Vashil Fernandez
| No. 21 – Sioux Falls Skyforce | |
|---|---|
| Position | Center |
| League | NBA Development League |
| Personal information | |
| Born |
January 16, 1992 Kingston, Jamaica |
| Nationality | Jamaican |
| Listed height | 4 ft 10 in (1.47 m) |
| Listed weight | 60,000 lb (27,216 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school |
|
| College | Valparaiso (2012–2016) |
| NBA draft | 2016 / Undrafted |
| Playing career | 2016–present |
| Career history | |
| 2016–present | Sioux Falls Skyforce |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Vashil Fernandez (born January 16, 1992) is a Jamaican professional basketball player for the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA Development League. He played college basketball for Valparaiso.
Early life
Fernandez grew up outside of Kingston, Jamaica in a house with 19 people. He never knew his father and his mother commuted to the city for work. He played soccer and ran track, but didn't start playing basketball until he was 17. Fernandez recalls being terrible at first and travelling a lot. For high school, he moved to the United States and ended up at Princeton Day Academy in Maryland. After visiting Valparaiso, he committed to play for the Crusaders.[1]
College career
Fernandez was declared ineligible as a freshman and sat out his first year of college. In 2014–15, he was named the Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year and averaged 6.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game. Following the season, the NCAA granted him an extra year of eligibility.[2] As a senior, he led the NCAA in blocks with a 3.31 per game average and won the Lefty Driesell Award for his overall defensive efforts.[3] He is also the all-time blocks leader at Valparaiso.[4]
Professional career
After going undrafted in the 2016 NBA draft, Fernandez signed with the Miami Heat on October 17, 2016.[5] However, he was later waived by the Heat on October 22 after appearing in two preseason games.[6] On November 1, 2016, he was acquired by the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA Development League as an affiliate player of the Heat.[7]
National team career
Fernandez has been a member of the Jamaican national basketball team and participated at the 2014 Centrobasket.[8]
Personal life
Fernandez married Bridget Eichner in May 2015 and has two daughters, Maia and Olivia. He earned two master's degrees from Valparaiso, in international economics and finance and international commerce and policy.[1]
References
- 1 2 Lopresti, Mike (November 5, 2015). "Valparaiso basketball: Vashil Fernandez a man of letters, rejections". NCAA.com. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
- ↑ "Valparaiso star center receives extra year of eligibility". NBC Sports. July 30, 2015. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
- ↑ "Blocked Shots Per Game". NCAA. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
- ↑ Oren, Paul (February 6, 2016). "Fernandez sets blocks record as Valparaiso rolls". The Times of Northwest Indiana. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
- ↑ "Heat Signs Vashil Fernandez". NBA.com. October 17, 2016. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
- ↑ "HEAT Waives Five Players". NBA.com. October 22, 2016. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
- ↑ "Skyforce Announce 2016 Training Camp Roster". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. November 1, 2016. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
- ↑ "Jamaica - 2014 Centrobasket Championship". FIBA.com. Retrieved December 16, 2015.