Hellion “Boogie” Knight is the Associate Head Coach for Men’s Basketball and Head of Player Development for the 2013-2014 season. He brings a wealth of collegiate and professional playing experience to the staff at Talladega College, as well as coaching and player development experience.
Knight played his high school basketball at White Castle High School in White Castle, LA under one of Louisiana’s Most Winningest coaches Ronald “Sam” Johnson who is now retired with a career coaching record of (678-249). As a senior in 2004, Knight led his team in Scoring (21.3PPG), steals, assists, free throws made & 3pt field goals made and was also First Team All-State, All-Metro, Parish MVP, First Team All-District and LHSAA State Runner-up finishing 30-7 for the season. As a 4-year varsity player, Coach Knight had an overall record of 120-24, district record of 32-0, three 30+ win seasons (32-5, 34-2, 24-10, 30-7) and played in the LHSAA Top 28 State Championship game all 4 years (winning 1 out of 4).
Knight played his freshman season of college basketball at Western Wyoming Community College in 2004-2005 where he started at the point guard position and helped lead his team to the school’s first ever regular season Conference and Sub-Region Championship. For the 2005-2006 season, Knight transferred with his coach who took the job at Colby College in Kansas to compete in the Jayhawk Conference, known as one of the top junior college conferences in the country. There, Knight helped lead his team to school’s first ever post season win and first ever region tournament appearance. He averaged 17.2PPG and was named KJCCC Conference Player of the Week.
After 2 successful college seasons, Knight chose to turn pro at age 19 and played his first season in Dusseldorf, Germany where he scored 30 points in his first professional basketball game. He averaged 16PPG for the 2006-2007 season. In 2007-2008, Knight moved up to Top division in Cyprus playing for AEK Larnaca basketball club where he averaged 12PPG and was 2nd in the country in 3pt field goals made and 2nd in 3pt field goals made per game (2.4). He also competed professionally in London, ABA, TPBL, made the final cut for the USA Select Basketball roster and earned a contract in the National Basketball Association Development League (NBADL) before injuring himself.
Hellion Knight first joined the Tornadoes coaching staff for the 2008-2009 season under Matt Cross as Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach. After winning the 2009 USCAA National Championship, Knight left Talladega College to continue his pro basketball career in Europe. After suffering a major injury that required multiple surgeries, Coach Knight got back into coaching and joined Coach Matt Cross at Lamar State College-Port Arthur as Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach and Head of Player Development for the 2011-2012 season (25-7) where they won the Region 14 and South Zone Regular Season Conference Championship.
Coach Matt Cross rejoined Talladega College as Head Men’s Basketball Coach for 2012-2013 season and Coach Knight returned with him as Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach and Head of Player Development.
Coach Knight has also been an assistant coach and head of player development for men’s basketball at Paul Quinn College, Southern Elite 17u boys national travel team and the head of player development for Rise Above All Skills Academy that offers player development services all over the world.
