Timo Makkonen
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 25 June 1960 Lahti, Finland |
| Listed height | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Vance Academy (North Carolina), U.S. |
| College | North Carolina (1980–1984) |
| Position | Center |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Timo Juhani Makkonen (born 25 June 1960) is a Finnish business man and former basketball player. Born in Finland, he played college basketball in the United States for the North Carolina Tar Heels where he won the NCAA championship in 1982.[1][2]
Early life[edit]
Makkonen grew up in Lahti, Finland, and started playing basketball at the age of 13 with Lahti NMKY.[3] In 1978, he moved to the United States to attend Vance Academy at the behest of coach Al DePorter. During his senior season, he averaged 26 points and 14 rebounds, drawing the attention of numerous colleges.[4]
Basketball career[edit]
College career[edit]
After contemplating offers from Wake Forest and South Carolina, Makkonen chose the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He redshirted his first year after coming down with mononucleosis which required him to be hospitalised two times.[3] Over the next three seasons, Timo appeared in 41 games, all victories. In 1982, he won the NCAA championship with UNC.[5]
National team career[edit]
Makkonen played for the Finland national U-18 team in 1978 and 1980. In August 1982, he played two games for the Finland senior national team against Saudi Arabia.[6]
Later life[edit]
Following his college career, Makkonen stepped away from basketball and went into business.[1]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Ville-Veikko Valta (27 April 2020). "Lahtelainen Timo kasvoi jo esiteininä yli kaksimetriseksi – teki historiaa Michael Jordanin joukkuekaverina ja hoitaa nyt supertähden raha-asioita". MTV Uutiset (in Finnish). Retrieved 17 June 2024.
- ^ Wilt Browning (19 February 1984). "Fans cheer Timo as common man". News and Record. p. D4. Retrieved 17 June 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Stephanie Graham (10 April 1981). "Makkonen finds Finnish game a world apart from UNC's". The Daily Tar Heel. p. 7. Retrieved 17 June 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Bill Woodward (4 May 1980). "Timo on schedule in cage career". The News and Observer. p. 7-2. Retrieved 17 June 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Ron Morris (11 March 2010). "When he played, UNC was smokin'". The Charlotte Observer. p. 7C. Retrieved 17 June 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Suomen Koripalloliitto ry". basket.fi. Archived from the original on 30 March 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
