Winston Crite
Encyclopedia
Winston Arnel Crite is a retired American professional basketball
player who currently trains young players. After a very successful career at Texas A&M University
, Crite was selected with 53rd overall (7th in 3rd round) pick in the 1987 NBA draft
by the Phoenix Suns
and spent two following seasons in the NBA playing for Suns. Afterwards he played professionally in Europe. At 6'7" (2.00 m) and 233 lb (106 kg), he played power forward
.
. He attended South High School Bakersfield, where, as a sophomore, he led his team to the San Joaquin Valley Championship. In his senior year, Crite was voted by the Bakersfield Californian as the All Area Player of the Year, and was later named to the All Northern California all-star team.
and play basketball under coach Shelby Metcalf
. In his very first game, against Texas Lutheran in 1983-1984, Crite became the first freshman in Aggie history to post a double-double (in this case, 24 points, 15 rebounds) in his first game. Only one other Aggie freshman, Joseph Jones
, has duplicated that feat.
Crite started 118 of the 123 games of his career, and showed steady improvement throughout his four years. His freshman year (1983–1984), Crite averaged 8.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and .9 blocks per game and completed 53% of his field goal attempts. The following year he averaged 12.1 points per game, 8.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 2.2 blocks, completing 56.7 percent of his field goals. In the 1985-1986 season, Crite completed an impressive 58.0% of his field goals, averaging 13.3 points, 8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game. By his senior season he was averaging 16.8 points, 2.0 blocks, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game, completing 56.1% of his field goals. For his accomplishments, Crite was a four-time "All Southwest West Conference" choice and was named "All Tournament" for three straight years.
Just as Crite appeared to be at the top of his game in his senior year, the team began struggling, losing nine of their last eleven games to finish the regular season 14-13. The Aggies were seeded eighth in the Southwest Conference, meaning they would open the conference tournament facing the top-seeded TCU
Horned Frogs, who were ranked 15th nationally. After Crite scored thirty points in a stunning upset of TCU, the team defeated the defending tournament champion, Texas Tech
before beating number two seed Baylor
in the tournament championship game, where Crite was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. Winning the tournament gave the Aggies an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament, their last NCAA tournament appearance until 2006.
Crite holds the Aggie record as the all-time leading shot blocker (200). He is second on the school's list of leading rebounders (913) and for field goal percentage (.562). He has attempted the third-most number of free throws, with 518 attempts, and is the fourth leading Scorer in school history.
Crite was inducted into the Texas A&M Hall of Fame in September 2009.
with the seventh pick in the third round of the 1987 NBA Draft
.
In his first season, 1987–1988, Crite scored 87 points in his 29 games, averagin 3.0 points per game with 2.2 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. The following season he played for a total of only 6 minutes in two games, and made only one rebound, before being placed on the injured list in January 1988.
Crite played the 1989 season in Australia with the Brisbane Bullets. He made the Northern All-Stars team for the game played at the "Glasshouse" in Melbourne and played a significant second half in a narrow two point loss to the South. Crite averaged 20.8ppg at 57% from the field and 7.5 rebounds per game. After some questionable management decisions during the year, Winston left the Bullets in the 1990 season. He then spent several years playing professional basketball in Europe, earning All League honors in Spain and France. Crite was named the Most Valuable player of the French League while playing for Sceaux in 1993 (Pro-B League), he also led his team to a French Championship. After that season, he was also named to The Buckler all Europe Team.
http://www.nblstats.com/players.php?playerid=10248&hyear=2003-04
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 who currently trains young players. After a very successful career at Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
, Crite was selected with 53rd overall (7th in 3rd round) pick in the 1987 NBA draft
1987 NBA Draft
The 1987 Draft of the National Basketball Association was held on June 22, 1987 in New York City, New York.This draft is notable for the selection of two future members of the NBA 50 Greatest Players list, David Robinson and Scottie Pippen. Other notable selections include Reggie Miller, Kevin...
by the Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
and spent two following seasons in the NBA playing for Suns. Afterwards he played professionally in Europe. At 6'7" (2.00 m) and 233 lb (106 kg), he played power forward
Power forward (basketball)
Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...
.
Early years
Winston Crite was born and raised in Bakersfield, CaliforniaBakersfield, California
Bakersfield is a city near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley in Kern County, California. It is roughly equidistant between Fresno and Los Angeles, to the north and south respectively....
. He attended South High School Bakersfield, where, as a sophomore, he led his team to the San Joaquin Valley Championship. In his senior year, Crite was voted by the Bakersfield Californian as the All Area Player of the Year, and was later named to the All Northern California all-star team.
Texas A&M University (1983-1987)
Crite chose to attend Texas A&M UniversityTexas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
and play basketball under coach Shelby Metcalf
Shelby Metcalf
Shelby Metcalf was the head coach of the Texas A&M Aggies men's basketball team for 27 seasons, from 1963 to 1990. He won more games than any other coach in the former Southwest Conference...
. In his very first game, against Texas Lutheran in 1983-1984, Crite became the first freshman in Aggie history to post a double-double (in this case, 24 points, 15 rebounds) in his first game. Only one other Aggie freshman, Joseph Jones
Joseph Jones
Joseph Jones may refer to:* Joseph E. Jones, US state legislator from Wisconsin* Joseph Jones , U.S. statesman, Virginia delegate in Continental Congress* Joseph Jones , U.S...
, has duplicated that feat.
Crite started 118 of the 123 games of his career, and showed steady improvement throughout his four years. His freshman year (1983–1984), Crite averaged 8.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and .9 blocks per game and completed 53% of his field goal attempts. The following year he averaged 12.1 points per game, 8.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 2.2 blocks, completing 56.7 percent of his field goals. In the 1985-1986 season, Crite completed an impressive 58.0% of his field goals, averaging 13.3 points, 8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game. By his senior season he was averaging 16.8 points, 2.0 blocks, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game, completing 56.1% of his field goals. For his accomplishments, Crite was a four-time "All Southwest West Conference" choice and was named "All Tournament" for three straight years.
Just as Crite appeared to be at the top of his game in his senior year, the team began struggling, losing nine of their last eleven games to finish the regular season 14-13. The Aggies were seeded eighth in the Southwest Conference, meaning they would open the conference tournament facing the top-seeded TCU
Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States and founded in 1873. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Disciples of Christ...
Horned Frogs, who were ranked 15th nationally. After Crite scored thirty points in a stunning upset of TCU, the team defeated the defending tournament champion, Texas Tech
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
before beating number two seed Baylor
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
in the tournament championship game, where Crite was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. Winning the tournament gave the Aggies an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament, their last NCAA tournament appearance until 2006.
Crite holds the Aggie record as the all-time leading shot blocker (200). He is second on the school's list of leading rebounders (913) and for field goal percentage (.562). He has attempted the third-most number of free throws, with 518 attempts, and is the fourth leading Scorer in school history.
Crite was inducted into the Texas A&M Hall of Fame in September 2009.
Professional basketball
Crite was selected by the Phoenix SunsPhoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
with the seventh pick in the third round of the 1987 NBA Draft
1987 NBA Draft
The 1987 Draft of the National Basketball Association was held on June 22, 1987 in New York City, New York.This draft is notable for the selection of two future members of the NBA 50 Greatest Players list, David Robinson and Scottie Pippen. Other notable selections include Reggie Miller, Kevin...
.
In his first season, 1987–1988, Crite scored 87 points in his 29 games, averagin 3.0 points per game with 2.2 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. The following season he played for a total of only 6 minutes in two games, and made only one rebound, before being placed on the injured list in January 1988.
Crite played the 1989 season in Australia with the Brisbane Bullets. He made the Northern All-Stars team for the game played at the "Glasshouse" in Melbourne and played a significant second half in a narrow two point loss to the South. Crite averaged 20.8ppg at 57% from the field and 7.5 rebounds per game. After some questionable management decisions during the year, Winston left the Bullets in the 1990 season. He then spent several years playing professional basketball in Europe, earning All League honors in Spain and France. Crite was named the Most Valuable player of the French League while playing for Sceaux in 1993 (Pro-B League), he also led his team to a French Championship. After that season, he was also named to The Buckler all Europe Team.
http://www.nblstats.com/players.php?playerid=10248&hyear=2003-04
Retirement
After Crite's retirement from professional basketball, he returned to his hometown of Bakersfield. He was soon approached by parents of local student-athletes to mentor and train their children. In 2002, Crite and his wife Mechelle formed The Footwork Shop, Inc, a basketball training club. Instead of offering more traditional league-type play, Crite's company offers year-round skill training, focusing especially on advanced footwork, without playing actual basketball games.External links
- NBA statistics @ basketballreference.com