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Keye van der Vuurst de Vries

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Keye van der Vuurst de Vries
Van der Vuurst de Vries with Joventut in 2024
No. 6 – Força Lleida
PositionPoint guard
LeagueLiga ACB
Personal information
Born (2001-12-29) 29 December 2001 (age 22)
Rijswijk, Netherlands
NationalityDutch
Listed height191 cm (6 ft 3 in)
Listed weight85 kg (187 lb)
Career information
Playing career2018–present
Career history
2018–2023Oostende
2023–2024Zunder Palencia
2024–presentJoventut
2024–presentForça Lleida
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing the  Netherlands
FIBA Europe U18 Championship Division B
Gold medal – first place 2018 National team

Keye van der Vuurst de Vries (born 29 December 2001) is a Dutch basketball player for Força Lleida on loan from Joventut Badalona of the Spanish Liga ACB. He is the youngest player to ever play in the Netherlands national basketball team, as he made his debut at age 16.[1][2]

He played in the youth academy and senior team of Oostende, and is a five-time Belgian League champion and one time Finals MVP with them.

Early life and career

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Throughout his childhood, Van der Vuurst de Vries played with the amateur team Lokomotief, in his hometown Rijswijk. In 2017, he signed with Belgian club BC Oostende, where he played for the youth teams as well for Duva Fruit.[3]

Professional career

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Van der Vuurst de Vries made his debut with BC Oostende in the 2018–19 Pro Basketball League season. For the following 2019–20 season, he was given a permanent spot on Oostende's roster.[4] He won three consecutive Pro Basketball League championships with Oostende. On 27 May 2022, he won his fourth consecutive Belgian championship and was named the Finals MVP after averaging 9 points and 7.8 assists in the series against Kangoeroes.[5]

On April 26, 2022, he declared for the 2022 NBA draft.[6]

On May 27, 2024, he signed with Joventut Badalona of the Spanish Liga ACB.[7] On December 9, 2024, Van der Vuurst de Vries was sent on loan to Força Lleida CE for the remainder of the 2024–25 season.[8]

National team career

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Junior teams

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In 2018, Van der Vuurst de Vries won the 2018 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship Division B while playing with the Dutch under-18 team.[9] He scored a game-high 35 points in the final, in which Slovenia was defeated easily by 86–57.[10]

Senior team

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On 16 November 2018, van der Vuurst was selected by head coach Toon van Helfteren to be a part of the Netherlands senior team.[11] On 29 November 2018, Van der Vuurst de Vries made his debut for the Netherlands at age 16, making him the youngest player ever to play for the Dutch team.[2] He surpassed the record set in 1961 by Ger Kok.[12] In his debut game, the Netherlands played Poland, and lost 78–105.

Personal

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Keye is the younger brother of Boyd, who plays professional basketball for Okapi Aalst.[13]

Honours

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Club

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Oostende

Individual

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References

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  1. ^ "Piepjong talent (16) in basketbalselectie". De Telegraaf. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Nederland kan WK vergeten". basketballleague.nl. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  3. ^ "Nederlanders in het buitenland: Keye van Der Vuurst". Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  4. ^ "Keye van der Vuurst de Vries naast Djordjevic op de point guard – Filou Oostende". Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  5. ^ "FILOU Oostende wins the betFIRST BNXT League Belgian Championship title of 21-22!". BNXT League. 27 May 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  6. ^ "Keye van der Vuurst de Vries available for NBA Draft". BNXT League. 26 April 2022. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  7. ^ "Joventut Badalona inks Keye van der Vuurst". Sportando. May 27, 2024. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  8. ^ "Keye Van der Vuurst, cedido | ACB.COM". www.acb.com (in Spanish). 2024-12-09. Retrieved 2024-12-26.
  9. ^ "Netherlands celebrate historic title in Skopje". FIBA.basketball. 19 April 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  10. ^ "'De kracht van dit team? We hebben het samen gedaan'". Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  11. ^ "Vier debutanten voor Orange Lions". Basketballleague.nl (in Dutch). 16 November 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  12. ^ "Keye (16) jongste ooit in selectie Nederlands basketbalteam". Omroepwest.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  13. ^ "Okapi Aalst trekt Nederlander Boyd van der Vuurst de Vries aan". sporza.be (in Dutch). 10 August 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.