Michael Gruner

During his senior basketball season at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, Maryland in 2006, Michael led the Vikings to a 24-3 record and the school’s first Maryland 4A State Championship. In what local papers hailed as one of the biggest upsets in Maryland State basketball history, Michael tallied 23 points (8-12 FG, 2-4 from three-point), three assists, and the game-winning free throw as the Vikings defeated the favored team by one point. Michael averaged 20.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game. He was selected to the Washington Post All-Met First Team and named the Gazette Co-Player of the Year, along with future NBA MVP Kevin Durant. From 2006-10, Michael played Division I basketball at Lafayette College where he was a three-year starter and co-captain of the team in his senior season. Michael briefly played professional basketball in Poland following his college career. Michael participated in the 2005 Maccabiah Games in Israel for Team USA basketball.