Michael Hughes (basketball)

Michael Anthony Hughes II (born February 1, 1998) is an American professional basketball player for CBet Jonava of the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL). He played college basketball for the Akron Zips and the Duquesne Dukes.

Michael Hughes
No. 2 – CBet Jonava
PositionCenter / Power forward
LeagueLithuanian Basketball League
Personal information
Born (1998-02-01) February 1, 1998
Huntington, West Virginia
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight240 lb (109 kg)
Career information
High school
College
NBA draft2021: undrafted
Playing career2021–present
Career history
2021–2022BC Vienna
2022–2023Kaposvári KK
2023–presentCBet Jonava
Career highlights and awards

Early life and high school career

Hughes joined his first basketball league at the age of five. He attended Liberty High School in Liberty, Missouri during his freshman year. Due to redistricting, Hughes transferred to Liberty North High School for his sophomore season.[1] As a sophomore, he averaged 12.1 points and 8.7 rebounds per game.[2] Hughes averaged 14.4 points, 12 rebounds, and 4.7 blocks per game as a junior, while shooting 59.7 percent.[3] He earned Suburban Middle Seven All-Conference first-team honors as well as all-district accolades after helping guide Liberty North to a fifth-consecutive district championship.[2] As a senior, Hughes averaged 22 points and 15 rebounds per game. He set school records for rebounds (979) and blocks (349) during his career. He committed to playing college basketball for Akron.[4]

College career

Hughes averaged 1.8 points and 1.2 rebounds per game as a freshman at Akron. Following the season, he transferred to Duquesne, following coach Keith Dambrot who was hired there. Hughes underwent surgery in the summer for stress fractures in his shins.[4] During his redshirt season, he focused on dieting and conditioning, eventually losing 45 pounds.[5] As a sophomore, Hughes averaged 11.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game, which was second in the Atlantic 10 Conference.[6] On December 4, 2019, he scored a career-high 23 points to go with 11 rebounds in a 71–58 win against VMI.[7] During his junior season, Hughes was a strong defensive presence but struggled with foul trouble.[8] He averaged 10.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 2.7 blocks per game.[9] As a senior, Hughes averaged 10.8 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. He finished as the program’s all-time leader in career field goal percentage, making 56.2 percent of his shot attempts, as well as fourth on Duquesne’s all-time blocks list with 177.[10]

Professional career

On August 15, 2021, Hughes signed his first professional contract with BC Vienna of the Austrian Basketball Superliga.[11]

On July 14, 2023, Hughes signed a one-year deal with CBet Jonava of the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL).[12]

Career statistics
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  Bold  Career high

College
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2016–17 Akron 2017.3.458–.6501.2.4.3.51.8
2017–18 Duquesne Redshirt Redshirt
2018–19 Duquesne 292824.2.589.286.5946.5.9.92.311.2
2019–20 Duquesne 302824.5.573.278.6496.81.61.52.710.3
2020–21 Duquesne 181626.9.510.176.6337.92.11.01.610.8
Career 977321.3.557.238.6225.81.21.01.98.9

Personal life

Hughes is the fourth of six children born to Robbie-Joe and Michael Hughes I. His father died in 2003, while competing in a men's basketball league at Longview Community College. According to an autopsy, he had an enlarged heart. Following his father's death, Hughes became close with his older brother Tony. In February 2006, his mother discovered Tony dead in his room from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the age of 19. The loss of his older brother turned Michael into a selfish and angry player on the court, until his coaches found a way to curb his negative behavior. Hughes developed a love for reading.[1]

References
  1. McDowell, Sam (February 26, 2016). "Rising above:Liberty north senior overcame tough obstacles". The Kansas City Star. p. B1. Retrieved September 27, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Akron Zips men's basketball: Program signs four recruits in early period". Akron Beacon-Journal. November 13, 2015. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  3. Rader, Chad (December 6, 2015). "Top 25 Countdown: No. 11 Liberty North". 810 Varsity. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  4. Spencer, Sarah (February 19, 2018). "Meet Duquesne's five transfers who can't wait to hit the court next season". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  5. DiPaola, Jerry (December 4, 2018). "Duquesne's Michael Hughes did more than sit around while sitting out last season". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  6. Grubba, Matt (November 4, 2019). "Post play could be vital to Duquesne's success". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  7. "Hughes scores 23 to lead Duquesne over VMI 71-58". ESPN. Associated Press. December 4, 2019. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  8. Persak, Mike (December 24, 2019). "Duquesne's Michael Hughes is one of the country's best shot blockers, but he can still achieve more". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  9. "Season Review: Men's Basketball". Duquesne Dukes. March 31, 2020. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  10. Michalowski, George (August 14, 2021). "Former Duquesne Big Man Mike Hughes Joins Basketball Club Vienna". Pittsburgh Sports Now. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  11. Heinrich, Stefan (August 15, 2021). "Vienna tabs rookie Michael Hughes in his first year in pro basketball". Eurobasket. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  12. "Į Jonavą atvyksta atletiškas puolėjas iš JAV". bcjonava.lt (in Lithuanian). July 14, 2023. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
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