Fred Hetzel

Fred B. Hetzel (born July 21, 1942) is an American former professional basketball player. He was an All-American college player for Davidson College. Hetzel was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1965 NBA draft by the San Francisco Warriors and played six seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

High school career Hetzel initially attended Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington, D.C., and played for the Tigers in the 1958 season. He then transferred to Landon School in Bethesda, Maryland and was a 3 time All Met. As a sophomore, he averaged 20.5 ppg and 20.4 rebounds per game as a junior. As a 3 time All Met in the Washington Daily News, Washington Post, and Evening Star, he followed in the footsteps of Lew Luce and George Leftwich as the only 3-peats. He averaged 24.1 ppg in his senior season and finished with 1,210 points during his Bears career. On March 2, 1961, Undefeated Landon and DeMatha Catholic High School (ranked 1–2 in the city) faced off in Cole Field House before a crowd of 6400. Fred Hetzel led Landon that night with 18 points but it was the tandem of John Austin and Gary Ward that led the Stags to victory 57–52.

College career Hetzel played collegiately at Davidson College of the Southern Conference, recruited by Hall of Fame Coach Lefty Driesell. He was the Southern Conference Player of the Year in all three seasons for the Wildcats. Freshmen did not play varsity level, by NCAA rule in Hetzel's era. Davidson lost in the Southern Conference tournament in all three seasons of Hetzel's career, negating NCAA Tournament trips.

In 1962–1963, Hetzel averaged 23.7 points and 13.5 rebounds as Davidson finished 20–7. Davidson finished 18th in the AP/UPI polls

Davidson was 22–4 in 1963–1964, led by Hetzel's 27.3 points and 13.5 rebounds, winning the Southern Conference. Davidson finished 10th in the AP/UPI polls

As a senior, Davidson was 24–2, a perfect 12–0 in the Southern Conference in 1964–1965. behind Hetzel's 26.5 points and 14.8 rebound averages. Hetzel was a consensus All-American in 1965, along with Bill Bradley of Princeton, Cazzie Russell of Michigan, Gail Goodrich of UCLA and Rick Barry of Miami (FL). Sports Illustrated projected Davidson as the number one preseason basketball team in the US followed by Michigan.. Davidson ended the year at 6th in the AP/UPI polls.

Overall, Hetzel averaged 25.7 points and 13.8 rebounds in 79 games at Davidson, leading them to a 66–13 record over three seasons.

Professional career A forward-center from Davidson, Hetzel was selected by the San Francisco Warriors with the first overall pick of the 1965 NBA draft on May 6, 1965.

As a rookie, Hetzel was named to the 1966 NBA All-Rookie Team, along with Rick Barry, Billy Cunningham, Dick Van Arsdale and Tom Van Arsdale. Hetzel averaged 6. 8 points and 5.2 rebounds for Coach Alex Hannum and the Warriors, with Hall of Famers Rick Barry, Guy Rodgers and Nate Thurmond. During the regular season, Hetzel was the team's 4th leading scorer with 12.2 points per game, along with 8.3 rebounds.

In 1967–1968, Hetzel had his finest professional season, averaging 19.0 points and 7.1 rebounds for the Warriors. The team finished 49–39, and defeated the St. Louis Hawks in the playoffs, before being swept by the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Division Finals.

On May 6, 1968, Hetzel's Warrior career ended. He was chosen by the new Milwaukee Bucks from the San Francisco Warriors in the NBA expansion draft. During the 1968–1969 season, after 53 games with the Bucks, with Hetzel averaging 15.9 points and 8.9 rebounds, he was traded. On January 31, 1969, he was traded by the Bucks to the Cincinnati Royals for Donald Smith and cash. He finished the year with averages of 14.4 points and 7.3 rebounds.

Overall, Hetzel played six seasons in the NBA (1965–1971), averaging 11.2 points and 5.9 rebounds in 416 games.

NBA career statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

Personal life Hetzel resides in Virginia and Florida.

Hetzel's father, Fred Sr, played basketball at Maryland from 1928 to 1930.

Honors In 1985, Hetzel was inducted into the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Basketball Hall of Fame. 1990 Recipient of the NABC Balfour Silver Anniversary Award Inducted into the Davidson Hall of Fame in 1990. 1996 SoCon 75th All Time All Star Team [Jerry West, Hot Rod Hundley, Fred Hetzel, Dick Groat, Frank Selvy] In 2010, Hetzel was inducted into the Southern Conference Hall of Fame.