Big East Basketball: Ranking of 25 best players from last decade (2013-23)

By Joey Loose | Jul 4, 2023

Dec 13, 2016; Villanova, PA, USA; Villanova Wildcats guard Josh Hart (3) gets congratulations from head coach Jay Wright and guard Jalen Brunson (1) after leaving the game late in the second half against the Temple Owls at The Pavilion. Villanova defeated Temple, 78-57. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /

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Big East Basketball St. John’s Red Storm guard Julian Champagnie Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports /

21. Julian Champagnie

Quite possibly the best weapon Mike Anderson had while head coach at St. John’s, Champagnie is a 6’8 wing from Brooklyn who made a significant impact with the Red Storm. He put up decent production early in his career but really exploded in his final two seasons, even though St. John’s didn’t have the kind of team success they were anticipating.

Champagnie averaged 9.9 points and 6.5 rebounds as a freshman, with two 20-point efforts very late in the season before the pandemic hit. His scoring numbers would double as a sophomore, putting up more than 19 points per game in both his sophomore and junior seasons at St. John’s. Among the highlights was a 34-point, 16-rebound effort in a win over DePaul.

Though St. John’s never won more than 17 games in a season, Champagnie was still a major weapon, leading the Big East in points scored in those final two seasons. He was First Team All-Big East Basketball both seasons and was Most Improved Player as a sophomore too. Champagnie also finished among the league’s leaders in free throw percentage and steals and was a fantastic piece for the Red Storm, though they simply didn’t have enough production around him.

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