| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | (1960-11-26)November 26, 1960 (age 64) Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada | |||||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) | |||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 245 lb (111 kg) | |||||||||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||||||||
| High school | Parkland (Sidney, British Columbia) | |||||||||||||||||
| College |
| |||||||||||||||||
| NBA draft | 1984: 2nd round, 43rd overall pick | |||||||||||||||||
| Selected by theChicago Bulls | ||||||||||||||||||
| Playing career | 1984–1997 | |||||||||||||||||
| Position | Centre | |||||||||||||||||
| Number | 14 | |||||||||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1984–1985 | Basket Brescia (Italy) | |||||||||||||||||
| 1985–1986 | FC Barcelona (Spain) | |||||||||||||||||
| 1986–1987 | Cajamadrid (Spain) | |||||||||||||||||
| 1987–1989 | Aris Thessaloniki (Greece) | |||||||||||||||||
| 1989–1992 | Omaha Racers (CBA) | |||||||||||||||||
| 1992-1993 | Peñas Huesca (Spain) | |||||||||||||||||
| 1992-1993 | Oklahoma City Calvary (CBA) | |||||||||||||||||
| 1993-1994 | Atlético Echagüe (Argentina) | |||||||||||||||||
| 1993-1994 | Quad City Thunder | |||||||||||||||||
| 1994–1995 | Tours Joué Basket (France) | |||||||||||||||||
| 1996-1997 | Guialmi Estrelas (Portugal) | |||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Stats atBasketball Reference  | ||||||||||||||||||
Medals
| ||||||||||||||||||
Gregory Hilko Wiltjer (born November 26, 1960) is a Canadian former professionalbasketball player,Olympian,NJCAA All-American andCIAU All-Canadian. He was drafted 43rd overall in the1984 NBA draft by theChicago Bulls.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] He spent 12 seasons playing professionally in Europe where he won theFIBA European Cup Winners' Cup withFC Barcelona (1985–86); and two Greek League Championships and two Greek Cups (1988, 1989) withAris Thessaloniki.[1][2][7]
He played for theCanada men's national basketball team in multiple international tournaments, including the 1984 Olympics where Wiltjer finished 2nd overall in rebounding[1][2][7] and Canada finished 4th overall in the tournament;[7][8] in the 1983World Student Games where Canada won gold;[7][8] in the 1985 World Student Games where Canada won bronze;[7] and in threeFIBA World Championships.[1][2][7][9]
He was named a NJCAA All-American while playing forNorth Idaho College[3] and a CIAU All-Canadian while playing for theUniversity of Victoria.[4][10]
Wiltjer was selected in the second round (43rd overall) in the 1983 NBA Draft.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] He later played 12 seasons professionally in Europe.[2][3][6] While playing for the Spanish Club FC Barcelona in the 1985–86 season, he won the FIBA European Cup Winners’ Cup.[1][2][3][7] While playing for the Greek Club Aris Thessaloniki, he won two Greek League championships and two Greek Cups in 1988 and 1989.[1][2][3][7] In the 1993–94 season, Wiltjer played for theCBA teamQuad City Thunder,[4] who won the CBA championship that year.[11]
Wiltjer represented Canada in many international tournaments, including the 1984 Olympics.[1][2][7][9] Wiltjer played well in these '84 Olympics, finishing second overall among all Olympians in rebounding that year.[1][2][9] These 1984 Olympics were notable because Canada finished 4th overall, narrowly missing a medal.[8][12][13] This 1984 bronze-medal game constituted the only time in 80+ years where Canada had a legitimate chance of winning an Olympic medal in basketball.[8] This bronze medal game was highly competitive, being tied 18 times with 12 lead changes, with Canada being within one point with less than a minute of play remaining.[8] Wiltjer "had a phenomenal game" in this important moment in Canadian basketball history, scoring 12 points and grabbing 8 rebounds.[8]
Wiltjer represented Canada in the 1983 and 1985 World Student Games.[7] In the 1983 World Student Games, Canada won the gold medal.[7][13][14][15] This constituted one of the finest moments in Canadian basketball history, being the only time in which Canada has won the gold medal in an international basketball tournament.[16] In the semifinals of this tournament, Canada defeated a talented US team led by future NBA legends Charles Barkley and Karl Malone.[13][14][15] In the 1985 World Student Games, Canada won the bronze medal.[2][7][13]
Wiltjer also represented Canada in three FIBA World Championships (1982, 1986, 1994)[1][2][7][9] where notably, Canada finished 6th in 1982.[12][17]
Wiltjer attendedParkland Secondary School for high school, where in 1979, he led the team to Island championship and the semifinals of the BC high school championship.[7]
Witljer then played two seasons for Northern Idaho College (1979 - 1981).[4][5][6] Prior to 2009, he was NIC's only first-team NJCAA basketball All-American.[3] He led NIC to the most wins in school history in 1980 and a 10th place national finish.[3] He still ranks fourth in NIC career rebounding and field goal percentage.[3]
The next season Wiltjer transferred toOregon State University,[1][5][6][7] with the Beavers reaching theNCAAElite Eight that season.[3]
Wiltjer then transferred to the University of Victoria and after a mandatory year of non-play due to the transfer, he helped UVic win their fifth consecutive national championship in the 1983–84 season.[1][2][3][7] During this season, he was named a First Team All-Canadian, the CIAU Championship MVP and Canada West First Team All-Star.[4][10] He averaged over 20 points and 11 rebounds per game[4] and helped UVic go undefeated that season.[7]
Wiltjer was inducted into the Canada Basketball Hall of Fame (2023),[1] the Basketball BC Hall of Fame (2009)[2] and the Northern Idaho College Sports Hall of Fame (2009).[3]
Wiltjer was born on November 26, 1960, inWhitehorse,Yukon, Canada.[5] Wiltjer's son,Kyle Wiltjer, played basketball forKentucky,[4]Gonzaga,[4] theHouston Rockets[18] and as of 2023, plays professionally in Italy.[19] Greg Wilter's daughter,Jordan Adams played basketball forNew Mexico and theMinnesota Lynx.[4]
