TJ Starks

Last updated
TJ Starks
T.J. Starks.jpg
Starks in 2017
Free agent
Position Shooting guard / Point guard
Personal information
Born (1998-09-11) September 11, 1998 (age 26)
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight196 lb (89 kg)
Career information
High school
College
NBA draft 2021: undrafted
Playing career2021–present
Career history
2021 Rytas Vilnius
2021 Wisconsin Herd
2021–2022 Nevėžis
2022 Semt77 Yalovaspor
2022–2023 Kolossos Rodou
2023 Al-Rayyan
2023–2024 Apollon Patras
2024 Juventus Utena
2024 BC Astana
Career highlights and awards
  • Qatari League champion (2023)
  • First-team All-Big West (2021)
  • Big West Newcomer of the Year (2021)
  • SEC All-Freshman Team (2018)

Tahjon "TJ" Starks (born September 11, 1998) is an American professional basketball player. He played college basketball for Texas A&M and Cal State Northridge.

Contents

Early life

Starks attended Lancaster High School and played under head coach Ferrin Douglas. As a junior, he averaged 12 points, eight rebounds and three assists per game. Starks led the Tigers to its second consecutive Class 5A State Championship and scored 20 points during the championship-game win against Elkins High School. As a senior, he was selected as the 2017 5A Region II District 10 Offensive Player of the Year as well as a Class 5A All-State selection by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches. [1] Starks was regarded as a three-star prospect and committed to Texas A&M in June 2016 over an offer from Oklahoma. [2]

College career

As a freshman, Starks made 15 starts and averaged 9.9 points and 2.3 assists per game. [1] He helped lead Texas A&M to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament and scored 21 points in an upset of North Carolina in the second round. Starks earned SEC All-Freshman Team honors. [3] He made a buzzer-beating three-pointer on January 12, 2019, to propel the Aggies to an 81–80 win over Alabama. [4] On February 26, Starks sustained a right shoulder injury in a loss against LSU, which required hospitalization and forced him to miss the rest of the season. [5] He averaged 12.3 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game as a sophomore. [6] Starks missed the first two games of his junior season with an ankle injury he sustained during an exhibition game. On November 14, 2019, he was suspended indefinitely due to being arrested for possession of two ounces or less of marijuana. [7]

Starks entered the transfer portal and was contacted by Mo Williams, an assistant coach at Cal State Northridge. Despite not being familiar with the program, he committed to the Matadors over interest from DePaul. Starks sat out the rest of the season as a redshirt and was expected to help replace the production of the departing Lamine Diane and Terrell Gomez. [8] On February 19, 2021, he scored a career-high 31 points in a 75–74 loss to Hawaii. [9] As a redshirt junior, Starks averaged 21.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.4 steals per game. [10] He was named to the First Team All-Big West as well as Big West Newcomer of the Year. [11] Following the season, he declared for the 2021 NBA draft. [12]

Professional career

On September 5, 2021, Starks signed his first professional contract with Rytas Vilnius of the Lithuanian Basketball League. [10]

In October 2021, Starks joined the Wisconsin Herd after a successful tryout. [13]

On December 11, 2021, Starks signed with Nevėžis of the Lithuanian Basketball League. [14] In 10 games, he averaged 18.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 4.5 assists.

On March 26, 2022, Starks signed with Semt77 Yalovaspor of the Turkish Basketball Super League for the rest of the season. [15] He averaged 13.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.

On July 30, 2022, Starks signed with Greek club Kolossos Rodou. On April 9, 2023, he parted ways with the club. In 14 domestic games (12 in the Greek Basket League and 2 in the Supercup), he averaged 15 points, 1.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.3 steals in 22 minutes per contest. Starks ended the season with Qatari club Al-Rayyan, scoring 18.3 points per game.

On July 31, 2023, Starks signed with Greek club Apollon Patras. [16] On January 8, 2024, he parted ways with the team. [17]

On January 14, 2024, Starks signed with Juventus Utena of the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL) until the end of the 2023–24 season. [18]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reggie Theus</span> American basketball player and coach (born 1957)

Reginald Wayne Theus is an American basketball coach and former player. He played 13 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA), where he was a two-time NBA All-Star. He is currently the men's basketball head coach and athletic director at Bethune–Cookman. He was the head coach for the NBA's Sacramento Kings and in college with the New Mexico State Aggies and the Cal State Northridge Matadors men's teams. He was also an assistant coach for the Louisville Cardinals under Rick Pitino.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonas Mačiulis</span> Lithuanian basketball player and executive

Jonas Mačiulis is a Lithuanian professional basketball executive and former player, currently serving as the general manager for Lietkabelis Panevėżys of the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL). Standing at 1.98 m, he mainly played at the small forward position. As a member of the senior Lithuanian national team, he earned an All-EuroBasket Team selection in 2015, as Lithuania won the silver medal.

Victor Bernard King Jr. is an American professional basketball player for UJAP Quimper 29 of the LNB Pro B. He played college basketball for Texas A&M University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antanas Kavaliauskas</span> Lithuanian basketball player

Antanas Kavaliauskas is a Lithuanian professional basketball coach and former player. He serves as the director of player development for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). He played college basketball at Texas A&M University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luka Rupnik</span> Slovenian basketball player

Luka Rupnik is a Slovenian professional basketball player for San Pablo Burgos of the Spanish LEB Oro and the Slovenian national basketball team. Standing at 1.86 m, he plays at the point guard position.

Paul George McCracken is an American former professional basketball player. McCracken, who was 6 feet 4 inches (193 cm) and 180 pounds (82 kg), played guard.

Davin White is an American professional basketball player for Venados de Mazatlán of the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional (LNBP).

Jason Darius Crowe is an American former professional basketball player. He graduated from Cal State Northridge in 1999 and played 13 years as a professional in Europe, South America, Iran, Australia and New Zealand.

Darin Eugene Johnson is an American basketball player who last played for the Maree Basketball Club, a professional basketball team in Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyler Davis (basketball)</span> Puerto Rican basketball player

Tyler Lee-Deon Davis is a Puerto Rican professional basketball player who last played for the Osos de Manatí. He played college basketball for the Texas A&M Aggies. He also represents the senior Puerto Rican national basketball team in international national team competitions. Standing at a height of 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m), he plays at the center position.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">D. J. Hogg</span> American basketball player

Dennis Edward "D. J." Hogg Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Chiba Jets of the Japanese B.League. He played college basketball for the Texas A&M Aggies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">T. J. Shorts</span> American- Macedonian basketball player

Timothy Neocartes "T. J." Shorts II is an American-born naturalized North Macedonian basketball player for Paris Basketball of the LNB Pro A and the EuroLeague. Standing at 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m), Shorts plays as point guard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">T. J. Holyfield</span> American basketball player (born 1995)

T. J. Holyfield is an American professional basketball player for Passlab Yamagata Wyverns of the B.League. He played college basketball for Stephen F. Austin and Texas Tech.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nikola Popović (basketball)</span> Serbian basketball player

Nikola Popović, also known as Nik Popovic, is a Serbian professional basketball player for Falco KC Szombathely of the Nemzeti Bajnokság I/A. He played college basketball for the Boston College Eagles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josh Nebo</span> American basketball player

Joshua Okechukwu Nebo is an American-born naturalized Slovenian professional basketball player for Olimpia Milano of the Italian Lega basket serie A and the EuroLeague. He played college basketball for the Saint Francis Red Flash and the Texas A&M Aggies. In 2020-21 he led the Israel Basketball Premier League in rebounds per game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elston Turner Jr.</span> American basketball player

Elston Howard Turner Jr. is an American professional basketball player who last played for Iraklis Thessaloniki of the Greek Basket League. A 6'5", 186 lbs small forward who can also play as a shooting guard, Turner played for Washington Huskies and at Texas A&M Aggies before going overseas to Europe to play for several clubs in Italy, France, Germany and Greece.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terrell Gomez</span> American basketball player

Terrell Gomez is an American professional basketball player for Chorale Roanne Basket of the LNB Pro A. He played college basketball for Cal State Northridge and San Diego State.

Ronald William Artest III is an American professional basketball player who is a free agent. He played college basketball for the Cal State Northridge Matadors and is the son of former NBA All-Star Metta Sandiford-Artest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyrece Radford</span> American basketball player (born 1999)

Tyrece Martel D'Von Radford is an American college basketball player for the Texas A&M Aggies of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). He previously played for the Virginia Tech Hokies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Savion Flagg</span> American basketball player (born 1999)

Savion Deon Flagg is an American professional basketball player for Rytas Vilnius of the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL) and the BCL. He played college basketball for the Texas A&M Aggies and the Sam Houston State Bearkats.

References

  1. 1 2 Hattersley, Andrew (November 14, 2019). "A&M G TJ Starks suspended indefinitely for violating team rules". 247 Sports. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  2. ↑ Riddle, Greg (June 30, 2016). "Three-star recruit T.J. Starks commits to Texas A&M after helping Lancaster win state title". Dallas Morning News . Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Meet the Matadors: TJ Starks & Amound Anderson". Cal State Northridge Matadors . November 13, 2020. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  4. ↑ Miller, Alex (January 12, 2019). "WATCH: Texas A&M's TJ Starks hits buzzer beater to give Aggies win over Alabama". Dallas Morning News . Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  5. ↑ Dauster, Rob (February 27, 2019). "Texas A&M guard TJ Starks taken to hospital after shoulder injury". NBC Sports . Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  6. ↑ Thompson, Cole (November 14, 2019). "Update: TJ Starks Suspended Indefinitely". Sports Illustrated . Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  7. ↑ Brown, Travis (November 14, 2019). "Texas A&M basketball player TJ Starks suspended indefinitely following drug arrest". The Bryan-College Station Eagle . Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  8. ↑ Whicker, Mark (March 1, 2021). "Whicker: CSUN's TJ Starks is filling up the basket, reeling in the years". The Orange County Register . Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Madut scores 23 to lead Hawaii over CSU Northridge 75-74". ESPN . Associated Press. February 19, 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  10. 1 2 "Rytas bring in rookie T.J. Starks". Eurobasket. September 5, 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Big West Announces 2020-21 Men's Basketball All-Conference Team". Big West Conference . March 8, 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  12. ↑ Parker, Timothy (July 27, 2021). "With NBA Draft coming, CSUN star TJ Starks looks for his chance". Spectrum News 1. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Wisconsin Herd Announces 2021 Training Camp Roster". Our Sports Central. October 26, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Nevėžis added an American who participated in the Morning Review / News". Diglogs. December 11, 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Yalovaspor lands T.J. Starks". Sportando. March 26, 2022. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  16. ↑ "T.J. Starks (ex Al Rayyan) joins AS Apollon Patras". Eurobasket. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Απόλλωνας Πάτρας: Ο Χριστόπουλος αλλάζει οριστικά τον Σταρκς". sportal.gr (in Greek). January 8, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  18. ↑ "Utenos komandos gretas papildė T.J. Starksas". utenosjuventus.lt (in Lithuanian). January 14, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.