Nationality Serbian 1992–1993 Borac Cacak Height 2 m Pro career 1992–2000 Role Basketball player | NBA draft 1996 / Undrafted Name Haris Brkic Listed height 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) 1993–1999 Partizan Position Swingman | |
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Born July 24, 1974
Sarajevo, SR Bosnia-Herzegovina, SFR Yugoslavia ( 1974-07-24 ) Died December 15, 2000, Belgrade, Serbia Parents Radmila Brkic, Ismet Brkic | ||
Haris Brkić poentira, uz faul Predraga Danilovića [21.04.1998.]
Haris Brkić (Serbian: Харис Бркић; July 24, 1974 – December 15, 2000) was a Yugoslav basketball player. He achieved greatest results in KK Partizan and he is still remembered by fans for his great contribution to the club.
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Club career
Born to a Bosniak father, Ismet and a Serb mother, Radmila, Haris started playing basketball when he was 10 years old in KK Bosna from Sarajevo.
In 1992, on the eve of the Bosnian War, still 17-year-old Brkić moved to Serbia where he soon got signed by KK Partizan, a squad led by the debutante head coach Željko Obradović and coaching consultant Aca Nikolić. Training in the club's youth system, that season Brkić didn't see any action with the full squad, which was in the middle of a great run that would culminate with winning the Euroleague title in April 1992.
In the summer of 1992 Brkić got sent out on loan to KK Borac Čačak where his professional career began in earnest.
One year later he returned to Belgrade, beginning the 1993–94 season with the Partizan first team led by the also newly arrived head coach Željko Lukajić. Brkić played for Partizan in the next six seasons, winning three national championships and three domestic cups. Haris was one of the best players in KK Partizan team which played in 1997–98 Euroleague Final Four.
During the 1999–2000 season he played for KK Budućnost Podgorica where he won Yugoslav league once again. Haris started the 2000–01 season at Podgorica, but in November 2000 came back to Partizan. After his comeback to Belgrade he played just three more games for Partizan.
Youth
With the Yugoslav national junior basketball team, in 1996, Brkić won bronze medal at the European under-20 Championship in Turkey. Playing on a squad led by head coach Rajko Toroman, together with Partizan teammates Predrag Drobnjak and Dragan Lukovski as well as Vlado Šćepanović and Jovo Stanojević, Brkić averaged 11 ppg over seven games at the championship.
Senior
Brkić suited up for the Yugoslav national basketball team in several preparation friendly games, never managing to make the final cut for the big competitions.
Murder
On December 12, 2000, an unknown assailant shot Brkić at the parking in front of Pionir Hall in Belgrade. Haris died three days later. It is still unknown who killed him.
Every summer, his former teams Bosna, Partizan and Budućnost organize Memorial tournament. Grobari, fans of Partizan often chant during Partizan games: "You left us Haris, only sadness remains, you will be always loved by Grobari from South stand!"