Brian Conklin

Brian Conklin (born September 5, 1989) is an American professional basketball player for Nanterre 92 of the LNB Pro A. He played college basketball for Saint Louis University and has since played in New Zealand, Australia and Puerto Rico.

High school career

Conklin attended North Eugene High School in Eugene, Oregon. As a junior in 2006–07, he averaged 19.6 points and 11.3 rebounds per game, leading his team to a perfect 28–0 record, the 5A Oregon State championship and was subsequently named the 2007 Player of the Year. As a senior in 2007–08, he averaged 20.4 points, 11.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 2.7 blocks and 1.3 steals per game, leading his team to a 25–4 record and the No. 1 ranking in the state.^[1]

College career

As a freshman at Saint Louis in 2008–09, Conklin ranked seventh on the SLU freshman list for field goal shooting with 52.2%. In 32 games (29 starts), he averaged 6.1 points and 3.9 rebounds in 22.5 minutes per game.^[1][2]

As a sophomore in 2009–10, Conklin recorded 56 offensive rebounds, the second-most on the team. He was also named to the Atlantic 10 Conference All-Academic team. In 36 games (16 starts), he averaged 6.2 points and 3.5 rebounds in 20.8 minutes per game.^[1][2]

As a junior in 2010–11, Conklin was named to the Atlantic 10 Conference All-Academic team for the second straight season. He was also named to the Cancun Governor's Cup All-Tournament team after averaging a team-best 14.0 points during the three-day tournament. In 31 games (24 starts), he averaged 8.7 points and 4.3 rebounds in 21.4 minutes per game.^[1][2]

As a senior in 2011–12, Conklin was named to the Atlantic 10 Conference All-Academic team for the third straight season. He also earned first-team All-Atlantic 10 honors. In 34 games (33 starts), he averaged 13.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 29.4 minutes per game.^[2]

Professional career

2012–13 season

In March 2013, Conklin signed with the Southland Sharks for the 2013 New Zealand NBL season.^[3] He made an immediate impact in the league, and in 18 games, he averaged 22.2 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game,^[4] leading the Sharks to their first NBL championship.

2013–14 season

On June 30, 2013, Conklin signed with the Townsville Crocodiles for the 2013–14 NBL season.^[5] On November 8, 2013, he scored a career-high 33 points in the Crocodiles' 91–78 win over the New Zealand Breakers.^[6] In his first season for the Crocodiles, he averaged 16.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 24 games.^[7]

In December 2013, Conklin re-signed with the Southland Sharks for the 2014 New Zealand NBL season.^[8] In 14 games for the Sharks in 2014, he averaged 20.1 points and 9.7 rebounds per game.^[4]

2014–15 season

On July 1, 2014, Conklin re-signed with the Townsville Crocodiles for the 2014–15 NBL season.^[9] On January 3, 2015, in a loss to the Cairns Taipans, he had a career-best game as he tied his career-high of 33 points and set a career-high for rebounds with 11.^[10] Three days later, he was named Player of the Week for Round 13.^[11] On February 28, 2015, he was awarded the Andrew Gaze MVP Trophy after an impressive 2014–15 season, finishing fourth in the league in scoring averaging 18.9 points per game with 6.4 rebounds on 50.7% shooting from the field.^[7] He also earned All-NBL first team honors.^[12]

On March 9, 2015, Conklin signed with Cangrejeros de Santurce for the 2015 BSN season.^[13][14] In 32 games for Cangrejeros, he averaged 11.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.

2015–16 season

On July 15, 2015, Conklin re-signed with the Townsville Crocodiles for the 2015–16 NBL season.^[15] On November 4, 2015, Conklin was involved in an ugly on-court incident involving Perth Wildcats guard Damian Martin, where during the fourth quarter of the Crocodiles' 89–77 win over the Wildcats, Conklin's errant elbow collided with Martin's jaw, breaking it.^[16] Two days later, Australian basketball legend, Andrew Gaze, called out for the NBL to suspend Conklin for six weeks.^[17] Ultimately, Conklin was cleared of any wrongdoing by the NBL.^[18] Just ten days after the Martin encounter, Conklin was in the spotlight again for another elbow incident, this time for striking Adelaide 36ers forward Mitch Creek in a similar manner. He subsequently received a three-match suspension with two of those games suspended for the rest of the season.^[19] On a lighter note, in that game against the 36ers, Conklin scored 21 points and a career-high 12 rebounds.^[20]

The Crocodiles completed Round 8 with a 4–10 win/loss record, leading to the club re-considering its future and personnel. Consequently, on November 30, Conklin was released by the club.^[21] In 13 games for the Crocodiles in 2015–16, he averaged 13.5 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.

On February 16, 2016, Conklin signed with Piratas de Quebradillas for the 2016 BSN season.^[22] On March 15, 2016, he was involved in a third in-game elbow incident, this time while playing for Quebradillas. During his team's game against Capitanes de Arecibo, Conklin threw an elbow backwards and landed on the head of Renaldo Balkman, causing Balkman to fall to the ground and lose consciousness. Three days later, Conklin was suspended for one game and fined $1,500.^[23][24] He appeared in 40 games for Quebradillas during the 2016 season, averaging 15.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.0 steals per game.

2016–17 season

On July 1, 2016, Conklin signed with Leones de Santo Domingo for the 2016 LNB season.^[25] In September 2016, he helped Leones win the LNB title.^[26]

On September 26, 2016, Conklin signed with French club Nanterre 92 for the 2016–17 Pro A season.^[27]

Personal

In 2012, Conklin married his long-time partner, Kristina.^[28]

References

External links

• Townsville Crocodiles player profile
• Saint Louis player bio