Gerry Besselink

Gerardus John Besselink (born September 1, 1963)[1] is a Canadian former professional basketball player.

Career

A native of Kingston, Ontario, Besselink played at Regiopolis-Notre Dame Catholic High School and Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute. He enrolled at the University of Connecticut in 1983.[2] He played for the UConn Huskies men's basketball team from 1984 to 1987.[3] After 112 career games played, the 6'9'' (204 cm) center posted career game averages of 5.2 points and 5.7 rebounds.[4] He did not miss any game while at UConn.[2] In his senior season, Besselink posted career-highs 10.3 points and 10.7 rebounds per game.[4] In 1986, Besselink earned a spot on the Canadian Men’s National Team and participated in the World Championship in Spain.[1][5]

In the professional ranks, Besselink played eight games for De Boo DAS Delft in the Netherlands in the 1987-88 season, averaging 15.6 points per contest.[6] He returned to the US to finish his university degree in Special Education/Rehabilitation, before continuing his professional career, which he mostly spent in Finland (1989-90 and 1992-93 at FoKoPo, 1990-91 at HNMKY, 1995-96 at Korihait, 1996-97 at New Wave Helsinki, 2002-03 at Rekolan Urheilijat, 2004-05 at Visa Basket).[7]

He also had stints in New Zealand,[2] Luxembourg (1991-92),[8] at Jämtland Basket in Sweden (1993-1995),[9] at Astra Basket in Sweden (1997-98),[1] and at German 2. Bundesliga side TSV Tröster Breitengüßbach (parts of the 1995-96 season).[10] At Jämtland Basket, Besselink formed a duo with American Bo Heiden, which was later considered as one of the best duos in team history.[11] Besselink won MVP honors in the Swedish league in 1994.[12] While in Sweden, he also participated in the European competition FIBA Korać Cup.[13]

After the conclusion of his basketball career, Besselink stayed in Finland, where he had met his wife, who was a member of Finland’s Women’s Basketball National Team and played at Saint Mary’s College. Their children Maria, Max, Michael became basketball players. Besselink worked as a teacher and basketball coach in Finland.[2]

He was inducted into the Kingston & District Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.[14]

Further reading

References
  1. "Gerardus John Besselink". FIBA Europe. Retrieved 2021-05-30.
  2. "Gerry Besselink". UConn Hoop Legends. Retrieved 2021-05-30.
  3. "Where Huskies Have Landed". Hartford Courant at Newspapers.com. 16 July 2006. Retrieved 2021-11-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. "2020-21 UConn Men's Basketball / History" (PDF). University of Connecticut. Retrieved 2021-05-30.
  5. "Besselink Selected for Canadian Team". Hartford Courant at Newspapers.com. 20 Jun 1986. p. 87. Retrieved 2021-11-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. "Gerry Besselink Basketbal statistieken Spelers Dossier - NBB Database, basketball statistieken". db.basketball.nl. Retrieved 2021-05-30.
  7. "Gerry Besselink". Suomen Koripalloliitto ry. Retrieved 2021-05-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. "Lethbridge Herald Newspaper Archives, Apr 18, 1992, p. 10". NewspaperArchive.com. 1992-04-18. Retrieved 2021-05-30.
  9. "Topplistor | Jämtland Basket". www.jamtlandbasket.se. Retrieved 2021-05-30.
  10. "Saison 1995/1996". USC Heidelberg (in German). Retrieved 2021-05-30.
  11. Ersson, Hans (2015-10-05). "Han är bästa proffset någonsin i Jämtland". op.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 2021-05-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. "Utmärkelser. ÅRETS SPELARE/MVP". basketsverige.se. Retrieved 2021-05-31.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. "Gerardus John Besselink | Korac Cup (1998) | FIBA Europe". www.fibaeurope.com. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
  14. "Gerry Besselink". Kingston & District Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2021-05-30.
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