Chrishawn Orange, who scored a season high 18 points against North Central last week, has start- ed to come out of the woodwork and see more playing time.
Although he is a freshman, head coach Grey Giovanine saw some maturity in him.
“He’s really advanced as a fresh- man,” Giovanine said. “He’s really mature as a player and, physical- ly, he’s gifted, and for him to get into the rotation of a veteran team like this is pretty remarkable.”
Orange attributes his increased role on the team to Giovanine.
“Coach said that if you’re a good player that he’ll play you,” Orange said. “That stuck with me the whole time. I wanted to be one of the players who would get on the floor and play during games. That started with practice, since I started defending well.”
Giovanine said that although Orange was recruited for his de- fensive skills, he’s improving a lot.
“What he does best is defend and take good care of the basket- ball,” Giovanine said. “Now he’s shooting the ball and becoming a key guy in the rotation.”
Orange said his desire to play basketball started when he was born.
“I’d like to say I was basically born with a basketball,” Orange said. “From the days I really re- member, I was always playing. I love the game, and it’s always been there.”
When he was deciding which college to attend, it was Augie’s preemptive recruiting that drew him here.
“They were originally the first ones to reach out to me,” Orange said. “At the end (of my college

decision) I was like, ‘this is a great school. I like the school and the campus so why not?’”
Giovanine said that they had been keeping their eye on him since he became an upperclass- man in high school.
“We saw him as a junior and watched him a lot in the summer prior to his senior year,” Giovan- ine said. “He came on a visit after the season in the spring and really seemed to connect with our guys.”
Orange also remarked that the second place finish during last year’s NCAA Division III tourna- ment was a huge factor.
Giovanine said Orange has a strong personality.
“He’s got a really engaging per- sonality,” Giovanine said. “He’ll look you in the eye, and he really lights up the room. He’s a guy you like to be around.”
Since Orange has arrived, he’s scored a total of 75 points for the Vikings so far this season. He’s seen an average of 19.4 minutes per game.
Orange said the members of the team have helped him to not only improve his game but have become some of his friends.
“We’re just a big, together group,” Orange said. “Everyone loves each other, and I think that’s why we are really good, because when a guy gets knocked down, we are there to pick him up. And that’s on and off the court that we are there for each other.”
Orange has some goals for the whole season.
“Team-wise, just win it all,” Orange said. “Coach did mention one with the newcomer award in the CCIW. I’ll see if I can get that.”
Orange hopes to get his degree in business at the end of his four years at Augie but wants a future in basketball.