Former NBA Star Trenton Hassell Donates Bleachers to Burt Elementary

October 31, 2012 |

Former NBA star and Clarksville native Trenton Hassell, who played at Austin Peay, has donated portable bleachers to Burt Elementary. The bleachers are being delivered and set up today.

The school is very grateful for this generous gift.

Hassell earned a reputation for being one of the NBA’s best perimeter defenders. A 6’5″, 210 lbs guard-forward, Hassell was selected by the Chicago Bulls with the first pick in the second round (29th overall) of the 2001 NBA Draft.

Hassell graduated from Clarksville High School in Clarksville, Tennessee in 1997 and from Austin Peay State University in 2001 with a degree in health and human performance. Among his high school teammates was future NBA player Shawn Marion. He played three seasons of college basketball with APSU after redshirting his first year. In January 2002, Austin Peay retired his college jersey number 44.

During his rookie season with Bulls in 2001–02, he appeared in 78 games, making 47 starts and averaging 8.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg and 2.2 apg. In Hassell’s sophomore season in Chicago, he appeared in all 82 games, making 53 starts and averaging 4.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg and 1.8 apg in 24.4 mpg.

Hassell was waived by the Bulls on October 23, 2003 and signed by the Minnesota Timberwolves six days later. He was a regular starter with the Wolves and often took the role of defensive specialist of the team. He was traded to the Mavericks for Greg Buckner on September 28, 2007

On February 19, 2008, he was traded to the New Jersey Nets along with signed and traded Keith Van Horn, Devin Harris, DeSagana Diop, Maurice Ager, $3 million cash and 2008 and 2010 first round draft picks in exchange for Jason Kidd, Malik Allen and Antoine Wright.

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