By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Cory Higgins has been hired by the Brooklyn Nets as a scout, according to HoopsHype senior NBA insider Michael Scotto.
Spending the majority of his playing career in Europe, the native of California became a two-time Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champion, topping Europe’s premier club continental competition in 2016 and 2019 with CSKA. Between his spells with the Moscow outfit and FC Barcelona, he also won numerous domestic titles. Nagging back issues forced a premature end to his playing days, and from there to a scouting role with the Nets.
Coming out of a brilliant NCAA career with Colorado, Higgins went undrafted in 2011 but eventually played in 44 NBA games with the Charlotte Bobcats from 2011 to 2012. Using his overseas options, he displayed his talents in Russia with Triumph Lyubertsy through the 2013-14 season and in Turkiye with Royal Hali Gaziantep, before becoming a household name in the Old Continent with CSKA over the next four years.
His EuroLeague experience amounted to 238 games, including 120 starts. Over eight seasons, he played in the season-ending Final Four six times. His career averages settled at 11.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.2 blocks per contest.
The son of former Olympiacos and NBA player Rod Higgins, with all-time great Michael Jordan as his godfather, 36-year-old Higgins naturally extended his loyalty to basketball, from the floor himself to scouting talent for the Nets.
The franchise also hired Josh Coley as a scout, as noted by Scotto.