Quick Facts
Biography
Desmond Penigar (born July 16, 1981) is an American professional basketball player. A 6'7" 245 lb forward, he attended Utah State University and Ventura College. Penigar was a member of the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association during the 2003-04 NBA season. As a member of the Asheville Altitude, he won the 2003-04 National Basketball Development League Rookie of the Year.
He has played professionally in South Korea, Germany, Austria, Lebanon, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Desmond is also the founder of 50-50 Sports, LLC,a basketball skills and character development organization specializing in camps, clinics, small group and individual training sessions, mentoring, and speaking engagements. The company's slogan is "Play HARD", and they state their mission is to "build exceptional athletes who are also exceptional people".
During time away from professional basketball while rehabbing leg injuries, Desmond spent time as a counselor for juveniles at Salt Lake Observation & Assessment, a Health & Fitness teacher and Assistant Basketball Coach at Roy High School in Roy, Utah, and also worked on a Masters in Public Administration from Western Carolina University.
Professional awards and achievements
- NBDL Rookie of the Year -04
- All-NBDL 1st Team -04
- NBDL Regular Season Champion -04
- NBDL Champion -04
- Austrian Bundesliga A All-Star Game -09
- Eurobasket.com All-Austrian Bundesliga Imports Team -09
- Eurobasket.com All-Austrian Bundesliga 1st Team -09, 10
- Austrian Bundesliga A Semifinals -09
- Austrian Supercup Winner -09
- Austrian A Bundesliga All-Star Game -10
- Eurobasket.com Austrian Bundesliga All-Imports Team -10
- Austrian Bundesliga A Finalist -10
- Austrian Bundesliga A Regular Season Champion -10
- Asia-Basket.com All-Lebanese League 1st Team -12
- Asia-Basket.com Lebanese League All-Imports Team -12
- Asia-Basket.com Lebanese League All-Defensive Team -12
- Kuwait Federation Cup Winner -13
- Kuwait League Regular Season Champion -13
College and high school awards and achievements
- HS first-team all-league and all-county selection -98,99
- JUCO runner-up player of the year in the state of California -00,01
- JUCO first-team all-conference and all-state selection -00,01
- Big West Conference Regular Season Champion -02 (Utah State)
- Big West Conference Tournament Finalist -02 (Utah State)
- All-Big West Conference 1st Team -02,03
- Big West Tournament Champion -03
- Big West All-Tournament Team -03