Draft:John Fanta
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John Fanta | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 14, 1996 |
| Alma mater | Seton Hall University |
| Occupation | Sports commentator |
| Employers |
|
| Sports commentary career | |
| Genre | Play-by-play |
| Sport | |
John Fanta (born July 14, 1996) is an American college basketball sports commentator and writer. Fanta serves as a writer for Fox Sports and play-by-play analyst for games on Fox Sports 1.[1]
Early Life and Education
[edit]Fanta was born to parents Gerry and Molly and grew up in Westlake, Ohio.[2]
Fanta first got into college basketball in 2005 when his grandfather took him to the Wolstein Center in Cleveland for an NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament game. In that game, the 2004–05 West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team pulled off a double-overtime upset over the 2004–05 Wake Forest Demon Deacons men's basketball team.[3]
Fanta attended his father’s alma mater, Saint Ignatius High School (Cleveland).[4]
At Saint Ignatius, Fanta became a student basketball analyst as a freshman. By senior year, Fanta became president of the Saint Ignatius Broadcasting Network, broadcasting across several sports. While in high school, Fanta broadcasted two Ohio High School Athletic Association State Championship games on the Saint Ignatius Broadcasting Network.
Fanta was inspired by his father to attend college away from home, to "go out of his box in Cleveland".[5] Attracted by the allure of covering Big East Conference basketball, Fanta attended Seton Hall University. While a student at Seton Hall, Fanta was a voice for the Pirate Sports Network, as well as a contributor for The Setonian and Pirate Television. [6]
While in college, he interned for MLB Whiparound and served as a production assistant Fox’s Copa America soccer coverage.
Fanta graduated Seton Hall in 2017 from the College of Communication and the Arts, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism. Fanta became the first non-student athlete to receive the Seton Hall Most Valuable Pirate Award, traditionally given to a student-athlete who had gone above and beyond in their respective sport.[7]
Career
[edit]Fanta began as an on-air personality for the Big East Digital Network in September 2014. He worked as a sideline reporter for Big East women’s basketball games on Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sports 2, including the conference championship. Aside from basketball, Fanta also covered Big East soccer, baseball, swimming and diving, and cross country.[8]
Fanta began covering an array of Big East conference events professionally in 2017, including the Big East men's basketball tournament at Madison Square Garden and the NCAA Final Four.[9]
Currently, Fanta serves as a lead host on the Big East Digital Network and serves as a commentator on The Field of 68 Media Network. [10] Fanta’s work includes feature stories, Q&As, columns and video contributions on Big East conference digital content.
In 2021, Fanta announced he would be broadcasting NBA G League games.[11]
Fanta made his NBA broadcast debut on January 11, 2024 alongside Brooklyn Nets and YES network analyst Sarah Kustok, with whom he made his Fox Sports broadcasting debut years prior. The pair called the NBA Paris Game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Brooklyn Nets from the NBA Studios, which was broadcast on NBA TV.[12]
In March 2024, Fanta was awarded the Rising Star Award by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association.[13]
Beginning with the 2024-25 college basketball season, Fanta began calling both Big Ten conference and Big East conference games for NBC Sports, on top of his duties with FOX Sports.[14]
Fanta has become known for his enthusiasm when broadcasting, making him a fan-favorite in the college basketball media landscape.
Personal Life
[edit]Fanta resides in Hoboken, New Jersey.
He is a life-long fan of the Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Guardians, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Cleveland-area high school athletics.
Fanta lists Joe Tait, Jim Donovan, Tom Hamilton, and Fred McLeod as Cleveland-area voices who inspired him early in his life.[15]
Fanta married his wife, Victoria, on September 1 2023.
Fanta was presented with the 2024 Young Alumnus Award from his alma mater, St. Ignatius, on September 26, 2024.[16]
References
[edit]- ^ "John Fanta Bio & Career Accomplishments".
- ^ "St. Ignatius High School and Westlake resident is truly a 'man for all seasons'". 30 May 2013.
- ^ "Inside John Fanta's unlikely rise to the top of college hoops media". 21 March 2024.
- ^ https://www.ignatius.edu/news/september-2024/2024-young-alumnus-award-john-fanta-13
- ^ "Inside John Fanta's unlikely rise to the top of college hoops media". 21 March 2024.
- ^ "Success of our SIBN Alumni".
- ^ "Alumni Profile John Fanta '17".
- ^ "John Fanta".
- ^ "Success of our SIBN Alumni".
- ^ "John Fanta Bio & Career Accomplishments".
- ^ https://x.com/john_fanta/status/1359226971138449411?mx=2
- ^ "Exclusive: Fox college hoops announcer John Fanta prepares for NBA debut". 10 January 2024.
- ^ "Fanta named USBWA's 2024 Rising Star".
- ^ "NBC adds John Fanta to bolster college basketball coverage". 5 November 2024.
- ^ "Exclusive: Fox college hoops announcer John Fanta prepares for NBA debut". 10 January 2024.
- ^ https://www.ignatius.edu/news/september-2024/2024-young-alumnus-award-john-fanta-13