How Cameron Christon found his way to Grambling State basketball, led Tigers in scoring last two seasons
Cameron "Cam" Christon always wanted to play at Grambling State but didn't receive a scholarship out of high school. Now he's continuing his family legacy and making the most of his time with the Tigers.
Both of Christon's parents, Ladonna and Tiger, a former tight end under legendary coach Eddie G. Robinson, graduated from Grambling and brought him around the campus and trips to the Bayou Classic in Dallas.
The Christon family is an athletic bunch. Cam's younger sister, Morgan, plays volleyball at Texas A&M, and another sister, Amaya, ran track at Tulsa and now is a registered nurse.
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Growing up, Cam Christon was in love with football, and sprouting to 6-foot-6, the wideout was a threat on the jump ball — but that's also what ended his football career in high school. He broke his collarbone and he devoted his time to basketball, and the game has given back to him.
"The gym, that's my peace place, like nobody's gonna be able to take me out of my peace when it comes to when I'm in the gym," he said. "That's where I pray, like the gym is like my sanctuary. It's somewhere that I really love to be, somewhere that's always been like a safe place, somewhere I can just be calm and just be myself."
Christon was an unranked small forward from Allen, Texas, in the class of 2017, but he had some family help to navigate the recruiting process. David Ponton, his second cousin and his dad's former college roommate, was the athletic director at Grambling when he was finishing high school and looking for a college home. But Christon ended up at Boise State and appeared in 14 games off the bench, averaging two points as a freshman.
After a season with the Broncos, things didn't work out with the new coach, and Christon made the decision to transfer. When Ponton got word that Christon was available, around the same time that Grambling hired coach Donte' Jackson, it was another chance to play at Grambling.
"I called coach Kyle Jones — he was the one who's in charge of recruiting — about Cam," Ponton said. "Jones said, 'I saw that kid (Cam) play, yes we'd be interested. Let me get this information to coach right away.' Coach Jackson called me back in the next 15 minutes and said, 'Coach, we'll take him if he'll want to come.' So he transferred."
Christon has been the leading scorer for Grambling State (7-12, 5-2 SWAC) the last two seasons. He's averaging 12.4 points this season along with 3.6 rebounds while shooting 44% from the field and shooting 41% from 3-point range.
Christon scored 23 points, shooting 11-for-11 from the free-throw line, in a 83-77 win against Southern on Jan. 15.
"He was a preseason first-team (All-SWAC) pick, and he's shown in the biggest moment; against the big teams, he's played well," Jackson said. "He's a leader on and off the court. I want all our guys to be a Cam Christon, a guy who don't complain and just find a way to win."
This article originally appeared on Monroe News-Star: Grambling State basketball: How Cameron Christon became a Tiger
