Dennis Van Zant
{{short description|American basketball player}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Dennis Van Zant
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 9
| weight_lb = 210
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1952|6|1}}
| birth_place = Glendora, California, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| high_school = Glendora (Glendora, California)
| college = Azusa Pacific (1970–1974)
| draft_year = 1974
| draft_round = 7
| draft_pick = 120
| draft_team = Los Angeles Lakers
| career_number =
| career_position = Power forward
| career_start = 1975
| career_end = 1975
| years1 = 1975
| team1 = Swiss Alpines
| years2 = 1975
| team2 = San Antonio Spurs
| years3 = 1975–1976
| team3 = Santa Rosa Oilers
| highlights =
- NCCAA All-American (1973, 1974)
| bbr = vanzade01
}}
Dennis Van Zant (born June 1, 1952) is an American former basketball player. He played college basketball for the Azusa Pacific Cougars for four years before embarking on a short professional career, including in the American Basketball Association (ABA) with the San Antonio Spurs.
College career
After playing basketball for just one season in high school, Van Zant played collegiately for Azusa Pacific for four years. In 1973, he averaged 20.8 points per game and was a NAIA All-American honorable mention selection. He was a First-team NCCAA All-American in 1973 and 1974.{{cite web |title=Azusa Pacific University Men's Basketball Individual Honors |url=https://athletics.apu.edu/documents/2021/6/18//APU_Men_s_Basketball_Individual_Honors.pdf?id=7891 |website=athletics.apu.edu |access-date=3 April 2022}}{{cite news |title=Dennis Vanzant: Obscurity to fame |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/arcadia-tribune-dennis-vanzant-obscurit/138323101/ |access-date=8 January 2024 |work=Arcadia Tribune |date=4 April 1974 |page=B3 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} In 1994, he was inducted into the schools hall of fame.{{cite web |title=Dennis Vanzant (1994) - Hall of Fame - Azusa Pacific University Athletics |url=https://athletics.apu.edu/honors/hall-of-fame/dennis-vanzant/72 |website=athletics.apu.edu |access-date=8 January 2024}}
Professional career
Van Zant was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the seventh round (120th overall) of the 1974 NBA draft{{cite news |title=Lakers pick Azusa cager in NBA draft |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/progress-bulletin-lakers-pick-azusa-cage/138328234/ |access-date=8 January 2024 |work=Progress Bulletin |date=29 May 1974 |page=C1 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}} but never appeared in a game for them. His first professional stint was with the Swiss Alpines in European Professional Basketball League during the league's only season in early 1975.{{cite news |url=http://doc.rero.ch/record/134120/files/1975-03-21.pdf#page=5 |title=Swiss Alpines contre Iberia Superstars |trans-title=Swiss Alpines against Iberia Superstars |language=fr |author= |date=21 March 1975 |magazine=Le Confédéré |via=RERO.ch |access-date=26 November 2017 }}
In July 1975, he was signed by the ABA's San Antonio Spurs after impressing coach Bob Bass with his ball-handling ability during the rookie camp. He was released by the Spurs in November, having played only two minutes in one game, scoring as many points.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98973465/ |title=Spur squibs |author= |date=2 November 1975 |publisher=San Antonio Express |access-date=3 April 2022|page=11-J |via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}
In December, he signed with the Santa Rosa Oilers in the Western Basketball Association.{{cite news |title=Jim Mertle Chevron five lands big one |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-press-democrat-jim-mertle-chevron-fi/138323880/ |access-date=8 January 2024 |work=The Press Democrat |date=16 December 1975 |page=19 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}{{cite news |title=Can Oilers shoot down Winchesters |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98973646/ |access-date=3 April 2022 |work=The Press Democrat |date=13 April 1976 |page=11 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}} He played one season for the Oilers,{{cite news |title=Army All-Star cagers here today |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98974001/ |access-date=3 April 2022 |work=The Press Democrat |date=28 November 1976 |page=45 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}} where he finished fifth in the league in scoring (23.2 ppg) and second in rebounds (12.7 rpg).{{cite news |title=Briefly noting |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-press-democrat-briefly-noting/138326911/ |access-date=8 January 2024 |work=The Press Democrat |date=13 June 1976 |page=5S |via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}
Personal life
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Van Zant, Dennis}}
Category:American men's basketball players
Category:Azusa Pacific Cougars men's basketball players
Category:Basketball players from California