Marek Klassen

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Marek Klassen

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| position = Point guard

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 1

| weight_lb = 185

| league = LNB Pro A

| team = ESSM Le Portel

| number = 3

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|06|11}}

| birth_place = Vancouver, British Columbia

| nationality = Canadian

| high_school = Yale Secondary School
(Abbotsford, British Columbia)

| college = Point Loma Nazarene (2010–2015)

| draft_year = 2015

| career_start = 2015

| career_end =

| years1 = 2015–2016

| team1 = CSU Sibiu

| years2 = 2016

| team2 = Leeds Force

| years3 = 2016–2017

| team3 = Worcester Wolves

| years4 = 2017–2018

| team4 = İTÜ

| years5 = 2018–2019

| team5 = SOCAR Petkim

| years6 = 2019

| team6 = Fraser Valley Bandits

| years7 = 2019–2020

| team7 = Erie Bayhawks

| years8 = 2020–2021

| team8 = Kyiv-Basket

| years9 = 2021–2022

| team9 = Czarni Słupsk

| years10 = 2022

| team10 = ERA Nymburk

| years11 = 2022–2023

| team11 = Prometey

| years12 = 2023

| team12 = Limoges CSP

| years13 = 2023

| team13 = Vancouver Bandits

| years14 = 2023–2024

| team14 = Karditsa

| years15 = 2024–2025

| team15 = Śląsk Wrocław

| years16 = 2025–present

| team16 = ESSM Le Portel

| highlights =

}}

Marek Klassen (born June 11, 1992) is a Canadian professional basketball player for ESSM Le Portel of the LNB Pro A. He played college basketball for Point Loma Nazarene.

Highschool career

Klassen attended Yale Secondary School from 2007–2010. He won two provincial championships with the Yale Lions (2008-2010). In his senior year in 2010 the Yale Lions won the British Columbia provincial championship.{{cite web|url=http://www.bcboysbasketball.com/leagues/custom_page.cfm?clientid=2192&leagueid=0&pageid=2886|title=BC Boys Basketball|publisher=BCboysbasketball.com|accessdate=3 February 2020}} Klassen averaged 33 points per game and was named MVP of the tournament, final game MVP, and Player of the Year in British Columbia.{{cite web|url=https://canadianchristianity.com/bc/bccn/0410/01character.html|title=Character Shines on the Court|publisher=CanadianChristianity.com|accessdate=3 February 2020}} Upon graduation he ranked as a top 5 Canadian point guard.{{cite web|url=http://www.hoopstarscanada.com/news.pl?nid=61|title=Canadian Class of 2010|publisher=Hoopstarscanada.com|accessdate=3 February 2020}}

College career

Klassen started every game of his college career including 31 starts as a freshman leading to the Freshman of the Year award for the Pacific West Conference.{{cite web|url=https://plnusealions.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/marek-klassen/4217|title=PointLoma stats for Marek Klassen|publisher=PLNUsealions.com|accessdate=28 January 2020}} As a senior at Point Loma in 2014-15 Klassen averaged 12.67 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 27.8 minutes in 29 appearances.{{cite web|url=https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Marek-Klassen/Summary/48325|title=RealGM stats for Marek Klassen|publisher=RealGM.com|accessdate=31 January 2020}} Other notable accomplishments include Klassen shooting a career 43% from 3 point range, being named as a two sport NCAA All-American (Basketball and Track and Field) and NCAA Academic All-American. During his senior year Klassen enrolled in the Point Loma one year MBA program to complete his masters in business before starting his professional career.

Professional career

In 2015 Klassen began his professional career with CSU Sibiu in the Liga Națională. He stayed with CSU Sibiu until January 2016 when he moved to Leeds Force of the British Basketball League. His influence on and off the court helped the Force to make the Playoffs for the first time. Averaging 17.7 points 5.8 rebounds 8.1 assists 2.3 steals per game he led the league in assists, steals, fouls drawn, 5th in points per game and was named to the BBL team of the year.{{cite web|url=https://basketball.eurobasket.com/team/United-Kingdom/Leeds-Force/11815?Page=3&Stats=2016|title=Leeds Force stats for Marek Klassen|publisher=basketball.eurobasket.com|accessdate=1 February 2020}}

Following his campaign in Leeds, Klassen joined the Worcester Wolves a top performing club in the British Basketball League during the summer of 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/basketball/36765987|title=BBC Sport Signing Alert|publisher=BBC.com|accessdate=1 February 2020}} Klassen was made Captain of the Wolves.{{citation needed|date=February 2021}} It was a successful season in which the Wolves made it to the BBL Cup Final and BBL Championship Semi-final falling eventually to the Newcastle Eagles by 2 points on aggregate score. Klassen led the team and league in assists averaging 12.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 6.3 assists per game.{{cite web|url=https://basketball.eurobasket.com/team/United-Kingdom/Worcester-Wolves/1417?Page=3&Stats=2017|title=Eurobasket Stats report|publisher=Eurobasket.com|accessdate=1 February 2020}}

Klassen next transitioned to the Turkish Basketball First League where he signed with İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi B.K. in August 2017.{{cite web|url=https://www.abbynews.com/home2/abbotsfords-klassen-signs-with-turkish-basketball-league-team/|title=Klassen signs with Turkish Basketball Team|publisher=Abbynews.com|accessdate=1 February 2020}} A successful season in which Klassen averaged 15.12 points, 5.58 rebounds, 6.58 assists per game.{{cite web|url=https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Marek-Klassen/Summary/48325|title=RealGM stats for Marek Klassen ITU|publisher=RealGM.com|accessdate=1 February 2020}} He played in Istanbul for the duration of the 2017–2018 season. He finished leading his team in assists and top 3 in the Turkish Basketball league standings.

Returning for his second season in the Turkish Basketball First League Klassen signed with Aliağa Petkim for the 2018–2019 season. He helped the team reach the league quarterfinals and semi-finals of the Turkish Cup. Klassen averaged 11.5 points and 5.5 assists while shooting 42% from 3 point range.{{cite web|url=https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Marek-Klassen/Summary/48325|title=RealGM stats for Marek Klassen Petkim|publisher=RealGM.com|accessdate=2 February 2020}} He helped his team to a semi-final appearance and finished top 3 in the Turkish Basketball League in assists.

After finishing in early June in Turkey, Klassen returned home to Canada to play in the CEBL. A newly minted FIBA league.{{cite web|url=https://www.thebandits.ca/abbotsford-s-marek-klassen-comes-home-to-play-for-fraser-valley-basketball-bandits|title=Marek Klassen comes home to play|publisher=thebandits.ca|accessdate=2 February 2020}} He was drafted 12th overall in the inaugural 2019 CEBL Entry Draft to the Fraser Valley Bandits.{{cite web|url=https://www.thebandits.ca/fraser-valley-bandits-draft-local-prodigies-joel-friesen-and-marek-klassen-to-lead-bandits-alongside-team-canada-and-u-sports-developed-pros-and-student-athletes|title=Marek Klassen to lead Bandits|publisher=thebandits.ca|accessdate=2 February 2020}} Klassen was an all star with the Bandits during the summer season that lasted until late August 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.cebl.ca/cebl-major-award-winners-and-inaugural-all-star-teams-announced|title=CEBL major award winners|publisher=CEBL.ca|accessdate=3 February 2020}} He finished the season as CEBL assist leader and set the record for most assists in a game at 15.{{cite web|url=https://www.cebl.ca/player-leaders|title=CEBL Player Leaders|publisher=CEBL.ca|accessdate=3 February 2020}}

Klassen signed his next contract with the Erie Bayhawks of the NBA G League in November 2019. He only stayed in the G League for a limited time as he was tabbed by Kyiv-Basket in early January 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.usbasket.com/Canada/news/610871/Kyiv-Basket-tabs-Marek-Klassen,-ex-Fraser-Valley-B.|title=Kyiv-basket Tabs Marek Klassen|publisher=usbasket.com|accessdate=3 February 2020}} He is currently averaging 12 points and 8 assists, good enough to lead the league in assists. He has helped the team qualify for the semi-finals of the Ukrainian Cup, and the top 8 of FIBA Europe Cup.

On June 25, 2021, he has signed with Czarni Słupsk of the PLK.{{Cite web|url=https://czarni.stk.slupsk.pl/pl/art/nn.359.html|title=!Oficjalnie!|last=|first=|date=June 25, 2021|website=czarni.stk.slupsk.pl|publisher=|language=pl|access-date=August 5, 2021}}

On October 12, 2022, he signed with ERA Nymburk of the National Basketball League.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nymburk.basketball/clanek.asp?lang=cz&id=STOKES-ZRANENY-PRICHAZI-KLASSEN-5082|title=Stokes Zraněný, Přichází Klassen|last=|first=|date=October 12, 2022|website=nymburk.basketball|publisher=|language=cs|access-date=December 21, 2022}}

On December 28, 2022, he signed with Prometey of the Latvian-Estonian Basketball League.{{Cite web|url=https://prometeybc.com/en/novosti/marek-klassen-player-bc-prometey|title=Marek Klassen is a player of BC Prometey|last=|first=|date=December 28, 2022|website=prometeybc.com|publisher=|language=En|access-date=December 30, 2022}}

On February 27, 2023, he signed with Limoges CSP of the LNB Pro A.{{Cite web|url=https://www.limogescsp.com/actualites-details/depart-de-javontae-hawkins-remplace-par-marek-klassen.html|title=Départ de Javontae Hawkins remplacé par Marek Klassen|last=|first=|date=February 27, 2023|website=limogescsp.com|publisher=|language=fr|access-date=February 27, 2023}}

On August 7, 2023, Klassen signed with Greek club Karditsa.{{cite web|title=Ο Μάρεκ Κλάσεν Στον ΑΣΚ!|url=https://www.askarditsas.gr/o-marek-klasen-ston-ask/|website=ASKarditsas.gr|date=August 7, 2023|access-date=August 12, 2023|language=Greek}}

On January 5, 2024, his contract was bought out by EuroCup club Śląsk Wrocław.

On February 3, 2025, he signed with ESSM Le Portel of the LNB Pro A.{{Cite web|url=https://essm-basket.fr/2025/02/marek-klassen-sengage-avec-lessm/|title=Marek Klassen s’engage avec l’ESSM|date=February 3, 2025|website=essm-basket.fr|publisher=|language=fr|access-date=April 10, 2025}}