Tyler Honeycutt

Summary

Tyler Deon Honeycutt (July 15, 1990 – July 7, 2018) was an American professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins, where he earned first-team all-conference honors in the Pac-10 (known now as the Pac-12) as a sophomore in 2011.

Tyler Honeycutt
Honeycutt at UCLA in 2011
Personal information
Born(1990-07-15)July 15, 1990
Sylmar, California, U.S.
DiedJuly 7, 2018(2018-07-07) (aged 27)
Sherman Oaks, California, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High schoolSylmar (Sylmar, California)
CollegeUCLA (2009–2011)
NBA draft2011: 2nd round, 35th overall pick
Selected by the Sacramento Kings
Playing career2011–2018
PositionSmall forward
Number3, 9, 10, 2
Career history
20112013Sacramento Kings
2012Reno Bighorns
2013Rio Grande Valley Vipers
2013–2014Ironi Nes Ziona
2014–2016Khimki
2016–2017Anadolu Efes
2017–2018Khimki
Career highlights and awards
Stats Edit this at Wikidata at NBA.com
Stats Edit this at Wikidata at Basketball-Reference.com

Honeycutt was selected by the Sacramento Kings in the second round of the 2011 NBA draft. He played with the Kings for two seasons and in 2013 moved to Europe, where he played for EuroLeague clubs Khimki and Anadolu Efes. He committed suicide at age 27 following a shootout with police.

High school career edit

Honeycutt attended Sylmar High School in Sylmar, California. Considered a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, Honeycutt was listed as the No. 4 small forward and the No. 28 player in the nation in 2009.[1][2]

College career edit

 
Honeycutt (front right) in a game against Arizona in 2011

In his freshman year at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 2009–10, Honeycutt played in the final 26 games, starting 18, and led the team in rebounding at 6.5 per game. He was named to the Pac-10 All-Freshman team.[1] In the following season, he was named the team's co-MVP (with Malcolm Lee and Reeves Nelson) and first-team All-Pac-10 after averaging 12.8 points per game and leading the conference in blocks with 2.1 per game.[3] He declared for the NBA draft after the season.[4] Honeycutt was projected as a late lottery pick to mid-first-round pick in the 2011 NBA draft but concerns over inconsistency and less-than-maximum effort dropped him to the second round. The Sacramento Kings took him with the 35th overall pick.[5]

Professional career edit

Sacramento Kings (2011–2013) edit

Honeycutt was drafted in the second round with the 35th overall pick by the Sacramento Kings in the 2011 NBA draft.[6] He played in his first NBA game on December 31, 2011, and scored two points in four minutes.[7] On January 1, 2012, Honeycutt was assigned to the Reno Bighorns of the NBA D-League.[8] The Kings recalled him on January 24.[9]

During the 2012–13 season, Honeycutt was reassigned to the Bighorns on November 7 and recalled by the Kings on December 17.[10][11]

Rio Grande Valley Vipers (2013) edit

On February 20, 2013, Honeycutt was traded to the Houston Rockets along with Thomas Robinson and Francisco García in exchange for Patrick Patterson, Toney Douglas and Cole Aldrich.[12] In two seasons with Sacramento, he played only 24 games with the Kings because of injuries and D-League assignments.[13]

On February 24, Houston assigned him to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the D-League.[14] He was waived by the Rockets on March 5, so they could sign guard Aaron Brooks.[15] Afterwards, he rejoined the Vipers.[16]

Ironi Nes Ziona (2013–2014) edit

In August 2013, Honeycutt signed with Ironi Nes Ziona, who had recently gained promotion to the Israeli Super League.[17]

Khimki (2014–2016) edit

On July 8, 2014, he signed a two-year deal with the Russian team Khimki.[18] In 2014–15 season, he won the Eurocup championship with Khimki, Europe's second-tier competition.[13] In 2015–16 Euroleague, he made his debut in Europe's top competition. Over 23 EuroLeague games, he averaged 6 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.[19]

Anadolu Efes (2016–2017) edit

On July 22, 2016, Honeycutt signed a 1+1 deal with Turkish club Anadolu Efes,[19] where he won the Turkish Basketball Super League Slam Dunk Contest.[13] Over 35 EuroLeague games, he averaged career highs of 9.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2 assists per game. On June 28, 2017, Efes officially opted out of their deal with Honeycutt, and he became a free agent.[20]

Return to Khimki (2017–2018) edit

On July 14, 2017, Honeycutt returned to Moscow-based Khimki. He signed a contract for the 2017–18 season.[21] After missing the first nine games of the EuroLeague season due to injury, he returned to the court in late November 2017.[22][23] He helped Khimki advance to the EuroLeague Playoffs, where they lost to CSKA Moscow 3–1 in the quarterfinal series.[24] Over 17 EuroLeague games, he averaged 9.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.[23] In VTB United League, Khimki lost the final game to CSKA Moscow, 95–84.[25]

Death edit

On the afternoon of July 6, 2018, Honeycutt's mother called 911 after he had been acting erratically. She said that he had been using nitrous oxide "for six months overseas and I think it scrambled his brain."[26][27] When police arrived they found that he had barricaded the entrance to his Sherman Oaks home.[28][29] He fired a shot that hit a wall next to an officer, who fired back at Honeycutt.[26] After nine hours, LAPD SWAT entered the home early the next morning, and found Honeycutt dead.[30]

Bort Escoto, who coached Honeycutt for four years at Sylmar High School, said that "he was a great kid to be around. But he was having some problems", because in Russia he did not know the language and the surroundings, concluding that "he was basically having a hard time with the adjustment. I just kept telling him he needed to get out and meet people".[29] An autopsy determined that he committed suicide by a gunshot wound to the head.[31]

Honeycutt's mother later sued the LAPD, saying it failed to de-escalate the situation and get him medical care.[32]

Career statistics edit

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  PIR  Performance Index Rating
 Bold  Career high

NBA edit

Regular season edit

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2011–12 Sacramento 15 0 5.9 .333 .333 .600 .9 .5 .3 .2 1.3
2012–13 Sacramento 9 0 3.6 .273 .000 1.000 1.1 .2 .0 .1 .9
Career 24 0 5.0 .314 .200 .714 1.0 .4 .2 .2 1.2

EuroLeague edit

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG PIR
2015–16 Khimki 23 17 19.6 .520 .359 .636 6.1 1.1 .8 1.0 6.0 11.1
2016–17 Anadolu Efes 35 1 24.5 .401 .303 .680 7.3 2.0 1.1 .9 9.2 13.8
2017–18 Khimki 17 0 21.2 .474 .491 .870 5.4 1.8 1.1 .7 9.2 12.8
Career 75 18 22.3 .443 .363 .699 6.5 1.0 1.7 .9 8.2 12.7

College edit

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2009–10 UCLA 26 18 27.7 .496 .345 .600 6.5 2.7 1.5 1.2 7.2
2010–11 UCLA 33 33 35.0 .406 .362 .736 7.2 2.8 .9 2.0 12.8
Career 59 51 31.7 .431 .359 .684 6.9 2.8 1.2 1.7 10.2

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Player Bio: Tyler Honeycutt". uclabruins.com. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  2. ^ "Rivals.com". sports.yahoo.com.[dead link]
  3. ^ Maya, Adam (April 12, 2011). "UCLA basketball: Lee, Honeycutt, Nelson MVPs". Orange County Register. Archived from the original on March 23, 2012. Retrieved December 4, 2012.
  4. ^ Brennan, Eamonn (April 25, 2011). "Final exam: Grading the goners". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on April 27, 2011.
  5. ^ Bolch, Ben (August 15, 2018). "Two former UCLA basketball stars die tragically, leaving questions behind". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  6. ^ Maya, Adam (June 24, 2011). "What were UCLA's Honeycutt, Lee thinking?". The Orange County Register. Archived from the original on October 21, 2017.
  7. ^ Ham, James (December 31, 2011). "Notebook: Knicks 114, Kings 92". NBA.com. Archived from the original on January 4, 2012.
  8. ^ "SACRAMENTO KINGS ASSIGN HONEYCUTT, WHITESIDE TO BIGHORNS". NBA.com. Archived from the original on August 1, 2015. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
  9. ^ "Kings recall Tyler Honeycutt from D-league". Associated Press. January 24, 2012. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012.
  10. ^ "Sacramento Kings Send Tyler Honeycutt To NBA D-League Affiliate Reno Bighorns In Year's First Assignment". NBA.com.
  11. ^ Whedbee, Alexander (December 17, 2012). "Kings Recall Honeycutt From Reno". NBA.com. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  12. ^ Shanks, Chad (February 20, 2013). "Rockets Acquire Robinson, Garcia and Honeycutt". NBA.com. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  13. ^ a b c Jones, Jason (July 7, 2018). "Tyler Honeycutt's career: Drafted by Kings, a dunk champ in Turkey, and a EuroCup title". The Sacramento Bee.
  14. ^ "Houston Rockets Assign Tyler Honeycutt to NBA D-League Affiliate Rio Grande Valley Vipers". NBA.com. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
  15. ^ Suarez, P. (March 5, 2013). "He's Back - Rockets Sign Free Agent Aaron Brooks". NBA.com. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  16. ^ "2012-13 Transactions". NBA.com. Archived from the original on November 1, 2011. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
  17. ^ "Ironi Nes Ziona announced Tyler Honeycutt and Mitchell Watt". Sportando.net. August 18, 2013. Archived from the original on October 6, 2013. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  18. ^ "Khimki lands Honeycutt". Eurocupbasketball.com. July 8, 2014. Archived from the original on July 13, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  19. ^ a b "Anadolu Efes lands athletic forward Honeycutt". Euroleague.net. July 22, 2016. Archived from the original on July 23, 2016. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  20. ^ "Anadolu Efes Istanbul part ways with Tyler Honeycutt and DeShaun Thomas". Sportando.com. June 28, 2017. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  21. ^ "WELCOME BACK, TYLER!". en.bckhimki.ru. July 14, 2017. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  22. ^ Gancedo, Javier (February 6, 2018). "Tyler Honeycutt, Khimki: 'We still have to see our full potential'". Euroleague.net. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  23. ^ a b "Tyler Honeycutt International Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  24. ^ "Higgins sends CSKA Moscow back to the Final Four". Eurohoops.net. April 27, 2018. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  25. ^ "Domestic leagues roundup: June 10, 2018". EuroleagueBasketball.net. June 10, 2018. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  26. ^ a b Bolch, Ben (August 21, 2018). "Tyler Honeycutt's mother told police the late UCLA basketball star was 'sucking laughing gas'". Los Angeles Times.
  27. ^ "Former UCLA star and NBA Player Tyler Honeycutt found dead following shootout with police". Yahoo! Sports. July 7, 2018. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
  28. ^ "Tyler Honeycutt kills himself after exchanging gunfire with police". ESPN. July 7, 2018. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  29. ^ a b Khan, Amina; Lozano, Carlos (July 7, 2018). "Former NBA, UCLA player Tyler Honeycutt dead after exchanging gunfire with police in Sherman Oaks". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on September 14, 2019.
  30. ^ Gleeson, Scott (July 8, 2018). "Tyler Honeycutt, former UCLA and Sacramento Kings basketball player, dies after standoff with police". USA Today. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
    Downen, Robert (July 7, 2018). "Former Rockets player dead after SWAT standoff". Chronicle. Houston. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
    Bravo, Kristina (July 7, 2018). "Former UCLA Player Dead After Exchanging Gunfire With LAPD in Sherman Oaks, Family Friend Says". KTLA. Los Angeles. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  31. ^ Perez, A. J. (July 19, 2018). "Coroner confirms former NBA, UCLA player Tyler Honeycutt died by suicide". USA Today.
  32. ^ staff, ABC7 com (July 22, 2019). "Mother of former UCLA player Tyler Honeycutt suing L.A. for negligence in son's death". ABC7 Los Angeles.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

External links edit

  • Career statistics and player information from NBA.com   and Basketball-Reference.com  
  • UCLA Bruins bio
  • EuroLeague profile