Semaj Christon

Semaj Christon
No. 6 – Oklahoma City Thunder
Position Point guard
League NBA
Personal information
Born (1992-11-01) November 1, 1992
Cincinnati, Ohio
Nationality American
Listed height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight 190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High school Winton Woods
(Cincinnati, Ohio)
Brewster Academy
(Wolfeboro, New Hampshire)
College Xavier (2012–2014)
NBA draft 2014 / Round: 2 / Pick: 55th overall
Selected by the Miami Heat
Playing career 2014–present
Career history
2014–2015 Oklahoma City Blue
2015–2016 Consultinvest Pesaro
2016–present Oklahoma City Thunder
Career highlights and awards

Semaj Rakem Christon (born November 1, 1992) is an American professional basketball player for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for Xavier.

High school career

The Cincinnati, Ohio native attended Winton Woods High School with whom he led the Fort Ancient Valley Conference in scoring as a senior with 21 points per game, adding 5.2 assists. He was a District 16 Player of the Year, Fort Ancient Valley Conference West Division Player of the Year, Cincinnati Enquirer All-Star, All-Southwest District Second-Team selection,[1] and Honorable Mention All-State.[2][3]

In July 2011, Christon committed to Xavier, playing in the Atlantic 10 Conference of the NCAA Division I, but would join the team in 2012, first attending prep school Brewster Academy along with fellow recruit Jalen Reynolds.[3] Christon, rated a four star recruit by Rivals.com,[4] chose Cincinnati college Xavier over reported offers from Illinois, Providence and Georgetown.[5]

At Brewster, he was part of a star-studded lineup that included future NBA players JaKarr Sampson, T. J. Warren and Mitch McGary, serving as the floor general and assist-provider as the school romped to a 32-1 record and a National Prep School Championship,[6][7] with Christon earning All-NESPAC First Team honours.[8][9]

During his high school career, Christon also played AAU basketball for Club Ohio, participating in the Under-17 National Championship,[10] and later on for the Cincinnati Knights.[11]

College career

2012–13 season

Christon joined Xavier for the 2012–13 season. After missing the first game of the season due to a cut in his elbow getting infected,[12] he made his Musketeer debut against Butler on 13 November 2012, contributing 2 points and 8 assists.[13] His game soon picked up as he had an average of 17.7 points and 5 assists over the next 7 games, finishing the season as Xavier's leader in points (15.2), assists (4.6), steals (1.5) and minutes (34.3),[6] with his 456 total points ranking second among Xavier freshmen through history.[14] His performances earned him personal recognition, he was Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie team and All-Conference Second Team in the Atlantic 10,[15] adding a Kyle Macy Freshmen All-America Team selection by Collegeinsider.com and NABC District 4 Second Team.[16]

2013–14 season

A change of Conference from the Atlantic to the Big East Conference did not deter Christon in 2013-14,[17] on the contrary as he improved his scoring average to a conference fourth-best 17 points per game, along with 4.1 assists (sixth best) and 1.4 steals, on the way to a unanimous All-Big East First Team selection.[18] Entering the Big East Tournament with 984 career points, Christon had 18 points in the quarterfinal win against Marquette - a team against which he priorly had scored a career-high 28 points - to become second Musketeer after Byron Larkin to reach 1,000 points as a sophomore.[19] Another 18 points in the semifinal defeat to Creighton led to a Big East All-Tournament Team selection.[20] In the NCAA Tournament First Four encounter with NC State, Christon was overshadowed by former teammate T. J. Warren, posting 14 points with 7 turnovers against the former's 25 points as NC State won the game, that would prove to be the last of his college career.[21]

In March 2014, Christon declared himself as an early entrant for the NBA draft, forgoing his two remaining years of college eligibility. Despite speculation that he would withdraw his entry, Christon hired an agent and submitted the paperwork in April 2014, thereby ensuring he wouldn't return to Xavier for his junior season.[22]

Christon finished his collegiate career with 1,034 points in 64 games (16.2 average), adding 281 assists (4.4), he led the Musketeers in scoring and steals during both of the seasons he played and in assists during his freshman season.[23]

Professional career

D-League and Summer League

Projected to be drafted anywhere between the late first round and late second round,[22] Christon was selected by the Miami Heat with the 55th overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft on June 26. His draft rights were later traded to the Charlotte Hornets,[24] and then again to the Oklahoma City Thunder.[25] He joined the Thunder for the 2014 NBA Summer League where he experienced his first taste of professional basketball.[26]

Christon did not take part in the Thunder's training camp and was instead incorporated into the team's NBA Development League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue.[27][28] In his first professional game, on November 14, 2014 against the Maine Red Claws, he scored 32 points.[29] His good form continued during the season and led him to participate in the D-League All-Star Game in February 2015, contributing 10 points for the Prospects.[30][31] Christon finished the 2014–15 season with 18.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.7 assists (ninth best in the league), 1.6 steals (13th) in around 35 minutes per game over 44 games played, earning NBA Development League All-Rookie Third Team honours.[32]

Christon re-joined the Thunder for the 2015 NBA Summer League, taking place between the 4th to the 10th of July.[33] He performed well at the Orlando event, top-scoring in the fifth place game win over the Los Angeles Clippers with 23, for tournament averages of 15.6 and an unrivaled 6.8 assists.[34] Despite these performances and plaudits from Thunder assistant coach Darko Rajakovic, a contract was not forthcoming, with some speculating that the Thunder – having just signed Cameron Payne at his position – would wait for backup point guard D. J. Augustin's contract to expire in 2016 before signing Christon.[35]

Consultinvest Pesaro

Later that summer, Christon moved to the Italian Serie A, signing with Consultinvest Pesaro on August 3, 2015.[36] In 30 games, he averaged 14.3 points, 3.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 33.2 minutes per game.[37]

Oklahoma City Thunder

In July 2016, Christon re-joined the Oklahoma City Thunder for the 2016 NBA Summer League. On August 20, 2016, he officially signed with the Thunder for the first time.[37]

Career statistics

Season Team League GP MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2014–15 Oklahoma City Blue D-League 46 35.2 .448 .259 .778 3.6 5.8 1.6 .2 18.8
2015–16 Consultinvest Pesaro Serie A 30 33.2 .469 .190 .664 3.3 3.7 1.6 .2 14.3

References

  1. ↑ "Four area players named to SW district first team". SpringfieldNewsSun.com. 4 March 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  2. ↑ "2011" Boys Basketball All-Ohio Teams". OHSAA.org. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Men's Basketball announces the signing of four high school standouts". GoXavier.com. 9 November 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  4. ↑ "Semaj Christon". Rivals.Yahoo.com. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  5. ↑ Snow, Brian (25 July 2011). "Christon comes off the board". Scout.com. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  6. 1 2 Jefferson, Brandon (14 November 2013). "Semaj Christon is the best college basketball player you don't know about". Uproxx.com. Dime Magazine. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  7. ↑ Broering, Rick (3 April 2012). "Christon looking forward to Friday". Scout.com. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  8. ↑ "NEPSAC Class AAA Announces Seasonal Honors". BrewsterAcademy. March 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  9. ↑ Semaj Christon Recruiting Profile
  10. ↑ Kelley, TJ (29 July 2010). "16u/17u Super Showcase; 16u Nat. Championship". Scout.com. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  11. ↑ Phillips, Scott (24 July 2011). "St. Louis Summer Classic: Day 2". Scout.com. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  12. ↑ De Courcy, Mike (9 November 2012). "Depleted Xavier loses Semaj Christon to infection". SportingNews.com. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  13. ↑ "Xavier Records Impressive 62-47 Win Over Butler". GoXavier.com. 13 November 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  14. ↑ "0 - Semaj Christon". GoXavier.com. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  15. ↑ "Xavier's Christon and Taylor each win multiple Atlantic 10 Conference postseason honors". FoxSports.com. 12 March 2013. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  16. ↑ "Xavier's Semaj Christon Earns Freshman All-America Honor". GoXavier.com. 1 April 2013. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  17. ↑ Hamilton, Brian (21 January 2014). "Xavier's Semaj Christon pushes Doug McDermott for Big East player of the year". SI.com. Rosemont (Illinois). Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  18. ↑ Russell, Shannon (9 March 2014). "Semaj Christon unanimous Big East first team pick". Cincinnati.com. The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  19. ↑ O'Connell, Jim (14 March 2014). "Xavier beats Marquette 68-65 to reach semis". Yahoo.com. New York. Associated Press. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  20. ↑ Broering, Rick (18 March 2014). "The Matchups: Xavier vs NC State". Scout.com. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  21. ↑ "N.C. State advances past Xavier, will face Saint Louis". ChicagoTribune.com. Dayton (Ohio): Sports Xchange. 18 March 2014. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  22. 1 2 Russell, Shannon (25 April 2014). "Semaj Christon hires agent, submits draft paperwork". Cincinnati.com. The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  23. ↑ "2014-15 Men's Basketball Guide - History and Records" (PDF). CSTV.com. Xavier Musketeers. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  24. ↑ Pottheiser, Jennifer (27 June 2014). "Heat acquires Shabazz Napier in the 2014 NBA Draft". NBA.com. Miami Heat. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  25. ↑ "Thunder acquires Mitch McGary, Josh Huestis and draft rights to Semaj Christon". NBA.com. Oklahoma City Thunder. 27 June 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  26. ↑ Gallo, Nick (10 July 2014). "Thunder Rookies Making Progress in Summer League". NBA.com. Oklahoma City Thunder. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  27. ↑ Russell, Shannon (29 September 2014). "Semaj Christon to start pro career in D-League". Cincinnati.com. The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  28. ↑ Gallo, Nick (10 November 2014). "Blue Kicks Off Season with Media Day". NBA.com. Oklahoma City Thunder. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  29. ↑ "Blue Falls to Red Claws on Opening Night". NBA.com. Oklahoma City Blue. 14 November 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  30. ↑ "Thirteen NBA Veterans Headline Rosters for NBA Development League All-Star Game Presented by Kumho Tire". NBA.com. February 15, 2015. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  31. ↑ Gallo, Nick (15 February 2015). "Blue Players Represent OKC at D-League All Star Game". NBA.com. Oklahoma City Thunder. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  32. ↑ "Zanna and Christon Earn All-Rookie Honors". NBA.com. Oklahoma City Blue. 22 April 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  33. ↑ "Thunder Announces Summer League Roster". NBA.com. Oklahoma City Thunder. 3 July 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  34. ↑ Mayberry, Darnell (10 July 2015). "Oklahoma City Thunder notebook: Semaj Christon uses second chance to lift the Thunder to a sudden death double overtime victory". NewsOK. The Oklahoman. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  35. ↑ Mayberry, Darnell (6 July 2015). "Oklahoma City Thunder: Semaj Christon turning heads at the Orlando Pro Summer League, looking to take the next step in his career". NewsOK. Orlando: The Oklahoman. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  36. ↑ "Semaj Christon è della VL #ProntiATutto" [Semaj Christon is [a player] of VL #ProntiATutto]. VictoriaLibertas.it (in Italian). 3 August 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  37. 1 2 "Thunder Signs Semaj Christon". NBA.com. August 20, 2016. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
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