Al Horford

Alfred Joel Horford (born June 3, 1986) is a Dominican professional basketball player for the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Horford played college basketball for the University of Florida, and was the starting center on the Florida Gators teams that won back-to-back NCAA national championships in 2006 and 2007. He also plays for the Dominican Republic national team.

Early years and high school career

Horford was born in the city of Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. Although the Dominican Republic is more famous for producing baseball players, both Horford and his father, Tito Horford, were recruited for basketball. Tito, whose father was a Bahamian immigrant, was recruited by Marian Christian High School in Houston and attended Louisiana State and Miami before being drafted in the second round of the 1988 NBA draft. He played three years in the NBA and several more overseas. Horford's mother, Arelis Reynoso, was a journalist.

Horford grew up watching his father play and fell in love with the game. In the summer of 2000, Horford and his family moved to Lansing, Michigan, where he attended Grand Ledge High School in Grand Ledge, Michigan, and was a star on its basketball team. Horford holds seven school records, including most career points, 1,239. As a senior he was Class A Player of The Year, averaging 21 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 blocks per game. While at Grand Ledge, Horford played AAU basketball for the Michigan Mustangs, who were runners-up in the Adidas Big Time National Tournament.