Antonio Hester
{{Short description|American basketball player (born 1990)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
|name = Antonio Hester
|image = AntonioHester.jpg
|caption = Hester in 2024
|position = Power forward / center
|height_ft = 6
|height_in = 6
|weight_lb = 198
|league =
|team = Free agent
|number =
|high_school = Miami Norland
(Miami, Florida)
|college =
- Miami Dade (2009–2011)
- Mobile (2011–2012)
|draft_year = 2012
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1990|05|22}}
|birth_place = Miami, Florida, U.S.
|career_start = 2012
|years1 = 2012–2013
|team1 = Turun NMKY
|years2 = 2013–2014
|team2 = Atletico Nacional
|years3 = 2014
|team3 = Real Club de Lima
|years4 = 2014–2015
|team4 = CB Tarragona
|years5 = 2015–2016
|team5 = Miami Midnites
|years6 = 2016–2018
|team6 = Tindastóll
|years7 = 2018–2019
|team7 = Starwings Basel
|years8 = 2019–2020
|team8 = Bàsquet Girona
|years9 = 2020
|team9 = Força Lleida
|years10 = 2020
|team10 = Reales de La Vega
|years11 = 2021
|team11 = Njarðvík
|years12 = 2021–2022
|team12 = Terrafirma Dyip
|years13 = 2023
|team13 = Zamboanga Valientes
|years14 = 2023
|team14 = Magnolia Hotshots
|years15 = 2023
|team15 = Nalaikh Bison
|years16 = 2024
|team16 = Prawira Bandung
|years17 = 2024
|team17 = Terrafirma Dyip
|highlights =
- Peruvian League champion (2014)
- Icelandic Basketball Cup (2018)
- Úrvalsdeild Foreign Player of the Year (2018)
- Úrvalsdeild rebounding leader (2021)
}}
Antonio Kurtis Hester (born May 22, 1990) is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Terrafirma Dyip of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). In 2014, he won the Peruvian championship with Real Club de Lima and in 2018, he won the Icelandic Basketball Cup with Tindastóll. Listed at 198 cm, he primarily plays the power forward and center positions.{{cite news |author1=Elías Orri Njarðarson |title=Hester spilar með Tindastól í vetur |url=https://www.visir.is/g/2017535271d |access-date=November 25, 2021 |work=Vísir.is |date=June 24, 2017 |language=Icelandic}}{{cite news |title=Gjörbreytt á Króknum |url=https://timarit.is/page/6794496 |access-date=November 25, 2021 |work=Morgunblaðið |date=November 15, 2016 |page=B1 |language=Icelandic}}{{cite news |title=El Bàsquet Girona fitxa l'aler pivot Antonio Hester |url=https://www.basquetgironi.cat/el-basquet-girona-fitxa-laler-pivot-antonio-hester/ |access-date=November 25, 2021 |work=basquetgironi.cat |date=July 30, 2019 |language=Catalan}}{{cite news |title=Neu mit Antonio Hester (USA, 27, 198cm) – Alexis Herrmann fällt aus |url=http://www.starwings.ch |access-date=November 25, 2021 |work=Starwings Basel |date=December 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190109204910/http://www.starwings.ch/ |archive-date=January 9, 2019 |language=German}}
College career
Hester was named NAIA Third-Team All-American in 2012 after averaging 15.5 points and 8.6 rebounds for the University of Mobile.{{cite news|title=Antonio Hester Named 3rd-Team All-America|url=http://www.umobilerams.com/article/427.php|accessdate=April 24, 2018|work=umobilerams.com|publisher=University of Mobile|date=March 14, 2012}}
Professional career
=Early career=
In 2012, Hester joined Turun NMKY of the Finnish First Division.
In 2014, Hester played for Real Club of Lima in the Liga de Basket de Lima,{{cite news|title=Real Club tie Peruvian title series 2–2|url=https://www.court-side.com/news/real-club-tie-peruvian-title-series-2-2/|accessdate=April 24, 2018|work=court-side.com|date=July 16, 2014}} helping them win the Peruvian championship in July that year.{{cite news|title=Real Club de Lima wins Peru Liga|url=https://www.court-side.com/news/real-club-de-lima-wins-liga-de-lima/|accessdate=April 24, 2018|work=court-side.com|date=July 17, 2014}}
He played for CB Tarragona during the 2014–15 LEB Plata season, averaging 13.4 points and 7.6 rebounds.{{cite news|title=Antonio Hester rebutja l'oferta del cbt|url=http://www.cbtarragona.cat/antonio-hester-rebutja-loferta-del-cbt/|accessdate=April 24, 2018|work=cbtarragona.cat|publisher=CB Tarragona|date=July 30, 2015|language=Spanish}} In September 2014, he helped the club to victory in the LEB Catalan basketball league and was named the finals MVP.{{cite news|title=El CBT, campió de la Lliga Catalana LEB amb un final d'infart|url=https://delcamp.cat/esportsdelcamp/general/el-cbt-campio-de-la-lliga-catalana-leb-amb-un-final-dinfart|accessdate=April 24, 2018|work=delcamp.cat|date=September 28, 2014|language=Spanish}}
=Tindastóll=
In August 2016, Hester signed with Tindastóll of the Icelandic Úrvalsdeild karla.{{cite news|title=Seck Pape Abdoulaye og Antonio Kurtis Hester til Tindastóls|url=http://www.feykir.is/is/ithrottir/seck-pape-abdoulaye-og-antonio-kurtis-hester-til-tindastols|accessdate=April 24, 2018|work=feykir.is|date=August 25, 2016|language=Icelandic}} A month later, Tindastóll released Hester to sign Mamadou Samb.{{cite news|title=Mamadou Samb í stað Kurtis Hester|url=http://www.feykir.is/is/frettir/mamadou-samb-i-stad-kurtis-hester|accessdate=April 24, 2018|work=feykir.is|date=September 4, 2016|language=Icelandic}} In November, Tindastóll brought Hester back as a part of a major roster overhaul where they fired head coach José Maria Costa and released Samb and Pape Seck.{{cite news|title=Tindastóll losar sig við erlenda leikmenn og þjálfarann – Martin tekur við|url=http://karfan.is/is/read/2016-11-14/tindastoll-losar-sig-vid-erlenda-leikmenn-og-thjalfarann-martin-tekur-vid|accessdate=April 24, 2018|work=karfan.is|date=November 14, 2016|language=Icelandic}}{{cite news|title=Ótrúleg leikmannavelta Tindastóls síðustu 13 mánuði|url=https://www.fusijama.tv/2016/11/otruleg-leikmannavelta-tindastols-sidustu-13-manudi/|accessdate=April 24, 2018|work=fusijama.tv|date=November 16, 2016|language=Icelandic}}{{cite news|title=Körfuboltakvöld: Innkoma Antonio Hester í lið Tindastóls|url=http://www.visir.is/g/2016161128889/korfuboltakvold-innkoma-antonio-hester-i-lid-tindastols|accessdate=April 24, 2018|work=Vísir.is|date=November 27, 2016|language=Icelandic}} For the season he averaged 23.5 points and 10.7 rebounds in 32.0 minutes per game.{{cite web|title=Úrvalsdeild karla Domino´s deildin (2017 Tímabil) – Antonio Hester|url=http://kki.is/motamal/leikir-og-urslit/motayfirlit/Leikmadur?league_id=undefined&season_id=93703&player_id=5359849|website=kki.is|publisher=Icelandic Basketball Federation|accessdate=April 24, 2018|language=Icelandic}} Tindastóll finished third in the league but despite home court advantage, it lost to Keflavík in the first round of the playoffs.{{cite news|author1=Jóhann Ingi Hafþórsson|title=Keflavík sendi Tindastól í sumarfrí|url=https://www.mbl.is/sport/korfubolti/2017/03/24/keflavik_sendi_tindastol_i_sumarfri/|accessdate=April 24, 2018|work=Morgunblaðið|date=March 24, 2017|language=Icelandic}}
In June 2017, Hester re-signed with Tindastóll for the 2017–2018 season.{{cite news|title=Hester áfram hjá Tindastóli|url=https://www.mbl.is/sport/korfubolti/2017/06/27/hester_afram_hja_tindastoli/|accessdate=April 24, 2018|work=Morgunblaðið|date=June 27, 2017|language=Icelandic}} In November 2017, Hester injured his ankle badly and was initially thought to have broken it.{{cite news|author1=Runólfur Trausti Þórhallsson|title=Antonio Hester ökklabrotinn|url=http://www.ruv.is/frett/antonio-hester-okklabrotinn|accessdate=April 24, 2018|work=RÚV|date=November 10, 2017|language=Icelandic}}{{cite news|author1=Óskar Ófeigur Jónsson|title=Antonio Hester er ökklabrotinn – "Mikið högg fyrir félagið"|url=http://www.visir.is/g/2017171119856|accessdate=April 24, 2018|work=Vísir.is|date=November 10, 2017|language=Icelandic}} Further tests revealed that the ankle was unbroken and that recovery time would be in weeks, not months.{{cite news|title=Hester óbrotinn|url=http://www.feykir.is/is/frettir/hester-obrotinn|accessdate=April 24, 2018|work=feykir.is|date=November 17, 2017|language=Icelandic}}{{cite news|author1=Ástrós Ýr Eggertsdóttir|title=Hester byrjaður í endurhæfingu|url=http://www.visir.is/g/2017171118786/hester-byrjadur-i-endurhaefingu|accessdate=April 24, 2018|work=Vísir.is|date=November 18, 2017|language=Icelandic}}
On January 13, 2018, Hester helped Tindastóll to its first major title when it won the Icelandic Basketball Cup.{{cite news|author1=Jóhann Ingi Hafþórsson|title=Tindastóll bikarmeistari í fyrsta skipti|url=https://www.mbl.is/sport/korfubolti/2018/01/13/tindastoll_bikarmeistari_i_fyrsta_skipti/|accessdate=April 24, 2018|work=Morgunblaðið|date=January 13, 2018|language=Icelandic}}{{cite news|author1=Runólfur Trausti Þórhallsson|title=Tindastóll er bikarmeistari 2018|url=http://www.ruv.is/frett/tindastoll-er-bikarmeistari-2018|accessdate=April 24, 2018|work=RÚV|date=January 13, 2018|language=Icelandic}}
For the season, Hester averaged 20.6 points and 8.7 rebounds in 25.3 minutes per game,{{cite web|title=Úrvalsdeild karla Domino´s deild karla (2017–2018 Tímabil) – Antonio Hester|url=http://kki.is/motamal/leikir-og-urslit/motayfirlit/Leikmadur?league_id=190&season_id=97417&player_id=5359849|website=kki.is|publisher=Icelandic Basketball Federation|accessdate=April 24, 2018|language=Icelandic}} helping Tindastóll to a 16–6 record{{cite web|title=Úrvalsdeild karla Domino´s deild karla (2017–2018 Tímabil) – Staða|url=http://kki.is/motamal/leikir-og-urslit/motayfirlit/Stada?league_id=190&season_id=97417|website=kki.is|publisher=Icelandic Basketball Federation|language=Icelandic}} and the third seed in the playoffs.{{cite news|author1=Magnús Logi SIgurbjörnsson|title=Tindastóll endar í þriðja sæti|url=https://www.mbl.is/sport/korfubolti/2018/03/08/tindastoll_endar_i_thridja_saeti/|accessdate=April 24, 2018|work=Morgunblaðið|date=March 8, 2018|language=Icelandic}}
In the playoffs, Tindastóll swept Grindavík, 3–0, in the first round,{{cite news|author1=Hákon Ingi Rafnsson|title=Umfjöllun og viðtöl: Tindastóll – Grindavík 96–92 – Stólarnir mörðu Grindavík í spennutrylli|url=http://www.visir.is/g/2018180319148|accessdate=April 24, 2018|work=Vísir.is|date=March 16, 2018|language=Icelandic}} advancing to the semi-finals against ÍR. In the fifth game of the semi-finals on April 13, 2018, Hester injured his ankle. Despite the injury, Tindastóll prevailed in the game and advanced to the Úrvalsdeild finals.{{cite news|author1=Kristinn Páll Teitsson|title=Ökklameiðsli Antonio Hester ekki alvarleg|url=https://www.frettabladid.is/sport/oekklameisli-antonio-hester-ekki-alvarleg|accessdate=April 24, 2018|work=Fréttablaðið|date=April 14, 2018|language=Icelandic}} Although hobbled, Hester played in the first game of the finals series against four-time defending champions of KR. There he injured his other ankle after trying to block a shot from Brynjar Þór Björnsson,{{cite news|author1=Ástrós Ýr Eggertsdóttir|title=Hester var "augljóslega ekki tilbúinn að spila"|url=http://www.visir.is/g/2018180429857|accessdate=April 24, 2018|work=Vísir.is|date=April 20, 2018|language=Icelandic}} resulting in him missing game two of the series.{{cite news|author1=Eiríkur Stefán Ásgeirsson|title=Hester: Brotnaði niður þegar ég sagði þeim að ég myndi ekki spila|url=http://www.visir.is/g/2018180429717/hester-brotnadi-nidur-thegar-eg-sagdi-theim-ad-eg-myndi-ekki-spila|accessdate=April 24, 2018|date=April 22, 2018|language=Icelandic}} Without him, Tindastóll staged a spirited performance, blowing out KR on their own homecourt, 98–70, and tying the series at one game apiece.{{cite news|author1=Eiríkur Stefán Ásgeirsson|title=Umfjöllun og viðtöl: KR – Tindastóll 70–98 – Stólarnir svöruðu með stæl|url=http://www.visir.is/g/2018180429885/umfjollun-og-vidtol-kr-tindastoll-70-98-stolarnir-svorudu-med-stael|accessdate=April 24, 2018|work=Vísir.is|date=April 22, 2018|language=Icelandic}} After the season he was named the Úrvalsdeild Karla Foreign Player of the Year.{{cite news|author1=Henry Birgir Gunnarsson|title=Kristófer og Helena valin leikmenn ársins|url=http://www.visir.is/g/2018180509534/kristofer-og-helena-valin-leikmenn-arsins|accessdate=May 5, 2018|work=Vísir.is|date=May 4, 2018|language=Icelandic}}
=Starwings Basel and Bàsquet Girona=
In December 2018, Hester signed with Starwings Basel of the Swiss Basketball League.{{cite news |author1=Georges Küng |title=Antonio Hester verstärkt die Starwings: Das Tabellenschlusslicht verpflichtet einen neuen Hoffnungsträger |url=https://www.bzbasel.ch/sport/basel/antonio-hester-verstaerkt-die-starwings-das-tabellenschlusslicht-verpflichtet-einen-neuen-hoffnungstraeger-133817387|work=bz Basel |accessdate=January 25, 2019 |date=December 7, 2018 |language=German}} In 14 games, he averaged 19.9 points and 9.6 rebounds per game.
Hester spent the 2019–2020 season with Bàsquet Girona in LEB Plata where he averaged 13.1 points and 8.3 rebounds in 25 games. On August 27, 2020, he signed with Força Lleida.{{cite web |title=El interior Antonio Hester, nueva incorporación del ICG Força Lleida |url=http://www.feb.es/2020/8/27/baloncesto/interior-antonio-hester-nueva-incorporacion-del-icg-forca-lleida/84332.aspx |website=FEB.es |accessdate=November 17, 2020 |language=Spanish |date=August 27, 2020}}
=Return to Iceland=
In January 2021, Hester returned to Iceland and signed with Njarðvík.{{cite news |author1=Davíð Eldur |title=Antonio Hester til Njarðvíkur |url=https://www.karfan.is/2021/01/antonio-hester-til-njardvikur/ |access-date=January 5, 2021 |work=Karfan.is |date=January 5, 2021 |language=Icelandic}} For the season he averaged a team leading 18.4 points and league leading 12.0 rebounds per game. During the last game of the season, he had 30 points and 20 rebounds.{{cite news |author1=Atli Arason |title=Umfjöllun og viðtöl: Njarðvík – Þór Þ. 88–73 – Njarðvíkingar sleppa við fall |url=https://www.visir.is/g/20212107467d/umfjollun-og-vidtol-njardvik-thor-th.-88-73-njardvikingar-sleppa-vid-fall |access-date=May 11, 2021 |work=Vísir.is |date=May 10, 2021 |language=Icelandic}} He helped Njarðvík win its last three games, where he averaged 23.7 points 13.3 rebounds, staving off relegation but missing out on the playoffs on a tie-breaker with Tindastóll.{{cite news |author1=Atli Arason |title=Á ekki von á því að vera áfram í Njarðvík |url=https://www.visir.is/g/20212107681d/-a-ekki-von-a-thvi-ad-vera-afram-i-njardvik- |access-date=May 11, 2021 |work=Vísir.is |date=May 10, 2021 |language=Icelandic}}
=Philippines=
In November 2021, Hester signed with Terrafirma Dyip of the Philippine Basketball Association.{{cite web|url=https://www.pba.ph/news/tnt-meralco-3-others-to-introduce-new-imports |title=TNT, Meralco, 3 others to introduce new imports|work=pba.ph|date=November 3, 2021|access-date=November 3, 2021}}
In December 2022, he signed with Zamboanga Valientes of the ASEAN Basketball League.{{cite web |last=Ramos |first=Gerry |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/abl/ex-terrafirma-import-antonio-hester-joins-zamboanga-valientes-a793-20221215 |title=Ex-Terrafirma import Antonio Hester joins Zamboanga Valientes in ABL |work=Spin.ph|date=December 15, 2022|access-date=December 15, 2022}}
In February 2023, Hester signed with the Magnolia Hotshots of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) to replace Erik McCree as the team's import for the 2023 PBA Governors' Cup.{{cite web|last=Bacnis|first=Justine|url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/hester-arrives-to-join-magnolia/261341|title=Hester arrives to join Magnolia|publisher= Tiebreaker Times|date=February 7, 2023|accessdate=February 7, 2023}}
In August 2024, he returns to the Terrafirma Dyip of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) to replace injured Brandon Edwards as the team's import for the 2024 PBA Governors' Cup.{{cite web |url=https://pba.ph/news/hester-excited-to-rejoin-terrafirma |title=Hester excited to rejoin Terrafirma |website=PBA.ph |date=August 15, 2024 |accessdate=August 15, 2024 }}
Awards, titles and accomplishments
=Individual awards=
- NAIA Third-Team All-American: 2012
- LEB Catalan Finals MVP: 2014
- Úrvalsdeild Karla Foreign Player of the Year: 2018
=Titles=
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{FIBA 3x3 profile|4aac0e98-b21b-47ae-a892-4204dbf1243c}}
- {{Eurobasket player|235736}}
- [https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Antonio-Hester/Summary/35290 Antonio Hester] at RealGM.com
- [https://www.proballers.com/basketball/player/64141/antonio-hester Antonio Hester] at Proballers.com
- [https://www.basket.fi/basketball-finland/competitions/players/player/?season_id=63263&player_id=4660883&league_id=2 Finnish statistics] at Basket.fi
- [http://kki.is/motamal/leikir-og-urslit/motayfirlit/Leikmadur?league_id=190&player_id=5359849 Icelandic statistics] at Icelandic Basketball Association
- [https://baloncestoenvivo.feb.es/jugador/816928/2092561 Spanish statistics] at Baloncestoenvivo.feb.es
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hester, Antonio}}
Category:American expatriate basketball people in the Dominican Republic
Category:American expatriate basketball people in Finland
Category:American expatriate basketball people in Iceland
Category:American expatriate basketball people in the Philippines
Category:American expatriate basketball people in Spain
Category:American expatriate basketball people in Switzerland
Category:American men's 3x3 basketball players
Category:American men's basketball players
Category:Força Lleida CE players
Category:Magnolia Hotshots players
Category:Miami Dade Sharks men's basketball players
Category:Miami Norland Senior High School alumni
Category:Njarðvík men's basketball players
Category:Philippine Basketball Association imports
Category:Terrafirma Dyip players
Category:Ungmennafélagið Tindastóll men's basketball players
Category:Úrvalsdeild karla (basketball) players
Category:Zamboanga Valientes players
Category:American expatriate basketball people in Mongolia
Category:Reales de La Vega players
Category:Prawira Bandung players
Category:American expatriate basketball people in Indonesia