NBPA Top 100 Spotlight: Christian Popoola
Las Vegas guard Christian Popoola was one of the top backcourt producers last week at the NBPA Top 100 Camp.
The Bishop Gorman guard pumped in points, played well in transition, scored above the rim, shot well, passed well and led his team to a number of wins.
He is entering the July recruiting period with production against quality competition and good perspective on how to close out his final month of travel basketball. The NBPA Top 100 camp was a learning experience, he said.
“Honestly, it has been up and down for me personally. But we are winning games. I’m doing whatever it takes,” Popoola said. “At camps like this, sometimes players are tempted to be selfish but for me as a player I’m just trying to focus on the wins. If we win, I’m good.”
“There are so many resources and so many qualified people to learn from here. I’m just taking a little bit from everyone that is giving it out. Hopefully, I come away with some more pointers to get me better and new tricks of the trade.”
Confidence, Popoola said, was one of things he was leaning on and a trait he was trying to cultivate after a one-to-one conversation with a camp counselor. It showed in his production.
Had the camp been a live period event, it wouldn’t come as a surprise to see his recruitment surge. He was impressive throughout. Popoola said he holds offers from Stanford, San Diego State, Oklahoma and Southern Cal. Arizona State is also interested but has not offered, he said.
“The guys that are recruiting me right now, I’m pretty comfortable with,” Popoola said. “I don’t mind the East Coast. I don’t mind the West Coast. Whoever is recruiting me I’m pretty cool with but I haven’t sat down and decided anything.”
He said nothing has been decided as far as visits are concerned. Finishing July strong is the priority now, Popoola said.
“All of the schools that are recruiting me, I’m really close with. They’ve all done a really good job recruiting me. I’m not really favoring anyone right now,” he said.
“I need to find a school where I can go to for four years and get my major in. This year I’m going to sit down and talk with my dad and discuss about what I want to major in and what I want to do with my life. So, that school will need to have my major for what I’m trying to do with my life. As far as basketball, I just want an even chance to be able to get onto the floor.”