Billy Bitter
 Bitter advances the ball against Duke in 2008 | |
| Born | June 10, 1988 Manhasset, New York |
|---|---|
| Nationality | United States |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight | 170 pounds (77 kg) |
| Shoots | Left |
| Position | Attack |
| NLL draft | 33rd overall, 2011 Buffalo Bandits |
| NLL team | Buffalo Bandits |
| MLL team | Charlotte Hounds |
| NCAA team | University of North Carolina |
| Nickname | "Bbitter" "Bad Man Billy"[1] |
| Website | denveroutlaws.com/... |
William Benz Bitter (born June 10, 1988) is an American former professional lacrosse player for the Charlotte Hounds of Major League Lacrosse in the 2012 season. Bitter also has played for the Buffalo Bandits of the National Lacrosse League. Bitter formerly played lacrosse for the University of North Carolina. He was given the Jay Gallagher Award (given to the most valuable freshman on the North Carolina lacrosse team) his freshman year. He was named All-ACC his sophomore year and named 1st team All-American. His junior year he was named Offensive Player of the Year in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and was named to the All-ACC team, as well as first team All-American.
Personal
The son of Ward and Nancy Bitter, Billy Bitter comes from a talented lacrosse family. His father, Ward Bitter, is in the Boston College Hall of Fame for being an All-American lacrosse player at Boston College.[2] His brother, Ward Bitter was forced to give up a promising lacrosse career due to a blood condition. His other brother, Matt Bitter, played college lacrosse for the Navy Midshipmen. His younger brother, Jimmy Bitter, attended the University of North Carolina. Jimmy was ranked as the #2 overall incoming college freshman by Inside Lacrosse. [citation needed] He followed in his brothers footsteps by taking his famed jersey number four, and Jimmy started 9 games for North Carolina in his freshman campaign. Billy runs a lacrosse events company with his family called Bitter Lacrosse. The company focuses on running destination tournaments throughout the country. They also run a lacrosse adventure camp called North Country Lax Academy.
Lacrosse career
Billy Bitter was not heavily recruited out of High School, due to suffering an injury his Junior Year. He was an Honorable Mention All-County selection his Junior Year, and a Honorable Mention his senior year of high school. He opted to do a Post Grad year at Deerfield Academy, in hopes of going to a prestigious lacrosse college. After a good year at Deerfield, he accepted a scholarship to the University of North Carolina. His freshman season he had 6 goals and 15 assists, playing in all 14 games despite not being a starter. He was used as the 4th attackmen and was involved in the EMO (Extra Man Offense) unit. His sophomore year at UNC he came onto national prominence with 46 goals and 25 assists, including an eight goal performance in the first round of the NCAA playoffs against UMBC. He went 8 for 9 shooting that game, with his only miss being his last shot. That performance won him a "Laxie" for the top individual performance of the year. He also won a "Laxie" for the National Breakthrough Player of the Year. His junior year, he was the primary focus of opposing defenses. Despite that, he still finished the year with 22 goals and 24 assists, while helping UNC post a 13-3 record and helping them reach a #4 seed in the NCAA tournament. Bitter was drafted by the Denver Outlaws 3rd overall in the 2011 MLL Collegiate Draft [3] Before being traded to the Charlotte Hounds in a 2012 league expansion deal. In 2011, he was also selected in the 4th round of the National Lacrosse League draft by the Buffalo Bandits. Bitter was the 33rd pick overall. He was also taken in the 6th round of the North American Lacrosse League rookie entry draft with the last pick (Round 6, pick 30) by the Jacksonville Bullies. It is yet known which league Bitter will play in. He has an endorsement deal with Maverik Lacrosse.[citation needed]
Statistics
University of North Carolina
| Season | GP | G | A | Pts | PPG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 16 | 25 | 14 | 39 | -- | |
| 2010 | 16 | 22 | 22 | 44 | -- | |
| 2009 | 18 | 46 | 25 | 71 | -- | |
| 2008 | 14 | 8 | 15 | 21 | -- | |
| Totals | 56 | 88 | 70 | 158 | -- |
Currently has an endorsement deal with Maverik Lacrosse
References
- ^ "Boston College Eagles". bceagles.cstv.
- ^ "Boston College Eagles". bceagles.cstv.
- ^ "Player Bio: Billy Bitter". TarheelBlue.