Tony Rampton

{{for|the British businessman and philanthropist|Tony Rampton (businessman)}}

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Tony Rampton

| image =

| caption =

| position = Centre

| height_cm = 213

| weight_kg = 112

| league =

| team =

| number =

| nationality = New Zealand

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1976|5|30}}

| birth_place = New Plymouth, New Zealand

| high_school =

New Plymouth Boys' (New Plymouth, New Zealand)
Waseca (Waseca, Minnesota)

| college = Iowa State (1995–1999)

| draft_year = 1999

| career_start = 1999

| career_end = 2010

| coach_start = 2011

| coach_end = 2015

| years1 = 1999

| team1 = Taranaki Oilers

| years2 = 2000

| team2 = Nelson Giants

| years3 = 2000–2001

| team3 = Kouvot

| years4 = 2000

| team4 = →Korikouvot

| years5 = 2001–2005

| team5 = Cairns Taipans

| years6 = 2005–2006

| team6 = Taranaki Mountainairs

| years7 = 2005–2007

| team7 = Wollongong Hawks

| years8 = 2007–2009

| team8 = West Sydney Razorbacks / Sydney Spirit

| years9 = 2008

| team9 = Taranaki Mountainairs

| years10 = 2009–2010

| team10 = Nelson Giants

| years11 = 2009–2010

| team11 = Cairns Taipans

| cyears1 = 2011–2013

| cteam1 = Nelson Giants (asst.)

| cyears2 = 2014–2015

| cteam2 = Nelson Sparks

| highlights =

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry | {{NZL}} }}

}}

Tony Rampton (born 30 May 1976) is a New Zealand former professional basketball player.

Early life and college

Rampton was born in New Plymouth, New Zealand,{{cite web|url=http://www.nbl.com.au/default.aspx?s=hawks_playerprofile&profile=24|title=Tony Rampton|work=NBL.com.au|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070416025141/http://www.nbl.com.au/default.aspx?s=hawks_playerprofile&profile=24|archive-date=16 April 2007}} and attended New Plymouth Boys' High School.{{cite web|url=https://issuu.com/newplymouthboyshighschool/docs/1993/30|title=1993 The Taranakian Vol. 82|work=issuu.com/newplymouthboyshighschool|date=7 June 2016 |accessdate=27 March 2021}}

Rampton left New Zealand as a rising 17-year-old talent to play two years of high school basketball in the United States.{{cite web|last=McNae|first=Pete|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/4372842/Ex-Tall-Black-Rampton-no-longer-centre-stage|title=Ex-Tall Black Rampton no longer centre stage|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=24 November 2010|accessdate=27 March 2021}} He attended Waseca High School in Waseca, Minnesota,{{cite web|url=https://cyclones.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/tony-rampton/6005|title=Tony Rampton|work=cyclones.com|accessdate=27 March 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.postbulletin.com/waseca-coach-not-sure-he-did-it-right/article_ebdbc87b-8539-51ac-9169-520e1acff097.html|title=Waseca coach not sure he did it right|work=postbulletin.com|date=12 December 1996|accessdate=27 March 2021}} before spending four years at Iowa State between 1995 and 1999, where he averaged 2.2 points and 2.1 rebounds in 80 games.{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/tony-rampton-1.html|title=Tony Rampton College Stats|work=Sports-Reference.com|accessdate=27 March 2021}}

Professional career

Rampton played his first year in the New Zealand NBL with the Taranaki Oilers in 1999{{cite web|url=http://www.plug.co.nz/sport/basketball/newsletter6.htm |title=Rampton to Play for Taranaki |work=plug.co.nz |date=16 March 1999 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991010023305/http://www.plug.co.nz/sport/basketball/newsletter6.htm |archive-date=10 October 1999}} and won rookie of the year. He joined the Nelson Giants in 2000 and went on to help them reach the grand final, where they lost to the Auckland Rebels. He was named Kiwi MVP, the league's most outstanding forward, was crowned rebounding champion with 14.6 a game and was included in the league's All-Star Five.{{cite web|last=Hinton|first=Marc|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/300262992/nbl-40in40-giant-strides-as-tony-rampton-recalls-early-years-in-kiwi-hoops-league|title=NBL 40in40: Giant strides as Tony Rampton recalls early years in Kiwi hoops league|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=27 March 2021|accessdate=27 March 2021}}

Rampton started the 2000–01 season in Finland{{cite web|url=http://www.katajabasket.fi/edustusjoukkue/ottelut/2000-01/korikouvot-joka.php|title=Miesten 1. divisioona 2000-01|work=katajabasket.fi|date=27 November 2000|accessdate=28 March 2021|language=Finnish}} before finishing with the Cairns Taipans of the Australian NBL. After injury saw him only play half a season with the Taipans in 2001–02, he continued on with Cairns between 2002 and 2005.{{cite web|url=https://websites.sportstg.com/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=190395400&client=0-189-88243-125714-11144829|title=Player statistics for Tony Rampton|work=NBL|accessdate=27 March 2021}} Between 2005 and 2007, he played for the Wollongong Hawks. He then played two seasons for the West Sydney Razorbacks / Sydney Spirit. His final season in the Australian NBL came in the 2009–10 season with the Taipans.{{cite web|title=Cairns Taipans recruit Rampton|work=The Cairns Post|date=13 August 2009|url=http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2009/08/13/58085_local-sport-news.html|access-date=2009-11-06}}{{cite web|title=Final instalment of Cairns Taipans' Rambo|work=The Cairns Post|date=12 February 2010|url=http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2010/02/12/93105_local-sport-news.html|access-date=2010-02-15}}

In the New Zealand NBL, Rampton returned to Taranaki in 2005.{{cite web|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/basketball-aussie-league-pair-boost-taranaki/5NYJ7X522DJBXHMHJ52VZ6TH6U/|title=Basketball: Aussie league pair boost Taranaki|work=nzherald.co.nz|date=30 January 2005|accessdate=27 March 2021}} He played for Taranaki again in 2006 but did not return in 2007.{{cite web|last=Hills|first=Murray|url=https://www.pressreader.com/new-zealand/taranaki-daily-news/20070215/281951718351298|title=Jet takes to the Airs for Taranaki|work=Taranaki Daily News|date=15 February 2007|accessdate=27 March 2021|quote=...the other a big man to replace Tall Black Tony Rampton, who is not returning from Australia this season.}} He played for Taranaki again in 2008.{{cite web|url=https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/basketball/basketball-taranaki-win-keep-nbl-hopes-alive|title=Basketball: Taranaki win to keep NBL hopes alive|work=odt.co.nz|date=17 May 2008|accessdate=27 March 2021}} In 2009 and 2010, he played for the Nelson Giants.{{cite web|last=McNae|first=Pete|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/sport/2748851/Rampton-heads-to-Cairns|title=Rampton heads to Cairns|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=24 August 2009|accessdate=27 March 2021}} He retired due to a chronic ankle injury that had plagued him since 2000.

In March 2021, Rampton was named among the greatest 40 New Zealand NBL players of all time, ranking at No. 36 in the NBL's '40in40' selection for the best players in the 40-year history of the league.{{cite web|url=https://men.nznbl.basketball/sals-nbl-40in40-40-31/|title=SAL'S NBL 40IN40: 40-31|work=nznbl.basketball|date=24 March 2021|accessdate=27 March 2021}}

National team career

Rampton first represented New Zealand in 1997 at the World Championship for Men '22 and Under'. He debuted for the Tall Blacks in 1999.{{cite web|url=http://www.basketball.org.nz/national-teams/tall-blacks/tall-blacks-player-profiles/tony-rampton/|title=Tony Rampton|work=basketball.org.nz|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070902121319/http://www.basketball.org.nz/national-teams/tall-blacks/tall-blacks-player-profiles/tony-rampton/|archive-date=2 September 2007}} In 2000, he played for the Tall Blacks at the Sydney Olympics. He went on to play for the Tall Blacks at the 2003 FIBA Oceania Championship, 2004 Summer Olympics, 2005 FIBA Oceania Championship, 2006 Commonwealth Games,[http://www.commonwealthgames.org.nz/Athletes/AthleteProfile.aspx?Print=&ContactID=380&id=3780 Profile at the New Zealand Olympic Committee website] 2006 FIBA World Championship, and 2007 FIBA Oceania Championship.{{cite web|url=https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/player/p/pid/28433/sid/3152/tid/337/tid2//_/2003_Oceania_Championship_for_Men/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001024351/http://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/player/p/pid/28433/sid/3152/tid/337/tid2//_/2003_Oceania_Championship_for_Men/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 October 2015|title=tony Rampton|work=fiba.com|accessdate=27 March 2021}}

Coaching career

Between 2011 and 2013, Rampton served as an assistant coach with the Nelson Giants.{{cite web|last=Hills|first=Murray|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/4606300/Tony-Rampton-gone-as-a-Giants-player|title=Tony Rampton gone as a Giants player|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=3 February 2011|accessdate=27 March 2021}}{{cite web|last=McNae|first=Pete|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/8915435/Giants-assistant-Rampton-to-put-his-foot-down|title=Giants assistant Rampton to put his foot down|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=13 July 2013|accessdate=27 March 2021}} In 2014 and 2015, he coached the Nelson Sparks in the national women's basketball championship.{{cite web|last=McNae|first=Pete|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/sport/68603732/sparks-can-take-control-of-their-fate|title=Sparks can take control of their fate|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=16 May 2015|accessdate=28 March 2021}}{{cite web|last=McNae|first=Pete|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/69054234/nelson-sparks-set-to-farewell-coach-and-centre|title=Nelson Sparks set to farewell coach and centre|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=3 June 2015|accessdate=28 March 2021}}

Personal life

Rampton is the son Taranaki basketball legend Brian Rampton. Tony's brother, Damon, also played in the New Zealand NBL and the pair played alongside each other with Taranaki.{{cite web|url=https://websites.sportstg.com/assoc_page.cgi?client=2-8121-0-0-0&sID=215031&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=16012080|title=Taranaki's coming - and it's personal - The Nelson Mail|work=Taranaki Basketball Association|date=12 June 2011|accessdate=27 March 2021}}

Rampton's wife Nicki (née Thompson) also played basketball in New Zealand.{{cite web|last=Seconi|first=Adrian|url=https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/basketball/basketball-goldrush-coach-hungry-side-go-one-better|title=Basketball: Goldrush coach hungry for side to go one better|work=odt.co.nz|date=4 August 2011|accessdate=28 March 2021}} She was coached by Tony at the Nelson Sparks.{{cite web|url=https://websites.sportstg.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=1-3995-0-0-0&sID=62583&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=23063714|title=Nelson Sparks Win the South Island Derby|work=Canterbury Basketball Association|date=8 April 2013|accessdate=28 March 2021}}

As of March 2021, Rampton was living in China with his wife and two children, and teaching at an international English-speaking school in Shanghai.