 Zoubek in 2010 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1988-04-06)April 6, 1988 (age 36) Haddonfield, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) |
| Listed weight | 260 lb (118 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Haddonfield Memorial (Haddonfield, New Jersey) |
| College | Duke (2006–2010) |
| NBA draft | 2010:undrafted |
| Position | Center |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Brian Henry Zoubek (born April 6, 1988) is an American retired 7-foot-1-inch (2.16 m) basketballcenter. He was a member of the Duke Blue Devils'2010 NCAA Championship team.[1]
Zoubek's father, Paul, played baseball and football forPrinceton University, and his mother, Liza Cartmell, rowed crew atWellesley. His older sister, Sarah, played basketball atYale University.[2]
During his four years atHaddonfield Memorial High School, the Bulldawgs had a record of 110–10 and won three championships. In 2006 Zoubek was named as a fourth-teamParade All-American selection, named to the Jordan All-America team, and wasNew Jersey Player of the Year. He was twice selected by theNewark Star-Ledger to the all-state first team and was selected all-conference and All-South Jersey three times.[3]
Zoubek averaged 24.7 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 4.2 blocks per game as a senior.[1] He was rated 33rd overall by The Recruiting Services Consensus Index, and ranked 24th in theRivals.com Top 150 prospects of 2006.[1]
Zoubek started his Duke career with two double figure scoring games, againstUNC Greensboro andColumbia.
In the summer of 2007 he broke thefifth metatarsal in his left foot in a pickup game.[2][4] The break required surgery and the use of crutches until the fall, when he was fitted with a carbon and steel cast.[2] In January 2008, he broke his left foot again, this time in practice.[2] Doctors realized his foot had not healed, and in the off-season he again had surgery, followed by crutches, the boot, and rehab.[2][4][5][6]
Zoubek recorded his firstdouble-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds againstSt. John's on February 24, 2008. A fan favorite at Duke, he was often showered with chants of "Zooooouuu" from theCameron Crazies after grabbing a rebound or scoring.[7]
The team's rebounding and defense improved with him in the lineup in 2009–10.[8] In February 2010, he had a career-high 17 rebounds in his first career start againstMaryland, cementing his spot in the starting lineup.[9] He was a key supporting player of the team, and was 7th in the ACC with 7.7 rebounds per game (and 2nd on the offensive boards, with 3.5 rebounds per game).[10][11] Per 40 minutes of play, he averaged 16.8 rebounds.[12] Zoubek led the NCAA in pace-adjusted offensive rebounding at 7.8 per 40 minutes for the season and is second in this category for the past decade - onlyDeJuan Blair ofPittsburgh has put up better numbers.[13] He ended his career 4th on Duke's all-time list in offensive rebounds (276), and in his senior year set the school's single-season record of 145.[14][15] He was also named to the All-ACC academic team.[16]
Explaining his resurgence after suffering through foot injuries his sophomore and junior years, he said:
It's a process. A lot of days in the gym, a lot of sweat, a lot of hatred toward [assistant coachSteve Wojciechowski] for all the stuff he put me through [laughing]. But it was all worth it. It's hard to see the future in all the work you put in. How's it going to help you, and is it worth it? It is. This really proves that.[17]
TeammateJon Scheyer said: "He's a player you love to play with and you hate to play against. He's just really physical. He's such a big body. Even if he doesn't mean to, you run into him. And you really feel it."[18]
Freshman
Games: 32, PPG: 3.1, RPG: 2.2, APG: 0.2, FG%: 52.4%
Sophomore
Games: 25, PPG: 3.8, RPG: 3.8, APG: 0.5, FG%: 59.4%
Junior
Games: 36, PPG: 4.1, RPG: 3.7, APG: 0.4, FG%: 57.5%
Senior
Games: 40, PPG: 5.6, RPG: 7.7, APG: 1.0, FG%: 63.8%
Brian Zoubek went undrafted in the2010 NBA draft along with teammateJon Scheyer.
On July 1, 2010, Zoubek was signed by theNew Jersey Nets to a contract.[19] He was later waived on October 22, 2010.[20]
After working with a technology start-up for a year, Zoubek decided to follow his own dreams and open his own bakery, named Dream Puffz, which specializes in cream puffs.[21] Dream Puffz opened in Haddonfield, New Jersey on July 30, 2012. However, Zoubek shut down Dream Puffz on February 16, 2013 to pursue real estate opportunities. Zoubek said he is in negotiations to sell the rights to the Dream Puffz name.[22]