{{short description|American professional basketball player (born 1983)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2016}} {{Infobox basketball biography | name = Pierre Pierce | position = Shooting guard | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 4 | weight_lb = 195 | league = | team = | number = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1983|6|7}} | birth_place = Westmont, Illinois, U.S. | high_school = Westmont (Westmont, Illinois) | college = Iowa (2001–2005) | draft_year = 2005 | draft_round = | draft_team = | career_start = 2005 | career_end = | years1 = 2008–2010 | team1 = Hyères-Toulon | years2 = 2010–2011 | team2 = Aris | years3 = 2011–2012 | team3 = Azovmash | years4 = 2012–2013 | team4 = Hyères-Toulon | years5 = 2013 | team5 = Cholet Basket | years6 = 2013–2014 | team6 = Hyères-Toulon | highlights = * Third-team ''Parade'' All-American (2001) }}
'''Pierre Antoine Pierce''' (born June 7, 1983) is an American former professional basketball player and sex offender. A former member of the University of Iowa Hawkeyes men's team, Pierce was convicted of several crimes relating to a violent incident with a former girlfriend, leading to his dismissal from the Hawkeyes and eventual imprisonment. The 6-foot-4-inch (1.93 m) and 195 lb (88 kg) point guard<ref name=freshmanstarter>[https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/news/story?id=1440257 Pierce pleads innocent; could face 10-year term - Men's College Basketball - ESPN] - ''"The 19-year-old Pierce, of Westmont, Ill., started 32 of 35 games as a freshman, mostly at point guard."''</ref><ref>[https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/news/story?id=1441095 Alford gets back to basics at Iowa - Men's College Basketball - ESPN] - ''"losing Pierce (second leading returning scorer at 7.1 ppg) leaves the Hawkeyes without an experienced point guard."''</ref> shooting guard was the highest scoring player on the team at the time of his dismissal.<ref name=releasesstatement/>
Pierce was born in the Chicago, Illinois suburb of Westmont,<ref name=May24>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2064987|title=Judge allows former Iowa player to attend NBA draft|date=May 25, 2005|publisher=}}</ref> and he played competitive basketball for Westmont High School. He began attending the University of Iowa in 2001.
==College career== In his freshman season (2001–02), in which he started 32 of 35 games, mostly at point guard,<ref name=freshmanstarter/> Pierce averaged 7.1 points (4th on the team<ref>[https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/stats/_/id/2294/sort/points/year/2002/iowa-hawkeyes Iowa Hawkeyes 2001-02 Statistics - Team and Player Stats - Men's College Basketball - ESPN (sorted by '''Points''')]</ref>), 3.3 rebounds (4th on the team<ref>[https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/stats/_/id/2294/sort/rebounds/year/2002/iowa-hawkeyes Iowa Hawkeyes 2001-02 Statistics - Team and Player Stats - Men's College Basketball - ESPN (sorted by '''Rebounds''')]</ref>) and a team-leading 3.3 assists per game,<ref>[https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/stats/_/id/2294/sort/assists/year/2002/iowa-hawkeyes Iowa Hawkeyes 2001-02 Statistics - Team and Player Stats - Men's College Basketball - ESPN (sorted by '''Assists''')]</ref> while making 16.7% of his three-pointers.<ref name=Pierce-ing/>
As he was suspended for the entire 2002–03 season, Pierce's sophomore season commenced in 2003–04. In 29 games, he averaged a team-leading 16.1 points,<ref>[https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/stats/_/id/2294/sort/points/year/2004/iowa-hawkeyes Iowa Hawkeyes 2003-04 Statistics - Team and Player Stats - Men's College Basketball - ESPN (sorted by '''Points''')]</ref> 5.7 rebounds (3rd on the team<ref>[https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/stats/_/id/2294/sort/rebounds/year/2004/iowa-hawkeyes Iowa Hawkeyes 2003-04 Statistics - Team and Player Stats - Men's College Basketball - ESPN (sorted by '''Rebounds''')]</ref>) and 3.7 assists (2nd on the team<ref>[https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/stats/_/id/2294/sort/assists/year/2004/iowa-hawkeyes Iowa Hawkeyes 2003-04 Statistics - Team and Player Stats - Men's College Basketball - ESPN (sorted by '''Assists''')]</ref>). A highlight was a 28-point performance in a 79–70 loss to Michigan on March 12, 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=240722294|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160915053022/http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=240722294|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 15, 2016|title=Michigan vs. Iowa - Game Recap - March 12, 2004 - ESPN|publisher=}}</ref>
In his final season (2004–05), up until it had been cut short, the junior had been leading the team with 17.8 points,<ref name=releasesstatement/><ref name=PTS2005>[https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/stats/_/id/2294/sort/points/year/2005/iowa-hawkeyes Iowa Hawkeyes 2004-05 Statistics - Team and Player Stats - Men's College Basketball - ESPN (sorted by '''Points''')]</ref> while averaging 5.2 rebounds (2nd on the team<ref>[https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/stats/_/id/2294/sort/rebounds/year/2005/iowa-hawkeyes Iowa Hawkeyes 2004-05 Statistics - Team and Player Stats - Men's College Basketball - ESPN (sorted by '''Rebounds''')]</ref>), 4.2 assists,<ref>[https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/stats/_/id/2294/sort/assists/year/2005/iowa-hawkeyes Iowa Hawkeyes 2004-05 Statistics - Team and Player Stats - Men's College Basketball - ESPN (sorted by '''Assists''')]</ref> and for a team-high 2.5 steals,<ref>[https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/stats/_/id/2294/sort/steals/year/2005/iowa-hawkeyes Iowa Hawkeyes 2004-05 Statistics - Team and Player Stats - Men's College Basketball - ESPN (sorted by '''Steals''')]</ref> this was a marked improvement from 2001 to 2002 and 2003–04, when he averaged only 0.9 steals in each of those seasons.<ref>[https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/stats/_/id/2294/sort/steals/year/2002/iowa-hawkeyes Iowa Hawkeyes 2001-02 Statistics - Team and Player Stats - Men's College Basketball - ESPN (sorted by '''Steals''')]</ref><ref>[https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/stats/_/id/2294/sort/steals/year/2004/iowa-hawkeyes Iowa Hawkeyes 2003-04 Statistics - Team and Player Stats - Men's College Basketball - ESPN (sorted by '''Steals''')]</ref> He had a career-high 31 points and a team-high 3 steals in an 81–69 loss to Ohio State on January 8, 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=250080194|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160915053615/http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=250080194|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 15, 2016|title=Iowa vs. Ohio State - Game Recap - January 8, 2005 - ESPN|publisher=}}</ref>
==Legal troubles==
===2001 and 2002 charges=== According to DuPage County (Illinois) court records, in June 2001, Pierce was arrested and had to post bail on charges of criminal defacement and mob action for allegedly spray-painting his high school, although Pierce disputes the records.<ref name=focus>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/news/story?id=1982504|title=Iowa dismisses Pierce, cites 'betrayal of trust'|date=February 3, 2005|publisher=}}</ref>
In September 2002, Pierce was charged with one count of third-degree sexual assault in Iowa City. He was arrested on October 1.<ref name=couldface10years>{{cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/news/2002/1002/1440257.html|title=Hawkeyes' Pierce charged in sexual assault, suspended|date=October 2, 2002|publisher=}}{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> On September 7, a report was filed by a woman who was treated at a hospital emergency room the day before. She accused Pierce, an acquaintance, of performing unwanted sex acts on her at a party at his Iowa City apartment on September 6.<ref name=deferredjudgment/> According to records, Pierce held the woman's hands over her head and covered her mouth when she tried to scream.<ref name=Oct2002>{{cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/news/2002/1023/1450123.html|title=Iowa's Pierce pleads innocent to sex charges|date=October 23, 2002|publisher=}}{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> He was subsequently suspended indefinitely from the Iowa Hawkeyes by athletic department officials,<ref name=Oct2002/> which was atypical, as the school usually waits for the legal process to play out before making a decision, but the school took swift action because of the severity of the charge.<ref name=couldface10years/>
To avoid imprisonment, Pierce pleaded guilty to a lesser misdemeanor charge<ref>{{cite news|first=Susan|last=Harman|title=Ex-Hawk details crime|work=Iowa City Press-Citizen|date=July 11, 2006|page=1A}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Brandon|last=Campbell|title=UI's Pierce report may be released soon|work=The Daily Iowan|date=January 27, 2003}}</ref> of assault causing injury in a sexual assault. He received no jail time,<ref name=gainingparole>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/2301/former-hawkeye-star-pierre-pierce-gaining-parole-eyes-nba|title=Former Hawkeye Star Pierre Pierce Gaining Parole, Eyes NBA|date=September 22, 2006|publisher=}}</ref> but received a deferred judgment, so the charge was erased from his record after he successfully completed a year of probation, counseling and 200 hours of community service, the requirements of the plea agreement.<ref name=focus/><ref name=deferredjudgment>{{cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/news/2002/1031/1453954.html|title=Iowa's Pierce on one-year probation through plea deal|date=November 2, 2002|publisher=}}{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> He later apologized publicly for engaging in "inappropriate sexual conduct with a fellow student."<ref name=focus/><ref name=deferredjudgment/> Pierce sat out the 2002–03 season after his plea bargain<ref name=focus/> but took it as a redshirt year to avoid losing it as a year of eligibility.
Because there were many people upset over Pierce being allowed to remain on the team and keep his scholarship, two petitions totaling over 3,000 signatures were filed protesting the circumstances of the school's handling of the case. A petition started by a law school student had 1,873 signatures, while the university's Women's Resource and Action Center collected 1,230. Amid resolutions urging students to boycott the men's basketball games, the petition had urged season ticket holders to ask the athletic department for a refund or to transfer their tickets to another athletic team,<ref name=votesdownboycott>{{cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/news/2002/1210/1475096.html|title=Iowa students petition over sexual assault case|date=December 11, 2002|publisher=}}{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> actions Pierce's attorney Alfredo Parrish labeled "absolutely ridiculous" because "[they] don't know the facts" before "[reaching] a conclusion."<ref name=votesdownboycott/>
Pierce spent that season working on improving his game while he was not competing.<ref name=Pierce-ing>[https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/columns/story?columnist=katz_andy&id=1617784 Iowa Pierce-ing things together - Men's College Basketball - ESPN] - ''"Pierce spent his redshirt season working on his shooting, getting stronger, driving with the ball and making crisper passes."''</ref> Pierce was back in uniform with the team in August 2003, in a return for the 2003–04 season,<ref name=releasesstatement>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/news/story?id=1983556|title=Alford: Letting Pierce go 'only option'|date=February 5, 2005|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/news/story?id=1981653|title=Iowa leading scorer Pierce kept out of practice|date=February 2, 2005|publisher=}}</ref> in which he led the Hawkeyes on a five-game tour of Australia.<ref name=Pierce-ing2>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/columns/story?id=1617784&columnist=katz_andy|title=Katz: Pierce-ing things together|date=September 17, 2003|publisher=}}</ref> In those games, he averaged 20.8 points a game on better than 50-percent shooting, and almost 5 rebounds per game.<ref name=Pierce-ing2/>
===2005 charges and imprisonment=== On January 27, 2005, a disturbance was investigated at the West Des Moines home of a woman Pierce had been dating for 2½ years.<ref name=fouryears/> He allegedly choked her, threatened her with a knife and stripped her after an argument over her new boyfriend. Pierce was also accused of causing damage to her apartment and stealing a laptop and camera.<ref name=threefelonies>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/news/story?id=1994739|title=Prosecutors toughen charges against Pierce|date=February 19, 2005|publisher=}}</ref><ref name=upto56years/> After police confirmed Pierce was the focus of their investigation, he was dismissed from the basketball team by coach Steve Alford on February 2,<ref name=August22/><ref name=released/> with Alford saying that [Pierce had] betrayed the trust they placed in him when he was given a second chance two years prior.<ref name=focus/><ref>{{cite web|author=University of Iowa (press release)|title=Pierce Dismissed|url=http://hawkeyesports.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/020205aad.html|date=February 2, 2005|accessdate=March 8, 2007}}</ref> At the time, Pierce was the leading scorer on the team averaging 17.8 points per game,<ref name=releasesstatement/><ref name=PTS2005/> the third-best in the Big Ten Conference, and led the Hawkeyes with 16.1 points a game as a sophomore in 2003–04.<ref name=released/><ref name=sep2008/> Pierce met with Alford for about 15 minutes on February 15, and Pierce's appeal to have his dismissal reconsidered was rejected by Alford.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/news/story?id=1992261|title=Iowa coach denies Pierce appeal of dismissal|date=February 15, 2005|publisher=}}</ref> Pierce remained on scholarship and was still attending classes.<ref name=stillattending>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/news/story?id=1989593|title=Pierce's attorney wants felony charge dismissed|date=February 12, 2005|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/news/story?id=1987704|title=Ex-Hawkeye Pierce charged|date=February 10, 2005|publisher=}}</ref>
Pierce's attorney Alfredo Parrish sought dismissal of the most serious of the charges, first-degree burglary, a felony that carries a maximum penalty of up to 25 years upon conviction.<ref name=stillattending/> On February 28, 2005, Pierce pleaded not guilty to two charges of first-degree burglary, assault with intent to commit sexual assault and fourth-degree criminal mischief.<ref name=upto56years>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/news/story?id=2001992|title=Former Iowa star Pierce pleads not guilty|date=February 28, 2005|publisher=}}</ref> Because the first-degree burglary charges and the assault charges are felonies, a conviction would mean Pierce could have been sentenced to up to 56 years<ref name=threefelonies/> and fined $9,000.<ref name=upto56years/> In March, he waived his right to a speedy trial, delaying it from mid-May to a later date.<ref name=waivedright>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/news/story?id=2026126|title=Former Iowa star Pierce's trial may be delayed|date=March 30, 2005|publisher=}}</ref> Months later, fresh evidence surfaced that Pierce made more than 200 phone calls to his ex-girlfriend in March and April, which violated a no-contact order.<ref name=May24/>
In May 2005, a judge allowed Pierce to travel outside of Iowa to attend a Chicago, Illinois-based camp in preparation for June's 2005 NBA draft.<ref name=May24/> Strict conditions were placed on Pierce, including the posting of a $30,000 cash bond, that he stay with his parents in the Chicago area and that he submit a plan outlining his supervision while attending the camp.<ref name=May24/>
In August 2005, he reached a plea bargain and pleaded guilty to third-degree burglary, assault with an intent to commit sexual abuse, false imprisonment, and fourth-degree criminal mischief in Dallas County District Court.<ref name=released/> He was originally charged with two counts of first-degree burglary,<ref name=waivedright/> but prosecutors agreed to dismiss these, which would have carried a 25-year sentence.<ref name=August22>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/news/story?id=2140514|title=Ex-Iowa star Pierce pleads guilty to assault|date=August 22, 2005|publisher=}}</ref> He was sentenced on October 28, 2005, to a five-year suspended sentence on the burglary charge, two years on the assault charge and one year each for false imprisonment and criminal mischief, the sentences to be served concurrently.<ref name=fouryears>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=ncb&id=2206756|title=Pierre Pierce sentenced to four years in prison|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/news/story?id=2206787|title=Ex-Iowa star Pierce gets two-year prison sentence|date=October 28, 2005|publisher=}}</ref>
Pierce served 332 days (11 months) of a 2-year sentence at Iowa's Mount Pleasant Correctional Facility<ref name=sep2008/> before being released on probation<ref>{{cite news|first=Erika|last=Binegar|title=Ex-basketball player released from prison|work=The Des Moines Register|date=September 25, 2006|page=4B}}</ref> on September 24, 2006.<ref name=released>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/news/story?id=2601257|title=Ex-Iowa star Pierce released after serving 11 months|date=September 24, 2006|publisher=}}</ref> Pierce originally sought early release but learned he was denied on August 7, 2006, thus delaying his freedom for several weeks.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/news/story?id=2542697|title=Parole denied for former Iowa hoops star Pierce|date=August 8, 2006|publisher=}}</ref> He received time off for good behavior and participation in prison treatment programs<ref name=gainingparole/><ref name=released/> including a 4- to 5-month treatment program for sex offenders.<ref name=gainingparole/> He was to remain on probation for the next four years and one month,<ref name=released/> and had to register with the Iowa Sex Offender Registry before his release.<ref name=gainingparole/>
===Release=== Pierce was named to the roster of Golden State Warriors' 2007 NBA Summer League competition in Las Vegas,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/warriors/news/2007_Summer_League_Roster.html|title=Golden State Warriors News Headlines|publisher=}}</ref> in which he played impressively,<ref>[http://www.nba.com/warriors/news/2007_summer_league_home.html WARRIORS: 2007 summer league home] - ''"Kelenna Azubuike, '''Pierre Pierce''' and Toby Bailey each impressed onlookers during their stints on the floor."''</ref><ref>[http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-26-24/Player-with-a-Past--Pierre-Pierce.html Player with a Past: Pierre Pierce] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080928124246/http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-26-24/Player-with-a-Past--Pierre-Pierce.html |date=September 28, 2008 }} - ''"In his first two games for Golden State's summer league team, he is averaging an efficient 21 points per game on a mix of creative drives and a pretty longball jumpers."'' .. ''"he has showed plenty of promise."''</ref> averaging 21.5 points in his first two games.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/warriors/news/2007_summer_league_blog.html|title=2007 summer league blog|publisher=}}</ref> Because the terms of his probation prevented him from leaving Iowa to pursue a career with the NBA,<ref>{{cite news|title=Judge Rejects Pierce's Latest Attempt To Pursue NBA Career|url=http://www.kcci.com/sports/11206104/detail.html|work=KCCI|date=March 8, 2007|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927201533/http://www.kcci.com/sports/11206104/detail.html|archivedate=September 27, 2007|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Pierre Pierce Requests to Move Home to Illinois|url=http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/7467017.html|work=KCRG|date=May 12, 2007|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927091727/http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/7467017.html|archivedate=September 27, 2007|df=mdy-all}}</ref> his participation in the Nevada-based summer league was a violation, which resulted in him being sentenced in April 2008 to 30 days' jail.<ref name=sep2008/>
In September 2008, the Iowa Supreme Court allowed Pierce to leave Iowa to play professionally in France where he signed a $120,000 contract with a team (Hyères-Toulon Var Basket<ref>[http://www.eurobasket.com/player.asp?Cntry=FRA&PlayerID=45690 PIERRE PIERCE basketball profile], ''eurobasket.com''</ref>) in their top professional league<ref name=sep2008>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/news/story?id=3605027|title=Ex-Iowa's Pierce OK to leave U.S., play in France|date=September 23, 2008|publisher=}}</ref> in which he averaged 13.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 30 French League games. In July 2010 he signed a one-year deal with Greek club Aris BC.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurocupbasketball.com/eurocup/home/news/i/73894/3735|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120926015828/http://www.eurocupbasketball.com/eurocup/home/news/i/73894/3735|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 26, 2012|title=Aris BSA 2003 inks Pierre Pierce|publisher=}}</ref> In February 2011 he signed with BC Azovmash.<ref>[http://www.bcazovmash.com.ua/ru/news_one/559/ Пресс-конференция. Александр Савчук: "Такой кубок нам не нужен"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110222071136/http://bcazovmash.com.ua/ru/news_one/559/ |date=February 22, 2011 }} {{in lang|uk}}</ref> He last played for l'Angers Basket Club in France in 2014–15 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bebasket.fr/championnat-pro-b/pierre-pierce-vers-angers.html|title = Pierre Pierce vers Angers|date = November 27, 2014}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist|3}}
== External links == * [https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/5084 Pierre Pierce Stats, Bio - ESPN], ''sports.espn.go.com'' * [https://web.archive.org/web/20050206095431/http://cbs.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/players/playerpage/438173 Pierce's Profile on the CBS Sportsline Web Site] * [http://www.htv-basket.com/index.php?rub=voir_pro&id=6 Pierre Pierce profile] at official site of Hyères Toulon Var Basket {{in lang|fr}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pierce, Pierre}} Category:1983 births Category:Living people Category:American expatriate basketball people in France Category:American expatriate basketball people in Greece Category:American expatriate basketball people in Ukraine Category:American men's basketball players Category:American people convicted of burglary Category:Aris B.C. players Category:BC Azovmash players Category:Cholet Basket players Category:Greek Basket League players Category:HTV Basket players Category:Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball players Category:Parade High School All-Americans (boys' basketball) Category:People from Westmont, Illinois Category:Point guards Category:Shooting guards Category:Basketball players from DuPage County, Illinois Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen Category:21st-century American sportsmen Category:20th-century American sportsmen