St. John's University Athletics
Champagnie Finds Spot on Naismith Trophy Preseason Watch List
11/8/2021 1:47:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Red Storm kicks off 2021-22 season tomorrow night against Mississippi Valley State
QUEENS, N.Y. – With the Red Storm's season opener just over 24 hours away, St. John's junior Julian Champagnie has been named to the preseason watch list for the Naismith Trophy, presented annually to the top college basketball player in the nation. Â
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Champagnie, a unanimous selection to the Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team has also been named to preseason watch lists for the Julius Erving Award and the NABC Player of the Year award.
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Last season, Champagnie averaged 19.8 points per game, good enough for tops in the BIG EAST and 25th nationally. The First Team All-BIG EAST selection and co-winner of the conference's most improved player award also topped the league in free throw percentage (88.7%) and ranked among the top 10 in 3-pointers made (2.4- 5th), rebounding (7.4-7th), steals (1.4- 4th) and blocks (1.0-9th). He scored 12 or more points in all 25 of his appearances with 11 outings of 20-plus points and seven double-doubles. Only one returning high-major player, Scotty Pippen Jr. of Vanderbilt, had a higher scoring average than Champagnie in 2020-21.
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The Brooklyn native became just the fourth player in St. John's history to lead the BIG EAST in scoring over the course of a conference season, joining Chris Mullin (1983-84), Walter Berry (1985-86) and Marcus Hatten (2001-02). His 88.7 percent clip from the line was the second-best single-season effort in program history behind Mullin, who shot 90.4 percent from the line as a junior in 1983-84.
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With Champagnie leading the way, St. John's turned in an overall record of 16-11 last season. The Johnnies went 10-9 mark in BIG EAST play, the program's first winning effort in the league since the 2014-15 season.
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As a rookie in 2019-20, Champagnie was named the All-Met Freshman of the Year and earned a spot on the BIG EAST All-Freshman Team after averaging 9.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per contest.
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Individual game and season tickets are available for purchase now by visiting RedStormTix.com or by calling 1-888-GO-STORM. Fans with questions about ticket packages can also email redstormsports@stjohns.edu to be contacted by a ticket representative.
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Champagnie, a unanimous selection to the Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team has also been named to preseason watch lists for the Julius Erving Award and the NABC Player of the Year award.
Â
Last season, Champagnie averaged 19.8 points per game, good enough for tops in the BIG EAST and 25th nationally. The First Team All-BIG EAST selection and co-winner of the conference's most improved player award also topped the league in free throw percentage (88.7%) and ranked among the top 10 in 3-pointers made (2.4- 5th), rebounding (7.4-7th), steals (1.4- 4th) and blocks (1.0-9th). He scored 12 or more points in all 25 of his appearances with 11 outings of 20-plus points and seven double-doubles. Only one returning high-major player, Scotty Pippen Jr. of Vanderbilt, had a higher scoring average than Champagnie in 2020-21.
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The Brooklyn native became just the fourth player in St. John's history to lead the BIG EAST in scoring over the course of a conference season, joining Chris Mullin (1983-84), Walter Berry (1985-86) and Marcus Hatten (2001-02). His 88.7 percent clip from the line was the second-best single-season effort in program history behind Mullin, who shot 90.4 percent from the line as a junior in 1983-84.
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With Champagnie leading the way, St. John's turned in an overall record of 16-11 last season. The Johnnies went 10-9 mark in BIG EAST play, the program's first winning effort in the league since the 2014-15 season.
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As a rookie in 2019-20, Champagnie was named the All-Met Freshman of the Year and earned a spot on the BIG EAST All-Freshman Team after averaging 9.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per contest.
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Individual game and season tickets are available for purchase now by visiting RedStormTix.com or by calling 1-888-GO-STORM. Fans with questions about ticket packages can also email redstormsports@stjohns.edu to be contacted by a ticket representative.
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