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A charismatic player whose work ethic matches his athleticism, it took Chris Wright just eight minutes to become one of the top players in the Atlantic 10 Conference. That's all the league action he saw before fracturing his ankle in the A-10 opener. Yet he was named to the A-10 All-Rookie Team in 2007-08, and was a Preseason Second Team All-Atlantic 10 choice in 2008-09. People who watch him play talk about the highlight-reel dunks, his elite athleticism and will to win. People who watch him practice talk about his work ethic and strong desire to get better. People who meet him talk about his personality, and how he has remained grounded through all the hype. While great talent and tremendous physical gifts (including a 39.5 inch vertical leap) could make a player approach the game with a "me-first" attitude, Wright goes out of his way to approach everything he does "we-first." Displaying an NBA-level of athleticism, Chris Wright looks to lead the Flyers back to the postseason and continue his progression as a dynamic all-around player.
2007-08 After recovering from the fracture, Wright was finally cleared to play in time for the second round of the NIT. He averaged double figures in the tournament. He had nine points, three rebounds and two blocks in 10 minutes of action at Illinois State in the NIT Second Round, and 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field at Ohio State in the quarterfinals. Wright was the fifth Dayton player to be selected to the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team. Tony Stanley (1997), Brooks Hall (2000), Keith Waleskowski (2001) and Brian Roberts (2005) were the other UD selections. Wright's eight minutes of conference action is likely the fewest of any previous A-10 All-Rookie Team selection. The last player to be chosen A-10 Rookie of the Week four times in the first six weeks of the season was Jameer Nelson.
High School Named the top incoming freshman in the Atlantic 10, by most of the experts, Wright's above-the-rim game turned heads during practice sessions for the 2007 Jordan Brand All-America Game and during the game itself at Madison Square Garden where he turned in a 10-point, 10-rebound performance. ESPN analyst Steve Lavin, who called the Dayton recruit "electrifying," said he could play at any program in the nation. Ranked as high as the 18th-best prospect in the country, Wright averaged 19.2 points and 12.8 rebounds for Trotwood-Madison High School while earning First Team All-Ohio Division I honors. The Rams were 22-2 and ranked second in the state heading into the OHSAA tournament. Wright was Third Team All-Ohio as a junior after leading Trotwood-Madison to a 22-6 overall record and the state championship game, where they lost to perennial powerhouse and 28-time state champion Canton McKinley. He averaged 17.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 5.2 blocks a game. As a sophomore, he averaged 15.0 points, 9.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists. The Jordan Brand All-America Game was hardly the first time he drew national attention. At the 2005 Nike Camp his SPARQ (Speed, Power, Agility, Reaction, and Quickness) ranking was second-best in the entire camp. The only player ahead of him was then-North Carolina-bound and current Golden State Warrior Brandon Wright. (One of several categories that Chris Wright had a top effort was his 2.94 second 20-meter dash, which tied him for eighth at the camp. The fastest 20-meter time was turned in by current Flyer teammate Marcus Johnson.) During the summer of 2006, at events such as the Nike Skills Academy, the NBA Players Association Top 100 Camp and the Nike All-America Camp, Wright was singled out in published reports, not just for his scoring ability and top-of-the-chart vertical leap, but also for his work ethic and defense. But above all observers came back to his dunking ability and his knack of finishing the break. He is the second member of his family to play at UD. His uncle on his mother's side, J.D. Grigsby, played at UD from 1971 - 1973.
Personal Data Career Statistics
Dayton Career Highs Flyer 33's... |
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