AJ Griffin

Adrian Darnell "AJ" Griffin Jr. (born August 25, 2003) is an American college basketball player for the Duke Blue Devils of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

AJ Griffin
No. 21 – Duke Blue Devils
PositionSmall forward
LeagueAtlantic Coast Conference
Personal information
Born (2003-08-25) August 25, 2003
Dallas, Texas
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight222 lb (101 kg)
Career information
High schoolArchbishop Stepinac
(White Plains, New York)
CollegeDuke (2021–present)
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing the  United States
FIBA Americas U16 Championship
2019 BrazilTeam

High school career

Griffin played basketball for Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains, New York.[1] As a freshman, he played with his older brother, Alan, and helped his team win its first Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) Archdiocesan title since 1984.[2] In his sophomore season, he and R. J. Davis formed one of the top backcourts in the nation.[3] Griffin averaged 20.9 points, 10.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 3.5 blocks per game.[4] As a junior, he averaged 17.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.3 blocks per game, missing most of the season with a knee injury, and led Stepinac to the CHSAA Archdiocesan title. Griffin was sidelined for his senior season by an ankle injury.[5] He was named to the McDonald's All-American Game and Jordan Brand Classic rosters.[6]

Recruiting

Griffin was rated a five-star recruit by 247Sports and Rivals, and a four-star recruit by ESPN.[7] On November 4, 2019, he committed to playing college basketball for Duke over offers from Kentucky and Villanova.[8]

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
AJ Griffin
SF		 Ossining, NY Archbishop Stepinac (NY) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Nov 4, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 89
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 16  247Sports: 11  ESPN: 29
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Duke 2021 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  • "2021 Duke Blue Devils Recruiting Class". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  • "2021 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved October 3, 2021.

    College career

    On November 19, 2021, Griffin scored 18 points in an 88-55 win against Lafayette.[9]

    National team career

    Griffin represented the United States at the 2019 FIBA Under-16 Americas Championship in Brazil. He averaged 13.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.3 steals per game, helping his team win the gold medal.[10] Griffin scored 18 points against Canada in the final.[11]

    Personal life

    Griffin's father, Adrian, played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for nine years before becoming a coach in the league, and serves as an assistant coach for the Toronto Raptors. His mother, Audrey, ran track for Seton Hall. Two of his siblings have played college basketball: his brother, Alan, at Illinois and Syracuse, and his sister, Aubrey, at UConn.[12]

    References
    1. Marks, Brendan (April 13, 2020). "A.J. Griffin is primed to be another in a long line of Duke stars". The Athletic. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
    2. Thomson, Josh (February 24, 2018). "Boys basketball: Griffin brothers lead Stepinac to Archdiocesan title". The Journal News. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
    3. McLamb, Michael (February 13, 2019). "Archbishop Stepinac finds new life with dynamic duo". Mars Reel. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
    4. Drumwright, Steve (May 24, 2019). "AJ Griffin Hopes Continued Improvement in His Game Results in U16 National Team Spot". USA Basketball. Red Line Editorial. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
    5. Thomson, Josh (February 9, 2021). "Boys basketball: Stepinac's Adrian Griffin Jr., a Duke commit, may not return for senior season". The Journal News. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
    6. Krest, Shawn (February 26, 2021). "Duke Signees Paolo Banchero, A.J. Griffin Named McDonald's All-Americans". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
    7. Watson, John (April 21, 2021). "The curious case of AJ Griffin and ESPN's rankings". 247Sports. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
    8. Jordan, Jason (November 4, 2019). "2021 Chosen 25 wing A.J. Griffin commits to Duke". USA Today. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
    9. "Wendell Moore Jr. heats up as No. 7 Duke beats Lafayette". ESPN. Associated Press. November 19, 2021. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
    10. "Adrian Griffin (USA)'s profile – FIBA U16 Americas Championship 2019". FIBA. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
    11. Giles, Matt (June 29, 2019). "Gifted 15-year-old treasures Duke basketball offer, plans to visit". Ball Durham. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
    12. Waters, Mike (November 13, 2020). "Meet the Griffins: How family helped shape Alan, Syracuse basketball's exciting newcomer". The Post-Standard. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
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