We are profiling each member of the 2011-12 Creighton men’s basketball team. Join us weekdays from now until the men’s exhibition opener against Rockhurst for an introduction to this year’s Bluejays, from freshmen to seniors.
See all of our 2011-12 Creighton men’s basketball profiles
Austin Chatman hasn’t played a minute for the Creighton Bluejays, and he’s already received a raucous ovation from the Bluejays faithful.
Last Friday night, in the Bluejay Madness slam dunk contest, the six-foot point guard from The Colony, Texas, leapt over seven-foot Geoff Groselle, caught the ball in midair, and threw down a dunk that sent the capacity crowd in Sokol Arena into a frenzy. It was an auspicious way for the first-year guard to announce his presence within the Creighton basketball program.
Chatman goes over seven-footer Groselle for the jam (Marshall/WBR)
Chatman was a recruiting victory sorely needed by Greg McDermott and his staff. But perhaps no one on the Hilltop will benefit more from having Chatman on campus than Antoine Young, Creighton’s starting point guard and last year’s backcourt Ironman. Most around the program expect Chatman to earn significant minutes backing up Young at the point to keep the senior fresh for what CU fans hope is a long season (he averaged a team-high 36 minutes per game last season).
But Chatman says he just wants to help the team however he can.
“I really just want to come in and do anything I can to stay on the court and push the other guys to get them in the right positions and stuff like that,” Chatman said.
But Bluejays fans and coaches know he can provide more than just a spark. As a senior at The Colony Chatman averaged about 15 points and 5 assists per game for a team that went 23-13. The year before, he averaged 16 points and 4 assists en route to co-offensive player of the year and all region honors in Texas. He joined fellow freshman Geoff Groselle on Texashoop.com’s list of the best prospects in the state. In short, his future seems bright as a Bluejay.
Chatman has a heady tutor, too. Deron Williams, first of Illinois and later of the Utah Jazz and New Jersey Nets, has spent time working with Chatman — they graduated from the same high school. He has picked up more than just technique tips from the NBA All-Pro.
“He has always taught me to play with a chip on my shoulder,” Chatman said of Williams. “And that I have the potential to be the best player possible.”
Chatman acknowledges that he has work to do to become a more consistent shooter. Something he says he already does well, though, is display a willingness to do whatever needs to be done to win a game, he said, something that Creighton fans will come to know.
“I always give all of my effort and leave everything on the court,” he said.