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United States Zach Hankins has distinguished himself as a decorated basketball player, transitioning from collegiate success to a professional career marked by international achievements and league MVP honors.
The Birmingham Squadron, NBA G League affiliate of the New Orleans Pelicans, announced today that the team has acquired center Zach Hankins.
Zach Hankins, born on July 27, 1996, in Charlevoix, Michigan, began his basketball journey early, demonstrating talent at Charlevoix High School where he averaged 12 points and 8 rebounds as a junior, shooting 71 percent from the field. His early career was challenged by injuries, including a broken foot during his senior year, which limited his play. Despite these setbacks, Hankins committed to Ferris State for college basketball, redshirting his first year before making a significant impact. At Ferris State, Hankins progressed from averaging 4.8 points as a freshman to becoming a dominant force, leading the nation in blocked shots in multiple seasons and achieving widespread recognition.
Hankins’ collegiate career at Ferris State culminated in an NCAA Division II National Championship in 2018, where he was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. He also earned the NABC Division II National Player of the Year award in 2018. Following his successful tenure at Ferris State, Hankins transferred to Xavier University for his final collegiate season (2018-19) as a graduate student. At Xavier, he led the BIG EAST Conference in field goal percentage at 68.6 percent, setting a new single-season school record, and was second in blocked shots, further solidifying his reputation as a formidable interior player with 10.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.
Professionally, Hankins embarked on an international career after going undrafted in the 2019 NBA draft. He has played for various teams across different leagues, including ČEZ Nymburk in the Czech Republic, Maccabi Rishon LeZion in the Israeli Basketball Premier League, and Mets de Guaynabo in the BSN. Notably, he signed with the Birmingham Squadron of the NBA G League in 2021. His career highlights include being named the Israeli League MVP in 2023, winning the Israeli State Cup in 2023 with Hapoel Jerusalem, and earning recognition on the All-Champions League First Team in 2023. Currently, Hankins plays for Coviran Granada in the Liga ACB, continuing to demonstrate his skill and impact at a high level of professional basketball.
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