Juan Mendez | |
Height Ft: | 6 |
Height In: | 8 |
Weight Lbs: | 250 |
Nationality: | Canadian |
Birth Date: | 23 September 1981 |
Birth Place: | Montreal, Quebec |
Highschool: | Florida Air Academy (Melbourne, Florida) |
College: | Niagara (2001–2005) |
Draft Year: | 2005 |
Career Start: | 2005 |
Career End: | 2013 |
Career Number: | 13 |
Career Position: | Power forward |
Coach Start: | 2015 |
Years1: | 2005 - 2006 |
Team1: | Pallacanestro Trapani |
Years2: | 2006 |
Team2: | Panellinios |
Years3: | 2006 - 2007 |
Team3: | Ironi Nahariya |
Years4: | 2007 - 2008 |
Team4: | Maccabi Rishon LeZion |
Years5: | 2008 - 2009 |
Team5: | Xinjiang Flying Tigers |
Years6: | 2010 - 2011 |
Team6: | BC Dnipro |
Years7: | 2011 - 2012 |
Team7: | Cocolos |
Years8: | 2012 - 2013 |
Team8: | Montreal Jazz |
Years9: | 2013 |
Team9: | GUG |
Highlights: |
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Juan Méndez (born September 23, 1981) is a Canadian professional basketball player who played for the Niagara University men's university basketball team from 2001 to 2005. He is currently assistant coach on the Redmen Basketball Team. Born in Montreal, Quebec, from Dominican parents, Mendez played with the Canadian national basketball team as well as in several different professional teams overseas.
Juan entered his senior year with over 1,500 career points. This put him close to Calvin Murphy on Niagara's all time lists. Juan is also the highest scoring Canadian in NCAA Division 1 history.In 2014, Juan was inducted into the MAAC Naismith Hall of Fame (1st Canadian) in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA.
After graduating college, Mendez built his professional career as a player overseas.He has also been a member of the Team Canada from summers 2003 to 2008. During his time with the team, he participated in the NBA summer league in 2003, averaging 11.4 PPG in 5 games. He participated in the 2003 Pan American Games and finished in 2nd place at Four Nations Tournament in China and Brazil in 2004. He also averaged 16.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game at the 2005 Americas Championship and 8.9 points and 4.1 rebounds per game during the 2007 Americas Championship.