800–10–00–013401011
Dec 12New HampshireAwayW 70–65900–20–00–001100002
Dec 15DartmouthHomeW 70–531793–50–03–427900113
Dec 18VermontAwayL 54–741251–10–03–620200111
Dec 21Sacred HeartHomeW 81–691121–20–00–222400202
Dec 28CaliforniaNeutralL 54–691642–30–00–103300035
Dec 29Coppin StateNeutralW 55–51 OT1562–30–02–213400023
Jan 5DartmouthAwayW 88–571431–20–01–202201003
Jan 11PrincetonHomeL 48–501021–30–00–012301021
Jan 12PennHomeW 78–75 OT900–00–00–002200013
Feb 1BrownHomeW 89–81631–10–01–211201004
Feb 2YaleHomeL 57–661442–20–00–003303112
Feb 8ColumbiaAwayW 55–521321–30–00–000001004
Feb 9CornellAwayL 62–631320–10–02–201101014
Feb 15PennAwayL 51–781721–60–00–232500015
Feb 16PrincetonAwayL 59–701683–40–02–212300125
Feb 22CornellHomeW 55–461021–20–00–015600012
Feb 23ColumbiaHomeW 59–5615105–70–00–013420012
Mar 1YaleAwayL 72–771421–60–00–243701002
Mar 2BrownAwayL 83–92821–20–00–000000003
Season total3168333–680–017–3522547641292573
Season average12.23.248.5%—48.6%0.82.12.90.20.50.31.02.8
2002–03 27 games
DateOpponentSiteResultMINPTSFG3PFTORDRREBASTSTLBLKTOPF
Nov 22FairfieldAwayW 69–6729147–90–00–127911234
Nov 26Holy CrossHomeL 66–711931–20–01–203301220
Nov 30Stony BrookAwayW 56–451100–50–00–041500033
Dec 3Boston UniversityHomeL 61–6819103–50–04–414501101
Dec 7LehighHomeW 84–721521–30–00–032500003
Dec 10RiderAwayW 85–82 3OT3073–60–01–2661200035
Dec 13ColgateAwayW 76–7114104–50–02–204400025
Dec 17VermontHomeW 71–642063–50–00–035810122
Dec 19MercerHomeW 86–7431177–120–03–4781510011
Dec 22Boston CollegeAwayL 77–8422104–70–02–232510125
Dec 28RichmondAwayL 59–861400–00–00–002200125
Dec 29VMINeutralL 67–711784–50–00–231400005
Jan 4DartmouthHomeW 67–50252410–110–04–635811014
Jan 8RoanokeHomeW 93–882383–40–02–212300044
Jan 11DartmouthAwayW 69–683251–30–03–4381101023
Jan 31PrincetonAwayW 67–611931–20–01–222400114
Feb 1PennAwayL 59–751741–40–02–233601013
Feb 7BrownAwayL 86–911000–10–00–011210014
Feb 8YaleAwayL 68–73621–10–00–001100012
Feb 14ColumbiaHomeW 77–632093–50–03–312311001
Feb 15CornellHomeL 69–821361–10–04–630311002
Feb 21PennHomeL 66–821794–50–01–213400033
Feb 22PrincetonHomeL 66–671663–60–00–022401015
Feb 28CornellAwayL 63–68200–00–00–200010000
Mar 1ColumbiaAwayW 66–631320–40–02–412300101
Mar 7YaleHomeL 82–9516104–40–02–242621014
Mar 8BrownHomeL 80–931984–70–00–043701135
Season total48918373–1220–037–5461811421111113984
Season average18.16.859.8%—68.5%2.33.05.30.40.40.41.43.1

Brian Sigafoos finishing at the rim for Harvard

My sophomore season was the breakthrough. After being cut a year earlier, I shot 63.2% from the floor, made 12 starts, and received the team’s Hamilton Fish Most Improved Player Award. As a senior I started all 27 games and was nominated for regional Academic All-America / Academic All-District consideration.

The Harvard Gazette captured that sophomore season in its December 2001 photo feature, “The Big Picture”.

Harvard men's basketball team huddling during Brian Sigafoos's junior season
Harvard team huddle during my junior season, 2001–02.

The best scoring game of my college career came against Dartmouth on January 4, 2003: 24 points on 10-of-11 shooting in 25 minutes. My career totals were 430 points, 323 rebounds, 41 blocks, and a 58.4% field-goal percentage.

One week after that career-high, during the January 11 away game at Dartmouth, I suffered a stress fracture in a metatarsal in my right foot. Doctors recommended that I stop playing, but I chose to finish the season because I wanted to help my team compete for the Ivy League title. I continued to start every game, though the injury limited my minutes for the rest of my senior year.

Brian Sigafoos shooting in traffic in Harvard’s road uniform

Sporting Clube Vasco da Gama, Porto — 2004

Passing Lane Sports was my agency as I began my professional career and helped place me with teams in both Porto and Denmark. My first contract was with Sporting Clube Vasco da Gama, a Porto club in Portugal’s second-tier Proliga—not F.C. Porto. I signed for the final six games of the season and helped the club avoid relegation.

Porto season summary 6 games
GMINFGFTPTSREBASTSTLBLK
Season total621431–5929–389173457
Season average35.752.5%76.3%15.212.20.70.81.2
2004 6 games
DateOpponentResultMINPTSFGFTORDRREBASTSTLBLKTOPF
Mar 6GalitosW +1730104–52–526800033
Mar 13AcadémicaL, OT29177–113–44111501035
Mar 20SangalhosL −1540146–122–4391212263
Mar 28SantarémW, OT37174–79–10581321054
Apr 3MaiaW +640166–164–57111811143
Apr 10BragaL 73–8338174–89–1025700404
Total3–32149131–5929–382152734572122
Average35.715.252.5%76.3%3.58.712.20.70.81.23.53.7

Hørsholm 79ers, Denmark — 2004–05

I started at center for all 26 games, averaged 32.2 minutes, and led the Danish league in rebounding with 290 total rebounds—11.2 per game. My season highs were 26 points twice and 24 rebounds against Amager on March 5.

Hørsholm season summary 26 games
GMINPTSFGFTORDRREBASTSTLBLKTOPF
Season total26836:06403170–31263–1131071832905130208196
Season average32.215.554.5%55.8%4.17.011.22.01.20.83.13.7
Brian Sigafoos dribbling through traffic for Hørsholm Brian Sigafoos contesting a jump shot for Hørsholm Brian Sigafoos dunking during the layup line in Denmark Brian Sigafoos scoring with his left hand for Hørsholm
Playing for Hørsholm in Denmark, 2004–05. Photos by my mom, Clare.
2004–05 26 games
DateOpponentResultMINPTSFGFTORDRREBASTSTLBLKTOPF
Oct 3SISUL 75–11137167–152–516720223
Oct 10BakkenL 59–7831136–121–2461011033
Oct 18HorsensL 57–642041–22–203300025
Oct 21AmagerL 67–7338239–125–6281011152
Oct 24SjællandL 69–943993–73–4491300044
Oct 30RandersW 91–7434157–171–35111644223
Nov 13AabyhøjL 84–96312612–162–3681441034
Nov 21AalborgW 75–7332135–73–7491332035
Nov 24SvendborgL 75–8542135–163–6571251144
Nov 27AmagerL 74–852994–91–1381140044
Nov 30SISUL 56–8519104–92–423500013
Dec 8SjællandL 86–10223115–111–223501132
Dec 12SvendborgL 79–9533157–161–2491332033
Dec 18SjællandL 79–9926155–95–1044811215
Jan 6AmagerL 62–8828114–103–654910143
Jan 9SISUL 79–107302612–152–2841201053
Jan 15BakkenL 66–10631113–105–9551011054
Jan 19SvendborgL 78–8738209–182–85141941135
Jan 23HorsensL 93–11529103–44–850510015
Jan 29SjællandL 81–11224157–141–2941322025
Feb 3RandersW 76–73382110–151–21111243245
Feb 16SISUW 82–7832166–84–5391212114
Feb 19AabyhøjL 72–9228146–102–2571200125
Feb 26AalborgL 72–8240219–123–6291132133
Mar 5AmagerL 61–87402210–192–49152432281
Mar 13SvendborgL 72–87402411–192–2471122333
Total4–22836:06403170–31263–1131071832905130208196
Average32.215.554.5%55.8%4.17.011.22.01.20.83.13.7

New Jersey Flyers, USBL — 2005

The Flyers were a first-year United States Basketball League team. I played 29 regular-season games, started 24, and averaged 25.5 minutes. I also started our playoff game against Oklahoma.

New Jersey Flyers season summary 30 games
GGSMINFGFTPTSREBASTSTLBLK
Season total302576365–13840–59170178121225
Season average25.447.1%67.8%5.75.90.40.40.8
2005 30 games
DateOpponentResultGSMINPTSFGFTORDRREBASTSTLBLKTOPF
Apr 22Penn ValleyDawgsL 105–108No2661–54–411210115
Apr 23WestchesterL 108–115No30102–36–603300205
Apr 26Kansas CagerzL 98–116Yes2993–103–6741110124
Apr 27Dodge City LegendL 74–98Yes3683–62–654900125
Apr 28Kansas CagerzL 77–129No1541–12–221310100
Apr 30Dodge City LegendW 85–81No900–00–002210005
May 3Oklahoma StormL 89–103No15167–122–3581300135
May 5Oklahoma StormL 91–94Yes4072–103–46101600134
May 6Westchester WildfireW 98–90Yes26114–43–425700015
May 7Westchester WildfireW 92–80Yes3510–41–25111601215
May 10Brooklyn KingsL 102–122Yes1500–00–011200026
May 11Penn ValleyDawgsL 94–97Yes2152–41–216720014
May 13Brooklyn KingsL 76–106Yes1563–60–012301014
May 14Penn ValleyDawgsL 95–98Yes3300–00–014500154
May 17Brooklyn KingsL 75–112Yes2531–21–224610403
May 18Brooklyn KingsW 84–78Yes2563–60–016700124
May 21Brooklyn KingsL 105–113Yes800–10–001100012
May 22Penn ValleyDawgsL 91–96Yes2562–22–311212105
May 24Dodge City LegendL 90–94Yes2562–42–212300015
May 25Oklahoma StormL 90–105Yes3384–60–053810102
May 27Nebraska CranesL 73–102Yes2963–50–014512012
May 31Penn ValleyDawgsL 112–128Yes25115–61–124611125
Jun 2Westchester WildfireW 88–87Yes2842–70–0381110012
Jun 3Kansas CagerzW 114–110, 2OTYes3042–50–001100214
Jun 4Penn ValleyDawgsL 87–105Yes3273–71–223501304
Jun 11Westchester WildfireL 85–115Yes1463–70–022401010
Jun 15Nebraska CranesL 97–106Yes2741–12–404401035
Jun 16Nebraska CranesL 97–106Yes2941–12–404401035
Jun 18Brooklyn KingsW 104–103Yes39104–92–243701014
Jun 24at Oklahoma Storm (playoffs)L 77–104Yes2421–40–023500143
Total7–232576317065–13840–596311517812122543116
Average25.45.747.1%67.8%2.13.85.90.40.40.81.43.9

William Jones Cup, Taipei — 2005

In July my agency, Passing Lane Sports, fielded the USA entry in the William Jones Cup. We played nine games in nine days against national teams and club selections, finished 9–0, and won the gold medal.

Brian Sigafoos preparing to shoot at the 2005 William Jones Cup in Taipei Brian Sigafoos finishing at the rim in Taipei Brian Sigafoos dunking at the 2005 William Jones Cup
At the 2005 William Jones Cup in Taipei. Photos by Chroma Vincent.
Fast-break dunk against Qatar at the 2005 William Jones Cup.
Tournament game log 9 games
#OpponentResultMINPTSREBASTBLKNote
1Australia AISW 85–64101021—Started; took a charge
2Chinese TaipeiW 95–749—7——Five minutes in Q2, final four minutes
3KazakhstanW 88–7873—1—3-of-4 FT
4Japan U-24W 105–83112—22Played the entire fourth quarter
5South KoreaW 110–88104———Played the entire fourth quarter
6Russia-SamaraW 101–70~10~4———Minutes and points approximate
7QatarW 93–91, OT42———Deflection and transition dunk
8IndiaW 105–76—11———Eight points in first six minutes of Q2
9PhilippinesW 99–96—————Clinched a 9–0 finish
Partial total9–0~61~36942Blank fields excluded
Partial average~8.7~5.14.51.32.0Blank fields excluded

Ramallah and Jeddah alongside full-time work — 2006–08

Taipei was the final stop of my professional career. After that, I began working full-time. I continued to play because I loved the game, but Ramallah and Jeddah were basketball on the side—not professional contracts.

I joined Orthodox Ramallah Club while helping launch PeacePlayers’ work in Israel and the West Bank, and played in the 2006 Ramallah tournament.

In May 2007, De La Salle Jerusalem added me and Mike V-C for the 20th Arab Clubs Championship in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. We played in a group with Al-Arabi of Qatar, the host Al-Ahli Jeddah, and Al-Yarmouk of Yemen.

Brian Sigafoos and Mike V-C in white De La Salle shirts before playing in Jeddah Brian Sigafoos wearing his De La Salle uniform for the 2007 Arab Clubs Championship
Mike V-C and me on our way to play in Jeddah, and in my De La Salle uniform for the 2007 Arab Clubs Championship.
Arab Clubs Championship results 3 games
OpponentCountryResultScore
Al-ArabiQatarL53–87
Al-Ahli JeddahSaudi ArabiaL53–93
Al-YarmoukYemenL56–98

I do not have many records from the three years I played in Ramallah’s major annual tournament for Orthodox Ramallah Club, but this detailed game log survives from August 2008.

Orthodox Ramallah Club team at the 2008 Ramallah tournament
Orthodox Ramallah Club at the 2008 Ramallah tournament.
Ramallah tournament game log 7 games
DateOpponentScorePTSFGFTREBASTSTLBLK
Aug 17Hateen NablusW 88–85, OT134–75–717703
Aug 19Terra Santa Beit HaninaW 68–60209–142–216013
Aug 22Amal BethlehemW 81–70229–184–522004
Aug 25Ahli Al-QudsW 84–64167–132–223116
Aug 28De La SalleL 72–73134–155–1020142
Aug 29SirreyehL 53–93124–94–513110
Aug 30Hateen NablusL167–82–413104
Total11244–8424–3512411722
Average16.052.4%68.6%17.71.61.03.1

Keeping basketball in my life

Later, while living and working full-time in Dubai, I played for fun in recreational leagues and 3-on-3 tournaments. Through DUPLAYS, I also organized and ran some of those tournaments.

One of the most fun experiences was playing for Dubai Tribe, an expat team that entered a 2011 tournament as the eighth team alongside seven local UAE club teams. I played with friends including Saeed Al-Naji and Dave Canfield, and we opened that tournament 2–2.

Brian Sigafoos and the Dubai Tribe basketball team in white uniforms
Dubai Tribe, the expat team I played with in Dubai.
2011 Vice President's Cup 4-game partial log
GameResultPTS
1L, OT10
2L by 58
3W, OT17
4W by 2014
Partial total2–249
Partial average12.3
Brian Sigafoos with teammates at an outdoor 3-on-3 basketball tournament in Dubai Brian Sigafoos with a recreational basketball team in Dubai Brian Sigafoos and his Dubai recreational league teammates huddling around a basketball Brian Sigafoos with teammates at the 2011 Sharjah Streetball Challenge
Other recreational leagues and 3-on-3 tournaments in Dubai.

Eventually, I shifted toward CrossFit to gain strength and mobility and compete in a new sport. But I will always love basketball and the amazing places it took me and people it brought into my life. Just as important are the lessons it taught me: determination, self-confidence, commitment, and how to keep going after failure.

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