St. John’s basketball standout Julian Champagnie was not selected in the 2022 NBA Draft.
The night did not go as planned for St. John’s basketball standout forward Julian Champagnie.
Champagnie did not hear his named called at the 2022 NBA Draft as there was only one Big East player, UConn’s Tyrese Martin at No. 51 overall, to be selected on Thursday night at the Barclays Center in the 2022 NBA Draft.
The Brooklyn, New York native tested the NBA Draft waters after his sophomore campaign in Queens before returning to St. John’s for another season.
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However, there was no hesitation from Champagnie following his junior season, in which he averaged 19.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game, to forgo his final years of eligibility and remain in the draft.
Julian Champagnie shot 41.4-percent from the field and 33.7-percent from 3-point range during his final season with the Red Storm.
The St. John’s basketball program has not had a player selected in the NBA Draft since Sir’Dominic Pointer was the No. 53 overall pick of the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2015 and the school has not had a first round pick since Moe Harkless was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers at No. 15 overall in 2012.
St. John’s basketball star quickly latches onto team after draft
It does not take long for undrafted players to find homes for the summer after the draft has been completed, and that was the case for Julian Champagnie.
Sources confirmed that the Red Storm star is signing a two-way deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, in which he will compete in the NBA Summer League with the franchise.
Julian Champagnie’s twin brother, Justin Champagnie, was an undrafted free agent after last year’s draft and signed a two-way deal with the Toronto Raptors before carving out a role within the organization.
It’s likely that the ex-Johnnie will spend a majority of his time this season in the G-League but will have his moments to try and capitalize at the NBA level in the winter.
The NBA Summer League begins on July 7 in Las Vegas, but the 76ers will also participate in the Salt Lake City Summer League, a three day round-robin event, beginning on July 5.