Joey Haywood

Joel "Joey" Haywood[1] (born September 3, 1984) is a Trinidadian-Canadian professional basketball player for the Halifax Hurricanes of the National Basketball League of Canada (NBL). Due to his reputation as a streetball player and his ball-handling expertise, he is often nicknamed "King Handles".[2][3]

Joey Haywood
Haywood drives to the basket in 2015
Personal information
Born (1984-09-03) September 3, 1984
Vancouver, British Columbia
NationalityTrinidadian / Canadian
Listed height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight170 lb (77 kg)
Career information
High schoolMagee (Vancouver, British Columbia)
College
NBA draft2011 / Undrafted
Playing career2011–present
PositionPoint guard
Career history
2011–2013Halifax Rainmen
2013–2014Aalborg Vikings
2014Grindavíkur
2014–2015Halifax Rainmen
2016–2018Halifax Hurricanes
Career highlights and awards

Early life

Haywood was born on September 3, 1984 in Vancouver, British Columbia. His family—which included his father Zephryn and older brother Gary—moved from Trinidad and Tobago to the city of Burnaby in British Columbia in Canada. Gary, who regularly played basketball, would often take his younger sibling with him when he played. At age 7, Joey chose to stick with the sport instead of playing soccer, his father's favorite sport. He said, "In soccer, there's too many people on the field, and you don't get your time to shine."[4]

In the area Haywood was brought up, he practiced playing in the same park that future Simon Fraser University star Jordan Mason would practice in.[5] Haywood's ball-handling skills helped him get noticed by former Harlem Globetrotters member Mel Davis, with whom he would begin taking lessons. He eventually joined the Kits Youth Basketball League, a competition for young players from ages 13 to 16. His performance there helped him get chosen to play a role in the film Air Bud.[4]

High school career

Haywood attended Magee Secondary School in his hometown of Vancouver, following his friends there. Instantly, he became a star on the school's basketball team and was considered the top player in every grade. At around this time, Haywood tried out for the British Columbia provincial under-16 team and was one of the top 20 players on its roster. However, his style of play made him a less appealing player. In his senior year, Magee failed to make the provincials round, but Haywood managed to score 38 points in a loss to Kitsilano Secondary School, the reigning AAA Provincial Champions, in what is sometimes considered one of his best performances at the high school level.[4]

College career

Following graduation from high school, Haywood was approached by local college basketball programs such as those in Capilano and Langara College, but decided to join the latter school. Upon joining Langara Falcons basketball team, however, he mainly played as the substitute guard and saw limited minutes on the court. He left the Falcons after only one 4-month term.[4]

Haywood transferred to Saint Mary's to play with the Huskies in 2008.[6]

Professional career

Standing 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) and weighing 170 lbs (77 kg), he generally plays the point guard position.[7] Haywood has appeared in multiple NBL Canada Finals throughout his playing career, and is a two-time All-Star in the league. He has been named to the NBL All-Defence team, All-Canada team, and won the Canadian of the Year Award in both 2012 and 2013. Haywood has experience playing overseas, primarily in the Basketligaen in Denmark, where he finished the 2014 season as its leading scorer, an All-Star, and a strong candidate for Most Valuable Player.[8]

Joey was drafted by Kevin Durant to play in Nike's 2014 Summer is Serious tournament.

International career

Haywood played for the Trinidad and Tobago national basketball team at the 2010 Centrobasket. He recorded personal bests of 13 points and 7 rebounds against Cuba. He finished the competition averaging 7.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.[9]

Acting career

Haywood participated in the Kits Youth Basketball League in Kitsilano, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in his early teenage years. With help from former Harlem Globetrotters member Mel Davis, he managed to land a role in the 1997 family comedy film Air Bud, in which he played on main character Josh Framm's team, the Timberwolves. Framm was played by actor Kevin Zegers.[4] In 2006, Haywood appeared in the direct-to-video film Like Mike 2: Streetball, playing a streetball player named Cavity. He would be teased by his teammates with the Halifax Rainmen due to his line, "I'm Cavity. Because I'm so sweet, baby."[3] Later in the year, he acted as a gang member for an action film directed by Jean-Claude Van Damme, The Hard Corps. He originally appeared in one scene, but it was cut from the movie. However, his name remained in the closing credits.

Haywood traveled out of Vancouver in 2011 to act in The Saints of Mt. Christopher, in which he played Delroy Links, a sophomore college basketball star that dies during a pivotal game.[3] Rainmen owner Andre Levingston commented on Haywood's acting career, "I think it's fantastic that he's had the opportunity to play in a movie."[3] Joey has previously considered pursuing a career in acting after retiring from basketball.[3]

Films
YearProductionCharacterDirector
2011The Saints of Mt. ChristopherDelroy LinksShane Dean
2006The Hard CorpsGang memberJean-Claude Van Damme
2006Like Mike 2: StreetballCavityDavid Nelson
1997Air BudTimberwolves playerCharles Martin Smith
gollark: 5 seconds or so but please just include appropriate yields.
gollark: Why the ping?
gollark: Hello!
gollark: Initiating orbital anti-lawn strike.
gollark: It's *slightly* horrible abuse of that but oh well

References
  1. "Joel Haywood profile". FIBA. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  2. Freeman, Brian. "All-stars put on a show". The Chronicle Herald. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  3. Freeman, Brian. "Rainmen's Haywood: Hoopster meets Hollywood". The Chronicle Herald. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  4. Ellis, C. Y. "Joel Haywood AKA King Handles". HoopsVibe.com. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  5. "2001-02 Canada West Men's Basketball Simon Fraser". CanadaWest.org. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  6. Hayes, Barry. "CIS Recruiting Classes Update". HoopStarsCanada.com. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  7. "Joey Haywood Profile". USBasket.com. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  8. Slan, Matt. "Joey Haywood Signs First European Contract In Denmark". SlanSportsManagement.com. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  9. "Joel Haywood". FIBA. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
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