Kirk Haston
Kirk Haston (born March 10, 1979 in Lobelville, Tennessee) is an American former professional basketball player. He attended Perry County High School in Linden, Tennessee, where, as a senior, he was a part of the 37-0 Class A state championship team,[1] being named Class A "Mr. Basketball". His college career took place under head coach Bob Knight and Mike Davis at Indiana University where, in the 2000-01 season he led the Big Ten in scoring and was a 3rd Team All-American selection. Haston's most memorable moment came during the 2000-01 season when his buzzer-beating three-pointer beat defending champion and top-ranked Michigan State 59-58 at the Assembly Hall. During his sophomore year, he lost his mother, Patti Kirk Haston, 48, in a tornado that hit the county seat, Linden, Tennessee on May 5, 1999.
Haston was selected 16th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2001 NBA Draft; many analysts, who had pegged Haston in the late first round-early second round area, thought that the Hornets took Haston to be a 'zone breaker', working against the change in rules that allowed some forms of the zone defense in games. Haston was known for his sky hook shot and shooting range for a forward/center.
Haston averaged 1.2 points per game, playing in 27 games. He also averaged one rebound per game while recording no steals.
He played the 2004-2005 season with the Florida Flame for head coach Dennis Johnson in the NBA D-League. There he averaged 16 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.2 blocks per game and was selected to the All NBDL First-Team. His season came to an end when he suffered a right knee injury that required season-ending knee surgery with three games remaining.
In 2005 he signed with Upea Capo D'Orlando of the Serie A. He and his wife Kasey soon returned from Sicily to Middle Tennessee when he was waived due to a right knee injury prior to the start of the season.
In 2010 he came back to Perry County High School to coach the boys basketball team. He then led his alma mater to two state appearances in his first seasons. In 2012, the Perry County Vikings finished their season and state runner-up.