Tony Rampton

For the British businessman and philanthropist, see Tony Rampton (businessman).

Tony Rampton
Personal information
Born (1976-05-30) 30 May 1976 (age 48)
New Plymouth, New Zealand
NationalityNew Zealand
Listed height213 cm (7 ft 0 in)
Listed weight112 kg (247 lb)
Career information
High school
CollegeIowa State (1995–1999)
NBA draft1999: undrafted
Playing career1999–2010
PositionCentre
Coaching career2011–2015
Career history
As player:
1999Taranaki Oilers
2000Nelson Giants
2000–2001Kouvot
2000→Korikouvot
2001–2005Cairns Taipans
2005–2006Taranaki Mountainairs
2005–2007Wollongong Hawks
2007–2009West Sydney Razorbacks / Sydney Spirit
2008Taranaki Mountainairs
2009–2010Nelson Giants
2009–2010Cairns Taipans
As coach:
2011–2013Nelson Giants (asst.)
2014–2015Nelson Sparks
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's Basketball
Representing  New Zealand
Commonwealth Games
Silver medal – second place 2006 Melbourne Team Competition

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

Early life and college

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Rampton was born in New Plymouth, New Zealand,[1] and attended New Plymouth Boys' High School.[2]

Rampton left New Zealand as a rising 17-year-old talent to play two years of high school basketball in the United States.[3] He attended Waseca High School in Waseca, Minnesota,[4][5] before spending four years at Iowa State between 1995 and 1999, where he averaged 2.2 points and 2.1 rebounds in 80 games.[6]

Professional career

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Rampton played his first year in the New Zealand NBL with the Taranaki Oilers in 1999[7] 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.[8]

Rampton started the 2000–01 season in Finland[8][9] 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.[10] 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.[10][11][12]

In the New Zealand NBL, Rampton returned to Taranaki in 2005.[13] He played for Taranaki again in 2006 but did not return in 2007.[14] He played for Taranaki again in 2008.[15] In 2009 and 2010, he played for the Nelson Giants.[16] He retired due to a chronic ankle injury that had plagued him since 2000.[3]

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.[8][17]

National team career

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Rampton first represented New Zealand in 1997 at the World Championship for Men '22 and Under'. He debuted for the Tall Blacks in 1999.[18] 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,[19] 2006 FIBA World Championship, and 2007 FIBA Oceania Championship.[20]

Coaching career

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Between 2011 and 2013, Rampton served as an assistant coach with the Nelson Giants.[21][22] In 2014 and 2015, he coached the Nelson Sparks in the national women's basketball championship.[23][24]

Personal life

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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.[25]

Rampton's wife Nicki (née Thompson) also played basketball in New Zealand.[26] She was coached by Tony at the Nelson Sparks.[24][27]

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.[8]

References

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  1. ^ "Tony Rampton". NBL.com.au. Archived from the original on 16 April 2007.
  2. ^ "1993 The Taranakian Vol. 82". issuu.com/newplymouthboyshighschool. 7 June 2016. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  3. ^ a b McNae, Pete (24 November 2010). "Ex-Tall Black Rampton no longer centre stage". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  4. ^ "Tony Rampton". cyclones.com. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  5. ^ "Waseca coach not sure he did it right". postbulletin.com. 12 December 1996. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  6. ^ "Tony Rampton College Stats". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  7. ^ "Rampton to Play for Taranaki". plug.co.nz. 16 March 1999. Archived from the original on 10 October 1999.
  8. ^ a b c d Hinton, Marc (27 March 2021). "NBL 40in40: Giant strides as Tony Rampton recalls early years in Kiwi hoops league". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Miesten 1. divisioona 2000-01". katajabasket.fi (in Finnish). 27 November 2000. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Player statistics for Tony Rampton". NBL. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  11. ^ "Cairns Taipans recruit Rampton". The Cairns Post. 13 August 2009. Retrieved 6 November 2009.
  12. ^ "Final instalment of Cairns Taipans' Rambo". The Cairns Post. 12 February 2010. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
  13. ^ "Basketball: Aussie league pair boost Taranaki". nzherald.co.nz. 30 January 2005. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  14. ^ Hills, Murray (15 February 2007). "Jet takes to the Airs for Taranaki". Taranaki Daily News. Retrieved 27 March 2021. ...the other a big man to replace Tall Black Tony Rampton, who is not returning from Australia this season.
  15. ^ "Basketball: Taranaki win to keep NBL hopes alive". odt.co.nz. 17 May 2008. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  16. ^ McNae, Pete (24 August 2009). "Rampton heads to Cairns". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  17. ^ "SAL'S NBL 40IN40: 40-31". nznbl.basketball. 24 March 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  18. ^ "Tony Rampton". basketball.org.nz. Archived from the original on 2 September 2007.
  19. ^ Profile at the New Zealand Olympic Committee website
  20. ^ "tony Rampton". fiba.com. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  21. ^ Hills, Murray (3 February 2011). "Tony Rampton gone as a Giants player". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  22. ^ McNae, Pete (13 July 2013). "Giants assistant Rampton to put his foot down". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  23. ^ McNae, Pete (16 May 2015). "Sparks can take control of their fate". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  24. ^ a b McNae, Pete (3 June 2015). "Nelson Sparks set to farewell coach and centre". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  25. ^ "Taranaki's coming - and it's personal - The Nelson Mail". Taranaki Basketball Association. 12 June 2011. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  26. ^ Seconi, Adrian (4 August 2011). "Basketball: Goldrush coach hungry for side to go one better". odt.co.nz. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  27. ^ "Nelson Sparks Win the South Island Derby". Canterbury Basketball Association. 8 April 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
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