Montana State University Billings Athletics

Career Resume

Markus Hallgrimson, men’s basketball. An NCAA Division II All-American for the 1999-2000 season, the sharp-shooter holds five current NCAA national records and six MSUB marks.

His national records include 3-pointers for a single-game (16 vs. Western New Mexico), 3-pointers made per game (6.2), 3-point shots attempted per game (14.7), 3-point shots attempted for a single-season (382) and 3-pointers attempted per game for a career (11.3). He also holds the school record for 3-pointers made in a season (160).

A first-team All-West Region selection in 2000, he was also a two-time all-Pacific West Conference selection. Hallgrimson twice scored more than 50 points a game as a Yellowjacket and finished with 1,470 career points. He also ranks among the top 10 in eight other MSUB categories.

For a few moments last week, it was like the year 2000.

There was that familiar form, long arms unfurling for a 3-pointer. The ball coming out his hands at the absolute peak of the release point and gently settling into the bottom of the net.

We’ve seen this before.

Markus Hallgrimson was back at Alterowitz Gymnasium.

But Hallgrimson wasn’t supposed to be Hallgrimson. At that moment, he was Jonathan Hawkins, a guard for the Northwest Nazarene men’s basketball team.

The Crusaders were to play Montana State Billings the next night and Hallgrimson was playing the role of Hawkins for the Yellowjackets’ scout team.

While Hallgrimson did a pretty fair Hawkins, it’s safe to say Hawkins would have difficulty doing the same.

Then again, not many will ever match the excitement Hallgrimson brought MSUB fans for two seasons as he rained down 3-pointers. Any spot across halfcourt was considered makeable for the quiet German.

Hallgrimson was in Billings last week as part of MSUB’s Athletic Hall of Fame class for 2013. The induction ceremony was Friday and the group – Hallgrimson, along with Jeff Andresen, Alicia Cazemier, Theresa Campbell and Ally Stroup – were honored Saturday during halftime of the men’s game against Central Washington.

Instead of torching teams from around the region, Hallgrimson put himself through drills and the scrimmage during the 75-minute practice.

“I’m still in pretty good shape,’’ said Hallgrimson, who plays semi-pro ball in Germany where he lives.

He even managed to squeeze off a few of his trademark 3-pointers.

“It was fun, a lot of fun,’’ said Hallgrimson. “I made one 3, missed two … had one go in and out.”

Hallgrimson remains one of the most prolific shooters in MSUB and NCAA Division II history. He holds the NCAA Division record for 3-pointers in a single-game (16 vs. Western New Mexico) and 3-pointers made per game for a season (6.2, 1999-2000).

“The guys watched some videos of Markus’ games in the locker room after practice,’’ said MSUB coach Jamie Stevens. “There were a lot of oohs and aahs.”

Yellowjacket fans have been there and done that with Hallgrimson.

In a one-week span in February of 2000, he had games of 51 and 50 points against Chaminade and Western New Mexico. Two weeks later, he torched Western New Mexico again, this time for 45 points.

Of the top 10 3-point games in MSUB’s long basketball history, Hallgrimson has five.

“When you’re playing, you don’t realize you accomplished something,’’ he said, reflecting back to those games more than a decade ago. “I knew it just wasn’t me.”

Hallgrimson used his 16 3-pointer game as an example.

“We’re at Western New Mexico and I have eight 3-pointers at halftime,’’ he said. “Coach (Craig) Carse tells the team, ‘He’s going to get the record.’ It was my teammates who got me the rock, who set the screens, who made sure I had the open shot.”

Hallgrimson’s shooting skills – passed down from his father Paul – enabled him to play 12 years professionally in Germany, Switzerland and Morocco. Ironically, the German’s nickname was “Montana.”

“I played in some beautiful areas,’’ said Hallgrimson, citing Switzerland. “Morocco, that was a learning experience. The fans were wild. They threw coins, ripped out the seats. It was absolutely crazy sometimes. We had to hide in the locker room.”

He officially retired two years ago but still plays for a club team in the Cologne region.

“When you’re playing professionally, you’re moving all the time,’’ Hallgrimson said of the nomadic lifestyle. “Then you think back to what you did here, how hard you had to work. Running up the hill with weighted vests, the 100, 100’s … how coach Carse pushed us. You knew if you came out of Carse’s program, you could handle anything. You knew you’d be fine.”

The week was also a chance to visit with his twin daughters, Jade and Jaylyn, who live in Billings with their mother. Hallgrimson has the girls eight weeks during the summer and another four in the winter. “They’ve been able to see me play, been around the practices,’’ he said.

And for a week, Hallgrimson got to walk down memory lane.

“I think about fourth floor Petro Hall, all the hard work,’’ he said. Hallgrimson would go to Alterowitz and make 500 shots before allowing himself to leave. “It’s all about all the good friends, the friendships I have to this day.

“It was great coming back to Billings and being here.”