Michael Qualls

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Michael Qualls

| image = Michael Qualls.jpg

| image_size = 200

| caption = Qualls with Arkansas in 2013

| position = Shooting guard

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 4

| weight_lb = 202

| league = IBL

| team = Borneo Hornbills

| number = 24

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|1|20}}

| birth_place = Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S.

| high_school = Huntington (Shreveport, Louisiana)

| college = Arkansas (2012–2015)

| draft_year = 2015

| career_start = 2016

| years1 = 2016–2017

| team1 = Hapoel Gilboa Galil

| years2 = 2017

| team2 = Pallacanestro Cantù

| years3 = 2017–2018

| team3 = Salt Lake City Stars

| years4 = 2018

| team4 = Texas Legends

| years5 = 2018–2019

| team5 = Wisconsin Herd

| years6 = 2019

| team6 = NorthPort Batang Pier

| years7 = 2020

| team7 = Al-Fateh

| years8 = 2021–2022

| team8 = SCM U Craiova

| years9 = 2022

| team9 = Al Riyadi

| years10 = 2023

| team10 = Rain or Shine Elasto Painters

| years11 = 2023

| team11 = TaiwanBeer HeroBears

| years12 = 2023

| team12 = Metros de Santiago

| years13 = 2024–present

| team13 = Borneo Hornbills

| highlights =

}}

Michael Rashad Qualls (born January 20, 1994) is an American professional basketball player for the Borneo Hornbills of the Indonesian Basketball League (IBL). He played college basketball for the Arkansas Razorbacks and is most notably remembered for his go-ahead slam dunk with 0.2 seconds left in overtime against Kentucky in 2014.

High school career

Qualls attended Huntington High School where he led them to four district championships, including a senior season in which he averaged 17.8 points per game, guiding Huntington to 33 wins, making him the third-ranked player in the state of Louisiana in the class of 2012, with an ESPN.com scout grade of 89.{{cite web|title=#24 Michael Qualls|url=http://www.arkansasrazorbacks.com/roster/michael-qualls/|work=ArkansasRazorbacks.com|date=April 24, 2015 |accessdate=June 30, 2015}}

College career

After graduating high school, Qualls attended Arkansas, where he appeared in 100 games (56 starts) and averaged 11.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 23.8 minutes per game. Conference|SEC]] after averaging 15.9 points per game. He decided to forgo his final year of college eligibility and declared for the 2015 NBA draft. Qualls is perhaps best known for his slam dunk at the buzzer to beat Kentucky 87–85 in overtime at Bud Walton Arena on January 14, 2014. It was the #1 play on the ESPN Sportscenter Top 10 plays of the day, and is considered one of the greatest moments in Razorbacks basketball history.{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/thunder/news/pressrelease_trainingcamp_150929|title=Thunder Adds Qualls to Training Camp Roster|work=NBA.com|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.|date=September 29, 2015|accessdate=September 29, 2015}}

Professional career

During a workout with the Phoenix Suns prior to the 2015 draft, Qualls tore his ACL and was ruled out for six to 12 months.{{cite news|last1=Goodman|first1=Jeff|title=Former Arkansas forward Michael Qualls tears ACL in workout|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/draft2015/story/_/id/13085339/former-arkansas-razorbacks-forward-michael-qualls-tears-acl-workout|access-date=June 21, 2015|work=ESPN.com|date=June 15, 2015}} Despite the injury, Qualls managed to land an NBA training camp deal, signing with the Oklahoma City Thunder on September 29, 2015. He was later waived by the Thunder on October 22 prior to the start of the regular season.{{cite news|title=Thunder Waives Qualls, Stone, Wells and Zanna|url=http://www.nba.com/thunder/news/pressrelease_qualls_stone_wells_zanna_151022|accessdate=October 22, 2015|work=NBA.com|date=October 22, 2015}} On November 3, he was acquired by the Oklahoma City Blue as an affiliate player from the Thunder.{{cite news|title=Oklahoma City Blue Announces Training Camp Roster|url=http://oklahomacity.dleague.nba.com/news/201516_camproster/|accessdate=November 9, 2015|work=NBA.com|date=November 3, 2015|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304104544/http://oklahomacity.dleague.nba.com/news/201516_camproster/|url-status=dead}} On November 11, he was waived by the Blue.{{cite news|title=Oklahoma City Blue Finalizes Opening Night Roster|url=http://oklahomacity.dleague.nba.com/news/151111_openingnightroster/|accessdate=November 12, 2015|work=NBA.com|date=November 11, 2015}}

On August 7, 2016, Qualls signed with Hapoel Gilboa Galil of the Israeli League.{{cite web|title=Gilboa Galil signs Michael Qualls and Murphy Holloway|url=http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/israel/208961/gilboa-galil-signs-michael-qualls-and-murphy-holloway.html|work=Sportando.com|date=August 7, 2016|accessdate=October 23, 2016}} On October 10, 2016, he made his professional debut in a 77–61 loss to Hapoel Holon, recording 15 points, five rebounds and one assist in 25 minutes off the bench.{{cite web|title=Regular Season Round 1: Hapoel Holon - Galil Gilboa 77-61|url=http://www.eurobasket.com/boxScores/Israel/2016/1010_436_85.asp|work=Eurobasket.com|date=October 10, 2016|accessdate=October 23, 2016}}

On September 23, 2017, Qualls signed with the Italian team Pallacanestro Cantù for the 2017–18 season.{{cite web|title=Cantù signs Michael Qualls|url=http://www.sportando.com/en/italy/serie-a/247779/cantu-signs-michael-qualls.html|work=Sportando.com|date=September 23, 2017|accessdate=September 23, 2017}} On October 25, 2017, he parted ways with Cantù after appearing in two games.{{cite news|title=Pallacanestro Cantù cut Michael Qualls|url=https://www.sportando.com/en/italy/serie-a/251388/pallacanestro-cantu-cut-michael-qualls.html|accessdate=October 25, 2017|work=Sportando.com|date=October 25, 2017}} On December 13, 2017, he was acquired by the Salt Lake City Stars of the NBA G League.{{cite news|title=Stars Acquire Michael Qualls|url=http://saltlakecity.gleague.nba.com/news/stars-acquire-michael-qualls/|accessdate=December 15, 2017|work=NBA.com|date=December 13, 2017}} On March 5, 2018, he was waived by the Stars after averaging 8.4 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 19.4 minutes in 18 games.{{cite news|first=Daniel|last=Rueckert|title=Salt Lake City Acquires Shonn Miller|url=http://saltlakecity.gleague.nba.com/news/salt-lake-city-acquires-shonn-miller/|accessdate=April 1, 2018|work=NBA.com|date=March 5, 2018}} Three days later, he was acquired by the Texas Legends.{{cite news|title=Legends Acquire Michael Qualls|url=https://texas.gleague.nba.com/news/legends-acquire-michael-qualls/|accessdate=April 1, 2018|work=NBA.com|date=March 8, 2018}}

Qualls was drafted in the fourth round of the 2018 NBA G League draft by the Wisconsin Herd.{{cite web |last1=McGee |first1=Adam |title=Wisconsin Herd add to roster via G League draft, trade |url=https://behindthebuckpass.com/2018/10/21/wisconsin-herd-add-roster-via-g-league-draft-trade/ |website=Behind the Bucks Pass |date=October 21, 2018 |accessdate=November 4, 2018}}

In October 2019, he signed with the NorthPort Batang Pier of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) to replace Mychal Ammons as the team's import for the 2019 PBA Governors' Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/northport-brings-in-new-import-michael-qualls-to-replace-mychal-ammons-a793-20191021 |title=NorthPort brings in new import Michael Qualls to replace Mychal Ammons|first=Gerry |last=Ramos|date=October 21, 2019|access-date=December 22, 2022|website=spin.ph}}

On February 23, 2020, Qualls signed with Al-Fateh of the Saudi Basketball League.{{cite web|url=https://www.asia-basket.com/Saudi%20Arabia/news/619834/Michael-Qualls-(ex-North-Port)-signs-at-Al-Fateh|title=Michael Qualls (ex North Port) signs at Al Fateh|publisher=EuroBasket News|date=February 23, 2020|accessdate=June 26, 2020}} On August 18, 2021, Qualls signed with SCM U Craiova of the Liga Națională.{{cite web |last1=Beres |first1=Arnold |title=Michael Qualls (ex Al Fateh) is a newcomer at Craiova |url=https://www.eurobasket.com/Romania/news/700688/Michael-Qualls-(ex-Al-Fateh)-is-a-newcomer-at-Craiova |website=Eurobasket |access-date=August 18, 2021 |date=August 18, 2021}}

In August 2022, Qualls joined the Al Riyadi of the Lebanese Basketball League.{{cite web |title=Michael Qualls (ex Craiova) joins Al Riyadi |url=https://www.asia-basket.com/Lebanon/news/765109/Michael-Qualls-(ex-Craiova)-joins-Al-Riyadi |website=Eurobasket.com |access-date=December 30, 2024 |date=August 24, 2022}}

On December 22, 2022, Qualls returned to the Philippines as he signed with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) as the team's import for the 2023 PBA Governors' Cup.{{cite web|url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/rain-or-shine-brings-in-ex-nortport-import-qualls-for-govs-cup/258717|title=Rain or Shine brings in ex-Northport import Qualls for Govs' Cup|publisher= Tiebreaker Times|date=December 22, 2022|accessdate=December 22, 2022}}

On March 3, 2023, Qualls signed with TaiwanBeer HeroBears of the T1 League.{{cite news |title=台啤英熊補火力網羅原效力PBA平均得分30分的柯歐斯 |url=https://sports.ltn.com.tw/news/breakingnews/4228390 |accessdate=March 3, 2023 |work=Liberty Times Net |date=March 3, 2023}}

On May 18, 2023, Qualls signed with the Metros de Santiago of the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto (LNB).{{cite web |title=Metros de Santiago anuncian a Ruddy Martínez como entrenador |url=https://metros.com.do/metros-de-santiago-anuncian-a-ruddy-martinez-como-entrenador/ |website=Metros de Santiago |access-date=December 30, 2024 |date=May 18, 2023}}

In February 2024, Qualls joined the Borneo Hornbills of the Indonesian Basketball League (IBL) to replace Travion Leonard.{{cite web |title=Borneo Datangkan Michael Qualls Sebagai Pengganti Travion Leonard |url=https://iblindonesia.com/news/borneo-datangkan-michael-qualls-sebagai-pengganti-travion-leonard |website=IBL |access-date=December 30, 2024 |date=February 22, 2024}} In December 2024, he returned to the Borneo Hornbills for the 2025 IBL season.{{cite web |title=Kembali ke Borneo, Michael Qualls Makin Bersemangat |url=https://iblindonesia.com/news/kembali-ke-borneo-michael-qualls-makin-bersemangat |website=IBL |access-date=December 30, 2024 |date=December 6, 2024}}

The Basketball Tournament

Michael Qualls played for Team Arkansas in the 2018 edition of The Basketball Tournament. In 2 games, he averaged 22.5 points, 6 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. Team Arkansas reached the second round before falling to the Talladega Knights.

Personal life

The son of Anthony and grandson of Vera Thrash, Qualls has a son named Michael Jr. He majored in recreation and sports management.

References

External links

[http://www.nbadraft.net/players/michael-qualls NBADraft.net profile]
[http://www.nba.com/sixers/news/draft-profile-michael-qualls 76ers draft profile]

Category:1994 births

Category:Living people

Category:Al Riyadi Club Beirut basketball players

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Lebanon

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Israel

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Italy

Category:American expatriate basketball people in the Philippines

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Indonesia

Category:American men's basketball players

Category:Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball players

Category:Basketball players from Shreveport, Louisiana

Category:Hapoel Gilboa Galil players