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."

A bona-fide All-America candidate, Wright is already on the preseason watch lists for the John R. Wooden Award and the Naismith Trophy.

2008-09
Wright was First Team All-NABC All-District, Second Team All-Atlantic 10 and the MVP of the Chicago Invitational Challenge in 2008-09, his first full season in a Dayton uniform. After missing 19 games with a fractured ankle as a freshman, Wright came back to lead UD in scoring (13.3), rebounding (6.6) free throws made (121), dunks (a school-record 54), double-doubles (6) and SportsCenter Top Ten Plays (3). The proud owner of a 43-inch vertical leap, the high-flying Wright seemed to save his best efforts for the best competition. Three of his six double-doubles came against BCS schools, including 13 & 13 in November against No. 15 Marquette to lead UD to the Chicago Invitational Challenge championship, and a career-high 27 & 10 in the Flyer win over West Virginia in the NCAA tournament. He also earned the Blackburn/McCafferty MVP award the first time Dayton & Xavier met. Wright recorded his first double-double of the season with 16 points and 11 rebounds versus Mercer. He added two more double-doubles with 10 points and 14 rebounds in an overtime win over Auburn, and again with 13 points and 13 rebounds to go with a career-high four assists in a win over No. 15 Marquette. Named the Atlantic 10 co-Player of the Week on November 30, Wright scored 17 of his game-high 19 points in the second half against No. 14 Xavier. He recorded his fifth double-double with game highs of 17 points and 10 rebounds against Richmond, and scored 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the floor at Rhode Island. Chris had 20 points and five rebounds versus Temple. He tallied 10 points, four rebounds and three steals at No. 17/18 Xavier. Chris contributed 10 points, three blocks and nine rebounds in 28 minutes of play against Kansas in the NCAA second round.

2007-08
Wright played in 15 games and led the team in rebounding (5.7), and field goal percentage (.602) and was second in scoring (10.4) and free throw percentage (.804). The Flyers certainly missed the presence of Wright after he broke his ankle midway through the season. UD was 13-1 before his injury and 9-9 after. After 13 games Wright had four Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week honors. He first earned the award on Nov. 11 after netting the first double-double in a Flyer freshman debut with 22 points and 13 rebounds against East Tennessee State. Wright earned the honor again on Nov. 25 behind 26 points and 12 rebounds over Toledo. Wright had a double-double in the first half against High Point and finished the contest with 16 points and 13 boards. On Dec. 16, Wright earned the Rookie of the Week honor for the fourth time in the 2007-08 season. He was the only player A-10 player to have won the award outright four times in 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
Wright was the main part of what three respected ranking services - HoopScoop, Rivals.com and Scout.com - call the best group of incoming freshmen in the Atlantic 10 in 2007-08. Wright has all the stats and awards to back that up, but that's not the only reason people were talking about his joining the University of Dayton basketball program.

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.

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 and once had a "20-20" game for the Red & Blue. He scored 21 points and grabbed 21 rebounds against Notre Dame at the end of the 1971-72 season.

Personal Data
Son of Ernestine Grigsby
Birthday - September 30, 1988
Major - Electronic Media
He has five brothers - Willie (33), Demetrius (32), Mark (27), Nicholas (16) and Bam (14), and two sisters - Charelle (23) and Nicki (18)
High School Coach - Ike Thornton, Larry Ham
AAU Team - Queen City Prophets

Career Statistics

Dayton Career Highs
Points: 27, West Virginia (03/20/09)
Rebounds: 14, Auburn (11/29/08)
Assists: 4, Marquette (11/29/08)
Steals: 3, Four Times
FGs Made: 10, Toledo (11/21/07); West Virginia (03/20/09)
Blocks: 3, six times
FT Made: 8, Marshall (12/23/08)
Minutes: 36, Auburn(11/28/08)

Flyer 33's...
Tom Frericks (1950-51), Don Miller (1951-52), Larry Pedicord (1952-54), Bob Jones (1958-59), Paul Winterhalter (1960-62), Bill Cassidy (1962-64), Dan Sadlier (1966-69), Pat Murnen (1969-72), Joe Fisher (1972-75), Mike Byrd (1979-83), Anthony Grant (1983-87), Ken Branch (1987-91), Chris Daniels (1991-96), Brooks Hall (1999-2003), Jimmy Binnie (2004-08)