Chris Taft
Encyclopedia
Chris Taft is an American
basketball
player.
after graduating from Xaverian High School
in Brooklyn
. Taft won the Big East Conference
Rookie of the Year Award in his Freshman season and set the all-time Pittsburgh season record for field goals made as a freshman (162). Taft also earned Third Team All Big East Honors as a Freshman.
In 2004-2005, Taft averaged 26.5 minutes per game, 13.3 points per game, 7.5 rebounds per game, and 1.7 blocks per game, and shot 58.5% from the field. After Pittsburgh suffered a loss to the University of the Pacific in the first round of the NCAA Tournament
, Taft announced his entry into the 2005 NBA Draft
. Shortly after announcing his departure from Pittsburgh, Taft hired an agent and indefinitely lost his NCAA eligibility. Taft went to the Chicago Annual Predraft Camp which began his post-college career.
42nd overall.
Taft played in only 17 games in his rookie season as a result of back spasms that ended his season in early January. He had surgery in 2006 to repair a herniated disc and has yet to return to the court in a professional game. In his limited playing time, Chris averaged 2.8 points and 2.1 rebounds in 8.5 minutes per game.
His two major career games consist of Golden State's game against the Chicago Bulls
on November 9, 2005, where Taft scored 7 points in 19 minutes, and Golden State's game against the Atlanta Hawks on November 2, where he had another professional career high of three blocks.
Taft was unable to play during the 2006-07 NBA preseason
due to recurring back spasms and inflammation. On October 27, 2006, he was waived by the Warriors and became a free agent
.
In November 2011, Taft was selected by the Springfield Armor
in the fourth round of the NBA D-League Draft.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player.
NCAA career
Chris Taft was born in Brooklyn, New York, and began his college career at the University of PittsburghUniversity of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
after graduating from Xaverian High School
Xaverian High School
Xaverian High School is a private, college-preparatory school located in Brooklyn, New York The school was founded in 1957 by the Xaverian Brothers. The school is a member of the Catholic High School Athletic Association . Xaverian is governed by a president and board of trustees...
in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
. Taft won the Big East Conference
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
Rookie of the Year Award in his Freshman season and set the all-time Pittsburgh season record for field goals made as a freshman (162). Taft also earned Third Team All Big East Honors as a Freshman.
In 2004-2005, Taft averaged 26.5 minutes per game, 13.3 points per game, 7.5 rebounds per game, and 1.7 blocks per game, and shot 58.5% from the field. After Pittsburgh suffered a loss to the University of the Pacific in the first round of the NCAA Tournament
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
, Taft announced his entry into the 2005 NBA Draft
2005 NBA Draft
The 2005 NBA Draft took place on June 28, 2005 in the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City. In this draft, NBA teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, such as players from high schools and non-North American leagues...
. Shortly after announcing his departure from Pittsburgh, Taft hired an agent and indefinitely lost his NCAA eligibility. Taft went to the Chicago Annual Predraft Camp which began his post-college career.
NBA career
Chris Taft entered the NBA draft as a projected first rounder, but he fell into the second round. Ultimately, he was picked by the Golden State WarriorsGolden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
42nd overall.
Taft played in only 17 games in his rookie season as a result of back spasms that ended his season in early January. He had surgery in 2006 to repair a herniated disc and has yet to return to the court in a professional game. In his limited playing time, Chris averaged 2.8 points and 2.1 rebounds in 8.5 minutes per game.
His two major career games consist of Golden State's game against the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
on November 9, 2005, where Taft scored 7 points in 19 minutes, and Golden State's game against the Atlanta Hawks on November 2, where he had another professional career high of three blocks.
Taft was unable to play during the 2006-07 NBA preseason
2006-07 NBA season
The 2006–07 NBA season was the 61st season of the National Basketball Association. The regular season began on October 31, 2006 and ran through April 18, 2007. The league fielded 30 teams, each playing an 82 game regular season schedule. The top eight seeds from each conference reached the NBA...
due to recurring back spasms and inflammation. On October 27, 2006, he was waived by the Warriors and became a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
.
In November 2011, Taft was selected by the Springfield Armor
Springfield Armor
The Springfield Armor is a basketball team located in Springfield, Massachusetts, which plays in the NBA Development League. The Armor plays its home games at the MassMutual Center in Springfield's Metro Center neighborhood. The team is owned by HWS Basketball, LLC which is principally owned by...
in the fourth round of the NBA D-League Draft.