| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1980-07-01)July 1, 1980 (age 45) |
| Nationality | Puerto Rican |
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Listed weight | 190 lb (86 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | North Bergen (North Bergen, New Jersey) |
| College | Hofstra (1999–2003) |
| NBA draft | 2003:undrafted |
| Playing career | 2000–2015 |
| Position | Shooting guard /small forward |
| Career history | |
| 2000 | Bayamón Cowboys |
| 2002 | Arecibo Captains |
| 2003 | Westchester Wildfire |
| 2003 | Arecibo Captains |
| 2003–2004 | Huntsville Flight |
| 2004 | Arecibo Captains |
| 2005 | San German Athletics |
| 2005–2006 | Polpak Swiecie |
| 2006 | San German Athletics |
| 2006–2007 | Scafati Basket |
| 2007–2008 | Beşiktaş Cola Turka |
| 2008 | Santurce Crabbers |
| 2008 | Yunnan |
| 2008 | Basket Club Ferrara |
| 2013 | Leones de Ponce |
| 2014 | Caciques de Humacao |
| 2014 | Indios de Mayagüez |
| 2015 | Mets de Guaynabo |
| Career highlights | |
| |
Rick Apodaca (born July 1, 1980) is a Puerto Rican former professionalbasketball player. Apodaca has played in theNCAA,USBL,NBDL, and theNational Superior Basketball League of Puerto Rico (BSN) with theArecibo Captains,Bayamón Cowboys,San German Athletics andLeones de Ponce.[1] He also played professional basketball in Poland, Italy and Turkey. Apodaca was a member of the seniorPuerto Rican National Basketball Team that defeated the United States at the2004 Summer Olympic Games.
Apodaca, is a native ofNorth Bergen, New Jersey,[2] where he attendedNorth Bergen High School.[3][4] Apodaca was the all-time leader in points scored in Hudson County high school basketball history, surpassing a thirty-five plus year record held by current Fox college basketball analystBill Raftery, in 1999. He was also inducted into the Hudson County Sports Hall of Fame.
Apodaca debuted in theNational Collegiate Athletic Association as a member ofHofstra's basketball team in 1999, and he was an All-America East Rookie selection. He led the team in scoring during his junior year with an average of 17.7 points per game, and was an AllColonial Athletic Association second team selection. During his senior season, Apodaca was selected to the All Colonial Athletic Association first team during the tournament's preseason, but was unable to play during the first fourteen games of the 2005 season.
In the 2005 off-season, the Arecibo Captains traded Apodaca to theSan Germán Athletics forLarry Ayuso. He also played with theHuntsville Flight in theNBDL. Apodaca was a part ofPolpak Swiecie, in the 2005–06 season of thePolish League. During the 2006–07 season, Apodaca played withScafati Basket, in theLBA, inItaly. During that time, he was selected to play inthe league's All-Star Game, and he finished fourth in the league in scoring, with an average of 19.7 points per game.[5]
Apodaca also played with the Turkish clubBeşiktaş Cola Turka, in that country'snational league championship, and in theEuroCup. He played with theSanturce Crabbers, in the semifinals of the 2008National Superior Basketball season.
Apodaca was a member of the seniorPuerto Rican National Basketball Team starting in 2002. He played at the2002 FIBA World Championship, in Indianapolis in, and at the2003 Pan American Games, in which Puerto Rico won the bronze medal. He also played at the2004 Summer Olympics, and in a game where Puerto Rico defeated theUnited States. During that game, he suffered an injury that left him unable to compete in the rest of the tournament. Apodaca also competed with Puerto Rico at the2006 FIBA World Championship, in Japan.
In June 2008, the national team's management announced that Apodaca did not have a guaranteed spot on the roster. After that, Apodaca notified them on June 15, 2008, that he needed time to attend to some personal issues, and to take time off to ponder about his national team future.[6]
Bronze Bronze BronzeApodaca'sNBA Development League stats, in 25 games played, were: 7 games started, 267 points scored (10.7 points per game), 42 assists (1.7 assists per game), 37 rebounds (1.5 rebounds per game), 19 steals (0.7 steals per game), 5 blocks (0.1 blocks per game), a .412% field goal percentage, a .390% three-point percentage, and an .849% free-throw percentage.
