On Thursday, former Pitt standout and All-ACC forward Justin Champagnie signed a two-year contract with the Toronto Raptors after playing one year in the organization.
Champagnie, a 6-foot-6 forward who played two seasons at Pitt, played in 36 games for the Raptors in his rookie year. He averaged just under eight minutes per game, and scored 2.3 points per game. On the year, he scored 81 points and grabbed 72 boards while shooting 46% from the field and 36% from three-point range.
Champagnie also played 14 games for the Raptors’ G-League affiliate, Team 905. There, he averaged 36 minutes, scored 21.1 points, and grabbed 8.1 rebounds per contest. He shot 41% from three-point range, hitting an average of 2.6 three pointers per game. In the G-League playoffs, Champagnie shined, averaging 32.5 points and 11.1 rebounds per postseason game.
The Brooklyn native has quickly become a fan-favorite in Toronto, in part due to a friendly debate with Raptors star Pascal Siakam in which both players refer to the other as their “son.”
In his stellar sophomore season at Pitt, Champagnie averaged 18 points and 11.1 rebounds per game, earning First Team All-ACC honors. Justin’s brother Julian starred at St. John’s and is now playing for the Philadelphia 76ers in NBA Summer League.
He needs to style that hair somehow. It’s starting to look like Sideshow Bob from The Simpsons.
Congrats to JC .. well-deserved for a very hard working man. H2P & Hail to Raptors !