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About Josh Christopher
• Josh Christopher is a dynamic athlete whose talent with the ball and room to grow as a jump shooter were apparent during his freshman season at Arizona State. Widely regarded as a top-12 prospect in the high school class of 2020 after his senior year at Mayfair High School (CA), Christopher was named a McDonald’s All-American before opting to join his brother, Caleb, at Arizona State. Coming from a basketball family, his older brother, Patrick, was an All-Pac 12 performer at Cal and made several appearances with the Jazz during the 2014-15 season. Emerging as a key contributor for Head Coach Bobby Hurley as a true freshman until his year was cut short by a late-season ankle injury, Christopher averaged 14.3 points per game, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game.
• Listed at 6’5 with a strong 215-pound frame to go along with a 6’9 wingspan, Christopher has good size for a guard to go along with an impressive combination of speed and explosiveness.
• Playing more of a complementary role on a team with multiple scoring guards, Christopher nonetheless stood out with his ability to make things happen in transition and get downhill in the half court. Scoring at a tremendous rate in the open floor, but finding mixed results against a set defender, the 19-year old displayed impressive creativity with the ball but significant room to improve as a floor spacer and pull-up jump shooter.
• Christopher was effective in spurts last season on the defensive end. He possesses impressive tools and flashed some energy making multiple effort plays, but, like many young guards, was still learning how to stay solid off the ball.
Advanced Stats
• Emerging as one of the more prolific, efficient per-minute transition scorers in the country, Christopher did much of his best work last season in the open floor. Averaging 1.37 points per transition possession [91st percentile], he did an excellent job not just running the wings, but pushing the ball himself as well. A powerful athlete who finishes emphatically in space with the quickness and physicality to weave his way through the defense and play through contact, Christopher shined in space last season.
• Displaying an impressive shiftiness with the ball changing speeds out of ball screens and in one-on-one situations, Christopher showed the ability to break down opposing defenses and create separation in the half court as well. Scoring 1.05 points per shot around the rim in the half court [37th percentile], Christopher had some positive moments as a finisher, but defenders played him as a driver as he scored 0.65 points per pull-up jump shot in the half court [29th percentile]. Attempting some tough shots at the rim and settling for some contested ones in the midrange, Christopher is still maturing as a decision-maker. He has intriguing tools as a shot creator and creativity around the rim, but significant room to improve as his jump shot and ability to make plays for other evolves.
• Averaging 0.88 points per catch and shoot jump shot in the half court [34th percentile], Christopher is similarly early in his development as a floor spacer. His mechanics waver at times when open, but his accuracy at the free throw line leaves some room for optimism about his ability to become a more capable shooter.
Defensive Analysis
• Christopher has the physical tools to hold his own on the defensive end and did for stretches as a true freshman. Still learning how to be disciplined, he has some things to clean up off the ball, but he used his combination of quickness and strength to contain opposing ball handlers pretty impressively in spots last season.
• Showing anticipation in the passing lanes and using his athleticism on the glass, Christopher flashed some playmaking ability as a freshman.
— Profile by Synergy Sports
