Christian remains humble in return trip to Virginia
New Kent High School graduate and now Mount St. Mary’s University head men’s basketball coach Jamion Christian walks the sideline in front of his bench during Friday night’s game at Norfolk State. Seated in the first row behind the bench are Christian’s mom and dad, Joyce (striped sweater) and John (white shirt) Christian. Alan Chamberlain photos
A simple social media post from current Mt. St. Mary’s head coach and New Kent native Jamion Christian can summarize his return trip to Virginia last Friday night.
“Passing through my hometown of New Kent on our way to Norfolk… made me miss home!”
Christian, who helped lead New Kent High School to the 2000 Group A state basketball championship and a perfect 26-0 record, returned to the area with his Mountaineers to take on Norfolk State University’s Spartans in Norfolk.
Coming in, the Mountaineers were 0-8 on the road this season (3-9 overall) having fallen to a series of tough opponents including West Virginia, Brigham Young, Texas Tech, and then number one ranked Michigan State, while hosts Norfolk State had won 16 consecutive home games, with their last loss occurring in February 2012. Apparently, playing against top-notch competition paid off as Mount St. Mary’s ended their road drought with a 104-84 victory over Norfolk State.
The Mountaineers shot lights out — 76 percent from the floor and 71 percent from three-point range — in building a 26-point first half lead. The visitors cooled off slightly in the second half, but finished just under 69 percent (35 of 51) overall for the game and 72 percent (18 for 25) in threes. Strangely enough, Norfolk State (8-7) shot 59 percent on the night and still lost by 20.
And while the victorious Christian is in his second year as the Mountaineers’ head coach, the former alum of his college remained humble upon his return trip to the state.
Sipping out a coffee cup and with team well prepared, Christian spoke about his time away from New Kent.
“I really need to get back more often,” Christian commented. “I haven’t been able to do as much this year as I did last year, but I definitely need to make a return trip.”
But just because the former New Kent standout is unable to return to the county doesn’t mean he’s not in touch with happenings. First, he sent his condolences to the family of Jacob Vick, the 15-year old New Kent athlete who collapsed and later died. Next, he asked how the current New Kent Trojans basketball team and coach Ronnie Cox were performing. Upon hearing about the 22 three-pointers the Trojans recorded in a win against Poquoson, he chuckled, saying it sounds like how his offense shoots. But then, Christian probably asked the most important question any former New Kent basketball player would ask.
“When’s the Charles City-New Kent game?” he asked, responding with a serious face to see if his schedule could coordinate a visit. “I definitely need to get back to one of them.”
Yet, with a trip to his hometown unable to occur on his recent journey to Virginia, it was apparent that New Kent would not let him escape. With at least 20 family members in attendance, including mother Joyce and father John, the support from the county continues to grow.
“It seems the longer I’ve been away, my so-called ‘legend’ grows,” he said after the game. “It continues to be unbelievable the support I’ve received not only from New Kent, but others as well.”
For now, Christian already has a strong idea what he’ll do once he gets a reprieve to visit his hometown.
“I am going to call [former New Kent head basketball coach] Ed Allen and take a fishing trip.”
Christian reacts to a call against his team at the offensive end.