// Workers AI · dad joke modeWho's John DeGroat? A root for the cause.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 7, 1985 Albany, New York, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
| Listed weight | 220 lb (100 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Monticello (Monticello, New York) |
| College |
|
| NBA draft | 2006: undrafted |
| Playing career | 2006–2017 |
| Position | Forward |
| Coaching career | 2021–present |
| Career history | |
Playing | |
| 2006 | Killester |
| 2006 | Korihait |
| 2006–2007 | Dombovar |
| 2007–2008 | Pittsburgh Xplosion |
| 2008–2009 | Budivelnyk |
| 2009–2011 | Odesa |
| 2011 | Club La Unión |
| 2011–2012 | Olímpico |
| 2012–2014 | Boca Juniors |
| 2014 | Fuerza Regia de Monterrey |
| 2014–2016 | San Martín de Corrientes |
| 2016–2017 | Instituto ACC |
Coaching | |
| 2021–2022 | IUP (assistant) |
| 2022–present | South Kent School (assistant) |
| Career highlights | |
| |
John Franklin DeGroat (born January 7, 1985) is an American basketball coach and former professional player. He played college basketball for the Northeastern JC Plainsmen and Pittsburgh Panthers. DeGroat was a Continental Basketball Association (CBA) All-Star and All-CBA Second Team selection as a member of the Pittsburgh Xplosion in 2008. He also played in Ireland, Finland, Hungary, Italy, Ukraine and Argentina. DeGroat has been an assistant basketball coach at South Kent School since 2022.
Early life
[edit]DeGroat was born on January 7, 1985, in Albany, New York.[1] His mother, Valancy DeGroat, was too young to raise him while his father, Leon Gayle, did not know he existed until he was a teenager; he has 15 siblings through his parents.[2] DeGroat lived with his great aunt and was raised in Newburgh.[2] He was rebellious as a child which he attributed to not being around his birth parents.[2] DeGroat's behavior led to him being placed in a group home for wayward youths in Yonkers.[2] He was adopted by Thomas and Deborah Mack of Monticello when he was aged 12.[2] His adopted sister, Katina Mack, played college basketball for the Penn State Lady Lions.[2]
DeGroat played organized basketball for the first time during the ninth grade at Monticello High School.[2] He averaged 24.5 points and 13.5 rebounds per game as a senior.[2]
College career
[edit]DeGroat started his college basketball career at Northeastern Junior College.[2] He committed to play for the Pittsburgh Panthers in 2003.[3] DeGroat played sparingly during his first season at Pittsburgh in 2004–05.[4] He averaged 2.9 points in 10.7 minutes per game as a senior during the 2005–06 season.[5]
Professional career
[edit]DeGroat split his rookie professional season on teams in Ireland, Finland and Hungary.[5] He returned to Pittsburgh in 2007 to play for the Pittsburgh Xplosion of the Continental Basketball Association (CBA).[5] DeGroat averaged 18.2 points and 8 rebounds.[4] He was selected as a CBA All-Star and named to the All-CBA Second Team.[4]
DeGroat also played professionally in Italy, Ukraine and Uruguay.[6] He spent the last five seasons of his playing career in Argentina.[6]
Coaching career
[edit]DeGroat was an assistant coach for the IUP Crimson Hawks during the 2021–22 season.[7] He joined South Kent School as the assistant prep basketball coach and head development team coach in 2022.[7]
References
[edit]- ↑ "John DeGroat". University of Pittsburgh. Retrieved September 11, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Fittipaldo, Ray (December 25, 2005). "Panthers' DeGroat makes transition from hard times to hardwood". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved September 11, 2026.
- ↑ Fittipaldo, Ray (October 9, 2003). "Pitt lands another '04 recruit". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 44. Retrieved September 11, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 3 Rodriguez, Justin (May 23, 2008). "DeGroat eyes shot to play in the NBA". Times Herald-Record. Retrieved September 11, 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Former Pitt hoops player DeGroat shines". Pitt News. April 2, 2008. Retrieved September 11, 2026.
- 1 2 Interdonato, Sal (August 5, 2017). "DeGroat an all-world baller". Times Herald-Record. Retrieved September 11, 2026.
- 1 2 Johnson, T (February 21, 2024). "John DeGroat, Head Development Basketball Coach, Assistant Prep Basketball Coach". South Kent School. Retrieved September 11, 2026.
External links
[edit]- John DeGroat at Proballers
- John DeGroat minor league basketball statistics at Stats Crew
- John DeGroat college stats at Sports Reference
- Pittsburgh Panthers bio
- 1985 births
- Living people
- 21st-century American sportsmen
- American adoptees
- American expatriate basketball people in Argentina
- American expatriate basketball people in Finland
- American expatriate basketball people in Hungary
- American expatriate basketball people in Ireland
- American expatriate basketball people in Italy
- American expatriate basketball people in Mexico
- American expatriate basketball people in Ukraine
- American men's basketball coaches
- American men's basketball players
- Basketball players from Albany, New York
- BC Budivelnyk players
- BC Odesa players
- Boca Juniors basketball players
- Ciclista Olímpico players
- Forwards (basketball)
- Fuerza Regia de Monterrey players
- High school basketball coaches in Connecticut
- Instituto ACC basketball players
- Korihait players
- Monticello High School (New York) alumni
- Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball players