Sion James

Sion James

James with Duke in 2025
No. 4–Charlotte Hornets
Position	Shooting guard
League	NBA
Personal information
Born	(2002-12-04) December 4, 2002 (age 22) Sugar Hill, Georgia, U.S.
Listed height	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight	220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school	Lanier (Sugar Hill, Georgia)
College	Tulane (2020–2024) Duke (2024–2025)
NBA draft	2025: 2nd round, 33rd overall pick
Drafted by	Charlotte Hornets
Playing career	2025–present
Career history
2025–present	Charlotte Hornets
Career highlights
ACC All-Defensive team (2025)
Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball Reference
Medals Men's basketball Representing   United States Summer Universiade 2021 China Team

Sion James (born December 4, 2002) is an American basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils and the Tulane Green Wave.

Early life and high school

James grew up in Sugar Hill, Georgia and attended Lanier High School. ^[1] He averaged 14.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game as a junior. ^[2] James committed to play college basketball at Tulane. ^[3]

College career

James began his college career at Tulane. ^[4] He became a starter early into his freshman year. ^[5] James averaged 5.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.2 steals per game on the season. ^[6] He averaged 9.7 points, 3.4 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game as a junior and also won the American Athletic Conference (AAC) sportsmanship award. ^[7] He averaged 14 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.6 steals per game during his senior season and again won the AAC sportsmanship award. ^[8] After the season, James entered the NCAA transfer portal. ^[9]

James transferred to Duke in May 2024. ^[10] He averaged 8.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. ^[11]

Professional career

James was selected in the second round of the 2025 NBA draft with the 33rd pick by the Charlotte Hornets. ^[12]

References

1. "Sion James serious about leading Lanier in senior season". Gwinnett Daily Post . January 30, 2020. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
2. "Men's Basketball Adds Sion James to Signing Class". TulaneGreenWave.com. November 18, 2019. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
3. "Tulane men's basketball lands commitment from Lanier guard Sion James". Gwinnett Daily Post . September 2, 2019. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
4. "Tulane's Sion James has top assist/turnover ratio in D-I". The Times-Picayune . December 16, 2022. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
5. "Mature beyond his years, Tulane freshman Sion James is rounding into form". The Times-Picayune . January 27, 2021. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
6. Smith, Guerry (September 29, 2021). "Still excited: Tulane men's basketball coach Ron Hunter expects huge improvement in year 3". The Times-Picayune . Retrieved October 14, 2024.
7. Smith, Guerry (June 14, 2023). "Three returning stalwarts highlight Tulane hoops roster". The Times-Picayune . Retrieved October 14, 2024.
8. Parrish, Gary (May 11, 2024). "College basketball rankings: Duke's addition of Sion James moves Blue Devils up in Top 25 And 1". CBS Sports . Retrieved October 15, 2024.
9. "Tulane basketball is losing a transfer to an ACC powerhouse program". The Times-Picayune . May 10, 2024. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
10. Marks, Brendan (May 10, 2024). "Duke lands Tulane transfer Sion James, likely rounding out Blue Devils' 2024-25 rotation". The Athletic . Retrieved October 11, 2024.
11. Watson, John (April 25, 2025). "Sion James reflects on his time at Duke: "I'd do it again"". 247 Sports. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
12. Boone, Roderick (June 26, 2025). "Charlotte Hornets add Duke's Sion James, Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner in NBA Draft". The Charlotte Observer . Retrieved June 27, 2025.

External links

• Tulane Green Wave bio
• Duke Blue Devils bio