Greg Wiltjer

Greg Wiltjer (born November 26, 1960) is a retired Canadian professional basketball center. He played in several important tournaments for the Canadian national basketball team, including the 1984 Summer Olympics, as well as the European Cup Winner's Cup championship with FC Barcelona, and Aris BC from 1987 to 1989.

Amateur career

Six foot, eleven inches (2.11 m) in stature, Wiltjer was born in Whitehorse, Yukon and grew up on Vancouver Island playing hockey and soccer and did not begin to play basketball formally until he was a junior in high school. He attended North Idaho College where in 1979-80 and '80-81 he posted very good numbers and the attention of the University of Washington. Members of the university's coaching staff and booster club were found by the Pac-10 to have violated player recruiting rules. Wiltjer then opted to join fellow conference school Oregon State University.

Wiltjer's sole season with the Beavers was memorable for the team's successful post-season run. Featuring A. C. Green and Charlie Sitton, the Ralph Miller coached Beavers reached the Elite Eight of the 1982 NCAA Tournament where as a No. 2 seed they fell to the top-seeded Georgetown Hoyas, led by Patrick Ewing. Wiltjer sat out the next season as he transferred to play for then Canadian powerhouse the University of Victoria. Wiltjer was a prominent member of a Vikes team, led by Eli Pasquale and coached by Ken Shields, that won the CIAU championship in 1984 as part of their 5-year consecutive run as national champions.