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Cory Alexander
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Cory Lynn Alexander (born June 22, 1973) is an American former professional basketball player who is a college basketball analyst for ESPN. He was a Parade and McDonald's All-American while he played basketball at Oak Hill Academy. Alexander played college basketball for the Virginia Cavaliers and was selected in the 1995 NBA draft by the San Antonio Spurs. He played seven seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) with the Spurs, Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic and Charlotte Bobcats. Alexander also played in the NBA Development League and overseas in Italy.
Key Information
After his playing retirement, Alexander worked as an analyst for the University of Virginia radio network and the Raycom Sports-produced ACC Network. He joined ESPN in 2009 as a college basketball analyst.
Early life
[edit]Alexander developed his passion for basketball through playing at a YMCA in Waynesboro, Virginia, where a man his mother, Bonita Wallace, dated served as the program director.[1] He started his high school basketball career at Waynesboro High School.[2] Alexander transferred to Flint Hill School for his junior season and emerged as among the top college basketball prospects.[2]
Alexander transferred to Oak Hill Academy for his senior season in 1990–91.[2] He had played as a shooting guard throughout his high school career but moved to point guard at Oak Hill Academy.[1] Alexander averaged 15.9 points, 9.4 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game during his senior season.[1] He was selected as a member of the Parade All-American first-team and played in the 1991 McDonald's All-American Game.[3]
Alexander narrowed his college basketball team decision down to the Virginia Cavaliers and Arizona Wildcats.[3] He chose to play for the Cavaliers and attend the University of Virginia which was close to his home.[1]
College basketball career
[edit]Alexander played for the Virginia Cavaliers from 1991 to 1995. He was selected to the All-ACC second-team as a sophomore in 1993 when he averaged 18.8 points per game.[4] Alexander suffered a broken right ankle during the opening game of the 1993–94 season and did not return for the year.[4] He was granted a redshirt but announced in October 1994 that he would not play out his fifth year of eligibility and instead turn professional in 1995.[4] He averaged 16.6 points per game during the 1994–95 season until he suffered another season-ending broken right ankle during a game on February 8, 1995.[4][5]
Alexander's 401 career assists are eighth highest in Cavaliers history and he ranks 24th on the team's all-time scoring list with 1,286 points.[6]
Professional career
[edit]Alexander was selected by the San Antonio Spurs as the 29th overall pick of the 1995 NBA draft.[6] He had his best season in the National Basketball Association in 1996–97 when he averaged 7.2 points and 3.2 assists.[7] Alexander was relegated to a little-used reserve with the Spurs and was waived on February 27, 1998.[8] Alexander was sought after as a free agent and signed with the Denver Nuggets five days later.[8] He re-signed with the Nuggets on January 22, 1999.[9] Alexander averaged 2.8 points, 2.0 assists and 1.4 rebounds per game with the Nuggets during the 1999–2000 season.[10] On January 29, 2001, he joined the Orlando Magic on a 10-day contract.[10] Alexander spent the rest of the season with the Magic although he received limited playing time.[11]
Alexander joined the Roanoke Dazzle of the National Basketball Development League (NBDL) during the 2002–03 season.[7] He totalled 306 assists which was an NBDL single-season record.[7] Alexander played in Italy for Virtus Roma during the 2003–04 season and averaged 11.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.[7] He returned to the Dazzle for the 2004–05 season and averaged 16.4 points and a league-leading 8.3 assists per game.[7] On February 28, 2005, Alexander signed with the Charlotte Bobcats as the team needed to improve their depth at the point guard position.[7] It was his last stint in the NBA.[6]
National team career
[edit]Alexander played for the United States national team at the 1993 FIBA Under-21 World Championship where he won a gold medal.[6]
NBA career statistics
[edit]| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
Regular season
[edit]| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995–96 | San Antonio | 60 | 0 | 9.3 | .406 | .394 | .640 | 0.7 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 2.8 |
| 1996–97 | San Antonio | 80 | 6 | 18.2 | .396 | .373 | .736 | 1.5 | 3.2 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 7.2 |
| 1997–98 | San Antonio | 37 | 3 | 13.5 | .414 | .313 | .676 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 4.5 |
| 1997–98 | Denver | 23 | 19 | 34.7 | .435 | .411 | .846 | 4.3 | 6.0 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 14.0 |
| 1998–99 | Denver | 36 | 4 | 21.6 | .373 | .286 | .841 | 2.1 | 3.3 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 7.3 |
| 1999–00 | Denver | 29 | 2 | 11.3 | .286 | .257 | .773 | 1.4 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 2.8 |
| 2000–01 | Orlando | 26 | 0 | 8.7 | .321 | .250 | .667 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
| 2004–05 | Charlotte | 16 | 1 | 12.6 | .327 | .421 | .750 | 1.8 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 3.1 |
| Career | 307 | 35 | 15.8 | .389 | .354 | .756 | 1.6 | 2.7 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 5.5 | |
Playoffs
[edit]| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | San Antonio | 9 | 0 | 7.8 | .417 | .200 | .714 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 2.9 |
Post-playing career
[edit]Broadcasting career
[edit]On October 1, 2008, Alexander was announced as the analyst of Virginia Cavaliers basketball radio broadcasts alongside play-by-play announcer Dave Koehn for the 2008–09 season.[12] He joined the radio team because he had ambitions of joining the coaching staff of Cavaliers head coach Dave Leitao.[13] Alexander worked in the role for three seasons until his departure in 2011 because he wanted to prioritize his television and coaching pursuits.[14]
Alexander joined ESPN as a broadcaster in 2009.[6]
Coaching career
[edit]On September 26, 2011, Alexander was announced as an assistant coach for the NCAA Division III basketball team at Hampden–Sydney College.[15] He served in a part-time volunteer role.[14] Alexander wanted to join a Division III staff so he could still instruct at his Cory Alexander Basketball School,[14] which he founded in 1995.[6] He had ambitions of receiving a coaching job at an NCAA Division I school.[14]
Alexander has served as an assistant coach at Oak Hill Academy.[13]
Personal life
[edit]Alexander's son, Cory II, played baseball for the Old Dominion Monarchs.[16] His cousin, Kenny Brooks, played college basketball for the James Madison Dukes.[1]
Alexander runs Castles Real Estate which is based in Richmond, Virginia.[13]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e "SUNDAY SPECIAL: ALEXANDER THE GREAT". Daily Press. August 17, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
- ^ a b c Doughty, Doug (June 7, 1990). "TRANSFER OF POWER MAKES OAK HILL A FORCE FOR '91". The Roanoke Times. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
- ^ a b Doughty, Doug (March 21, 1991). "ALEXANDER REVEALING HIS COLLEGE CHOICE ON APRIL 20". The Roanoke Times. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Vehorn, Frank (February 10, 1995). "SECOND SEASON ENDS FOR CORY ALEXANDER". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
- ^ "Spurs sign Cory Alexander". UPI. October 5, 1995. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f "Cory Alexander". ESPN Press Room. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f "Bobcats Sign Cory Alexander, Waive Jahidi White". NBA. February 28, 2005. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
- ^ a b Lopez, Aaron J. (January 11, 2011). "Nuggets happy to avoid history". South Coast Today. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
- ^ "NBA TRANSACTIONS". The Washington Post. January 23, 1999. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
- ^ a b "Magic sign Alexander". UPI. January 29, 2001. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
- ^ "Jones Hurt As Miami Holds Off The Pistons". The Washington Post. March 6, 2001. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
- ^ "Cory Alexander Joins the Virginia Sports Network". Virginia Sports. October 1, 2008. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
- ^ a b c Reid, Whitelaw (March 14, 2018). "Q&A: Former Wahoo Star Alexander Talks 'Hoos, Hunter and NCAA Tourney". UVA Today. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Berman, Mark (September 25, 2019). "UVa radio analyst Cory Alexander not returning". The Roanoke Times. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
- ^ "UVa Legend and NBA Player Cory Alexander to Join Hoops Staff". D3Hoops. September 26, 2011. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
- ^ "Cory Alexander II". Old Dominion University Athletics. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
External links
[edit]- Career statistics from NBA.com · Basketball Reference
Cory Alexander
View on GrokipediaEarly years
Early life
Cory Alexander was born on June 22, 1973, in Waynesboro, Virginia.[6][1] Growing up in Waynesboro, Alexander developed an early passion for basketball through regular play at the local Family YMCA, where he spent significant time honing his skills in a community-focused environment.[7] This exposure to organized youth sports at the YMCA introduced him to the fundamentals of the game and fostered his initial interest, shaping his dedication to basketball from a young age.[8] His upbringing occurred in a sports-oriented household and community, influenced by family connections to local athletic programs; for instance, a family associate who dated his mother for several years encouraged his participation in YMCA activities, further embedding basketball into his daily life.[8] This environment in Waynesboro provided a supportive backdrop for his early development, emphasizing teamwork and physical activity. Alexander began his formal education in the local school system, attending Waynesboro High School initially before later transfers to other institutions.[9][10]High school career
Alexander began his high school basketball career at Waynesboro High School in his hometown of Waynesboro, Virginia, playing through his sophomore year.[11] Seeking greater competition, he transferred to Flint Hill School in Oakton, Virginia, for his junior season before moving again to the nationally renowned Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia, for his senior year.[9][12] At Oak Hill, Alexander transitioned from shooting guard to point guard and emerged as a standout leader on a team that finished 27-1 and ranked No. 3 nationally.[8] During his senior season in 1990-91, he averaged 15.9 points, 9.4 assists, and 2.9 rebounds per game.[8] His performance earned him selection as a first-team Parade All-American and a spot on the 1991 McDonald's All-American East roster.[13][14] Alexander's high school exploits drew national recruitment interest from top programs, including Virginia, Michigan, Arizona, and NC State.[15] He ultimately committed to the University of Virginia, announcing his decision on April 20, 1991, citing proximity to home as a key factor.[16][8]College basketball career
University of Virginia
Cory Alexander began his college basketball career at the University of Virginia as a freshman during the 1991–92 season, earning a starting role at point guard for all 33 games. He averaged 11.2 points and 4.4 assists per game, leading the Cavaliers in assists with 145 while contributing to a team that advanced to the NCAA Tournament's second round. One notable performance came on February 19, 1992, when Alexander scored a season-high 24 points in Virginia's 86–73 victory over then-No. 4 North Carolina, helping secure an upset win.[3][17] As a sophomore in 1992–93, Alexander continued starting all 31 games, elevating his scoring to an average of 18.8 points per game while dishing out 4.6 assists, leading the team in both categories and earning All-ACC second-team honors. His play helped Virginia reach the NCAA Tournament's Sweet Sixteen, where the Cavaliers fell to Cincinnati. Alexander's development as a dynamic guard was key to the team's offensive flow, though specific standout games from this season highlighted his consistent scoring threat in ACC play.[3][18] Alexander's junior year in 1993–94 was derailed by injury, as he suffered a broken right ankle just 11 minutes into the season opener against Connecticut on November 29, 1993, limiting him to only one game with no points recorded. The injury sidelined him for the entire season, forcing Virginia to adjust without its starting point guard, and he did not return to play.[19][3][18] Returning for his senior season in 1994–95, Alexander started all 20 games he appeared in, averaging 16.7 points and 5.5 assists per game before another season-ending injury struck. On February 8, 1995, he fractured the same right ankle during a 65–55 win over N.C. State, ending his college career prematurely after missing the final 10 regular-season games and the postseason. Earlier in the season, on January 14, 1995, Alexander contributed to one of Virginia's most memorable victories, a 91–88 comeback upset over then-No. 16 Duke in which the Cavaliers overcame a 23-point second-half deficit—the largest in school history. His leadership and scoring were instrumental in guiding the team to the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight before his injury.[3][20][18][21]Statistics and accolades
Over his four seasons with the Virginia Cavaliers from 1991 to 1995, Cory Alexander amassed 1,286 points and 401 assists.[2][3] His annual scoring and assist averages are summarized below:| Season | Games Played | Points per Game | Assists per Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991–92 | 33 | 11.2 | 4.4 |
| 1992–93 | 31 | 18.8 | 4.6 |
| 1993–94 | 1 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
| 1994–95 | 20 | 16.7 | 5.5 |
| Career | 85 | 15.1 | 4.7 |
Professional basketball career
NBA career
Cory Alexander was selected by the San Antonio Spurs with the 29th overall pick in the first round of the 1995 NBA Draft, out of the University of Virginia.[1] He spent his first three seasons with the Spurs as a backup point guard, appearing in 177 games but averaging limited minutes, with his most significant playing time coming in the 1996–97 season when he averaged 7.2 points and 3.2 assists per game across 80 appearances.[1] On February 27, 1998, Alexander was waived by the Spurs and signed with the Denver Nuggets shortly after on March 4, providing him with expanded opportunities as a starter toward the end of the 1997–98 season.[1] In his partial season with Denver that year, he started 19 of 23 games, averaging 14.0 points and 6.0 assists per game in 34.7 minutes.[1] He remained with the Nuggets for the next two seasons, posting 7.3 points and 3.3 assists per game in 1998–99 across 36 games, though his role diminished in 1999–00 to 2.8 points and 2.0 assists in 29 games due to reduced minutes.[1] Alexander signed with the Orlando Magic for the 2000–01 season, where he served as a reserve, averaging 2.0 points and 1.4 assists in 26 games before being waived.[1] He did not play during the 2001–02 season and played in the domestic National Basketball Development League (NBDL) during 2002–03 before joining an Italian team in 2003–04. In 2004–05, he joined the expansion Charlotte Bobcats on February 28, appearing in 16 of the remaining 24 games and averaging 3.1 points and 2.3 assists per game.[1] The Bobcats released him after the season, marking the end of his seven-season NBA career, during which he appeared in 307 games and averaged 5.5 points and 2.7 assists per game overall.[1]International career
After being waived by the Orlando Magic at the conclusion of the 2000–01 NBA season, Alexander sought opportunities to continue his professional career outside the league's top tier.[1] He signed with the Roanoke Dazzle of the National Basketball Development League (NBDL) for the 2002–03 season, where he served as the team's starting point guard in all 50 games, averaging 16.5 points, 6.1 assists, and 4.1 rebounds per game while leading the squad in scoring and assists.[24] The Dazzle finished with a 25–25 record but did not advance far in the playoffs, providing Alexander a platform to showcase his skills amid limited NBA interest.[25] He returned to the Roanoke Dazzle for the 2004–05 NBDL season, averaging 16.4 points and 8.3 assists in 32 games before being called up to the NBA.[26] Seeking further international exposure after his NBDL stints, Alexander joined Virtus Roma (also known as Lottomatica Roma) of Italy's Lega Basket Serie A for the 2003–04 season.[27] In 13 appearances early in the campaign, primarily in the EuroLeague and domestic league, he averaged 11.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game, contributing to Roma's competitive start before departing.[28] Under his playmaking, the team posted a 19–15 regular-season record in Serie A, securing seventh place and a playoff berth, though they exited in the quarterfinals.[29] Alexander briefly returned to the NBA with the Charlotte Bobcats in 2005 but retired from professional basketball on July 2, 2005, at age 32, ending his international playing career.[22]International involvement
National team career
During his sophomore year at the University of Virginia, Cory Alexander was selected to the United States national team for the 1993 FIBA World Championship for Men '22 and Under', held in Valladolid, Spain from July 22 to 31.[2] As a point guard, Alexander contributed to the U.S. team's dominant performance, culminating in a gold medal victory after defeating France 87–73 in the final.[30] The Americans went undefeated in the tournament, showcasing the depth of American college talent on the international stage.[31] Alexander appeared in 5 games for the U.S., averaging 2.4 points per game while providing ball-handling support in a reserve role.[32] His standout performance came in a preliminary round win over Angola, where he scored 5 points, helping secure a 106–64 victory.[32][33] This international exposure highlighted Alexander's potential as an emerging playmaker, bridging his collegiate development with the path toward a professional career in the NBA.[2]Overseas professional play
Following his time in the NBDL during the 2002–03 season, Cory Alexander signed with Virtus Roma of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA) for the 2003-04 campaign, marking his transition to professional basketball in Europe.[27] As a point guard, he provided scoring and playmaking from the backcourt, appearing in 13 LBA games where he averaged 11.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game.[26] In the EuroLeague, Alexander played 10 games for Roma, averaging 12.1 points, 2.7 assists, and 1.4 steals in 29.5 minutes per game, with a 43.5% field goal percentage.[4] During the 2003-04 LBA regular season, Virtus Roma finished seventh with a 19-15 record, securing a spot in the playoffs.[34] The team advanced to the quarterfinals but was swept 0-3 by Skipper Bologna.[34] In the EuroLeague, Roma struggled with a 4-10 record in Group A, failing to advance beyond the regular season.[28] Alexander's stint in Italy represented his only professional overseas experience, as he returned to the NBA with the Charlotte Bobcats for the 2004-05 season before retiring from playing in 2005.[35]NBA career statistics
Regular season
Cory Alexander appeared in 307 NBA regular-season games across seven seasons from 1995–96 to 2004–05, serving primarily as a reserve point guard for the San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic, and Charlotte Bobcats. Over his career, he totaled 1,677 points, 834 assists, 481 rebounds, 263 steals, and 37 blocks in 4,847 minutes played, while committing 467 turnovers.[1] His scoring efficiency hovered around 38.9% from the field and 35.4% from three-point range, reflecting his role in facilitating offense rather than being a primary scorer.[1] Alexander's usage trended toward bench contributions, with only 35 career starts, often providing spark off the bench in limited minutes during his early years that increased to around 20 per game in his mid-career peak before tapering due to injuries and roster changes.[1] He reached his scoring peak in the 1997–98 season, averaging 8.1 points and 3.5 assists per game over 60 appearances split between the Spurs and Nuggets.[1]| Season | Team | G | MP | FG | FGA | 3P | 3PA | FT | FTA | ORB | DRB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995-96 | SAS | 60 | 560 | 63 | 155 | 26 | 66 | 16 | 25 | 9 | 33 | 42 | 121 | 27 | 2 | 68 | 94 | 168 |
| 1996-97 | SAS | 80 | 1454 | 194 | 490 | 94 | 252 | 95 | 129 | 29 | 94 | 123 | 254 | 82 | 16 | 146 | 148 | 577 |
| 1997-98 | 2TM | 60 | 1298 | 171 | 400 | 66 | 176 | 80 | 102 | 17 | 129 | 146 | 209 | 70 | 11 | 112 | 98 | 488 |
| 1998-99 | DEN | 36 | 778 | 97 | 260 | 30 | 105 | 37 | 44 | 7 | 67 | 74 | 119 | 35 | 5 | 69 | 77 | 261 |
| 1999-00 | DEN | 29 | 329 | 28 | 98 | 9 | 35 | 17 | 22 | 8 | 34 | 42 | 58 | 24 | 2 | 28 | 39 | 82 |
| 2000-01 | ORL | 26 | 227 | 18 | 56 | 4 | 16 | 12 | 18 | 0 | 25 | 25 | 36 | 16 | 0 | 25 | 29 | 52 |
| 2004-05 | CHA | 16 | 201 | 16 | 49 | 8 | 19 | 9 | 12 | 8 | 21 | 29 | 37 | 9 | 1 | 19 | 29 | 49 |
| Career | 307 | 4,847 | 587 | 1,508 | 237 | 669 | 266 | 352 | 78 | 403 | 481 | 834 | 263 | 37 | 467 | 514 | 1,677 |
Playoffs
Alexander's NBA playoff experience was limited to the 1995–96 postseason with the San Antonio Spurs, where he appeared in 9 games as a rookie off the bench.[1] Over these appearances, he averaged 2.9 points, 1.0 rebound, and 1.0 assist per game in 7.8 minutes of playing time, shooting 41.7% from the field.[36] The Spurs advanced to the Western Conference Semifinals that year, defeating the Phoenix Suns 3–1 in the first round before falling to the Utah Jazz 4–2 in the second round.[37] Alexander contributed modestly in both series, for example, scoring a playoff-high 8 points in 18 minutes during Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Utah Jazz.[38] Despite the team's success in reaching the conference semifinals, Alexander's role remained peripheral, reflecting his status as a second-round draft pick adjusting to professional play.[1]| Season | Team | G | MP | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995-96 | SAS | 9 | 7.8 | .417 | .200 | .714 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 2.9 |
| Career | - | 9 | 7.8 | .417 | .200 | .714 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 2.9 |