Christian L. Simpson (2011) - Bucknell Athletics Hall of Fame

Christian L. Simpson

Induction:
2011
Class:
1994

Sport: Basketball
Chris Simpson earned First Team All-Patriot League honors while leading the Bucknell men's basketball team in scoring in both 1992-93 and 1993-94. Playing for Hall of Fame coach Charlie Woollum, his 20.5 points-per-game average as a senior in 1993-94 became the third-highest single-season mark in program history. Simpson's 1,229 career points ranked ninth in school history at the time of his graduation. He also set or tied program records for points in a half (27), consecutive 20-point games (6) and most 20-point games in one season (16).

A powerful and durable guard, Simpson also ranked in the top 10 on Bucknell's career lists in free throws made and attempted as well as free-throw percentage. He once went 15-for-15 at the line against George Mason, a Bucknell and Patriot League record for most free throws made in a game without a miss. In 1993-94, Simpson averaged an incredible 39.2 minutes per game, also a program record.

As a sophomore and junior, Simpson was a part of teams that became the first at Bucknell to record back-to-back 20-win seasons, and both of those squads made appearances in the Patriot League championship game. In his junior campaign, Simpson led the team in scoring at 16.9 points per game on a team that finished 23-6 overall and 13-1 in the Patriot League. In addition to earning First Team All-Patriot League honors, he received honorable mention on the Basketball Times All-East Team.

The Bison were hit hard by graduation following the 1992-93 season, but as a senior, Simpson turned in one of the finest campaigns in school history. He became only the seventh player in Bucknell annals to score better than 20 points per game over a full season, and his 20.5 average trailed only fellow Hall-of-Famers Joe Steiner and Al Leslie. After missing the first five games of the season with a foot injury, he promptly came back and tied the school record with six straight 20-point games.

Prior to graduation, Simpson was a co-recipient of the Christy Mathewson Awards as the top athlete in his class. He went on to earn his J.D. at William & Mary Law School.