A Story of Perseverance, Patience & Passion for Men’s Hoops

Georgia Gwinnett College men’s basketball’s upcoming Senior Night will have great significance and personal meaning for Anthony Bittar.

The point guard has enjoyed the emotional high of being an all-conference player and league champion, while also experiencing personal loss and physical obstacles throughout his five-year collegiate hoops career.

It’s been a journey that started as a high school standout in Tampa, blossomed as a collegian at Florida College (Temple Terrace, Florida), filled with frustration during a short stop at Southeastern Louisiana University (Hammond, Louisiana), and now has the 6-foot-4 player being a contributor and leader for GGC’s inaugural basketball season in Lawrenceville.

Twists and turns that tested elements of patience and perseverance during Bittar’s basketball journey have included the sudden death of his father, Anthony Sr., two and a half years ago; a momentary flirtation with playing NCAA Division I-level basketball; becoming part of the foundation of GGC’s basketball program, under former Florida College Head Coach Chase Teichmann; and overcoming a severe ankle injury that delayed his Grizzly debut for the first two months of the inaugural season.

Bittar has averaged 19 minutes to score 4.6 points and grab 2.7 rebounds over 13 games in helping the Grizzlies to a 21-6 record heading into Thursday night’s regular-season finale against Carolina University (North Carolina), starting at 7 p.m. 

He will be one of six seniors honored during special Senior Night festivities.

“I’m excited for Senior Night. It is going to be a wholesome moment with my family – a night to remember,” Bittar remarks during a recent interview.

The seniors are a close-knit unit, with four players (including Bittar) following Teichmann from Florida College to Georgia Gwinnett College over the course of the past two years.

Bittar took advantage of Teichmann’s guard-oriented offensive play to average 12 points, five rebounds and six assists in earning first all-Continental Athletic Conference team honors as the Falcons captured a league title during the 2022-23 season. 

“You have to be able to shoot the ball to stretch the floor while driving and penetrating on occasion to create (offensive opportunities) for others. My job as the point guard is to be the floor general and get my teammates involved,” says Bittar, who was a part of Florida College teams that posted a combined 58-10 record and was nationally ranked within NAIA for two seasons.

Teichmann appreciates Bittar’s statistical contributions and leadership skills – in games, practices and on the GGC campus.

“He just makes everybody better,” the coach states. “Everybody likes playing with him. He has an unbelievable passing ability and court awareness. You can tell when he is out on the court. There is a joy about him that makes you happy as well.”

“It took a big toll on me but also shaped me into the person that I am today. I had to grow up fast and play for (my dad) and my family,” Bittar notes overcoming the deep personal loss.

Making matters worse was the fact that playing time was limited at Southeastern Louisiana. The guard wished to recapture the joy of playing basketball again. So, he turned to a familiar spot and person – Teichmann – and the core group of GGC’s first senior class, including former teammates and friends Drew Kramer and Stephon Martin. 

The Grizzlies have averaged 98.8 points during a seven-game winning streak during the closing weeks of the 2025-26 season, with a school-record 113 points in a homecourt victory against CAC-member Fisher College (Massachusetts) on February 7. Bittar had eight points across 20 minutes in that contest.

A season-high 11 points came in Bittar’s first start on January 3 in a victory at Bryan College (Tennessee) – after missing the first 15 games because of a severe ankle injury suffered in practice just three days before the season opener. He nursed torn ligaments while patiently waiting for his chance to join in the fun that his teammates were having on the court.

Bittar and his GGC teammates now have their sights set on finishing this inaugural season strong, winning Thursday night’s Senior Night game, and capturing the CAC tournament, being hosted at the Convocation Center on February 26 through March 1. The league champion advances to represent the league in the NAIA national tournament.

All of that would be a fitting ending to a story of perseverance, patience and passion for Bittar.