Fatts Russell Explained

Fatts Russell
Position:Point guard
Height Ft:5
Height In:11
Weight Lbs:165
League:Basketbol Süper Ligi
Team:Pınar Karşıyaka
Nationality:American
Birth Date:6 May 1998
High School:Imhotep Charter
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
College:
Draft Year:2022
Career Start:2022
Years1:2022–2023
Team1:Mornar
Years2:2023
Team2:Galatasaray
Years3:2023–2024
Team3:Manisa BB
Years4:2024–present
Team4:Pınar Karşıyaka
Highlights:
  • First-team All-Atlantic 10 (2020)
  • Third-team All-Atlantic 10 (2021)
  • Atlantic 10 All-Defensive Team (2020)

Daron "Fatts" Russell (born May 6, 1998) is an American basketball player for Pınar Karşıyaka of the Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL). He played college basketball for four years for Rhode Island, and after graduating he played one season for the Maryland Terrapins.

Early life and high school career

Russell grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and looked up to basketball player Kobe Bryant, who was born in the same city.[1] [2] His mother gave him the nickname "Fatts," which he has been called his entire life, because he was chubby as a baby.[3] Russell played for Imhotep Institute Charter High School in Philadelphia, where he was coached by Andre Noble. Russell became its all-time leader in points, assists and steals.[4] As a senior, he led his team, which was considered one of the best in the country, to a 31–2 record and the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) 4A state championship, scoring 25 points in the title game.[5] Russell was named Philadelphia Public League and Pennsylvania Class 4A most valuable player (MVP).[6] He was a consensus three-star recruit and committed to play collegiately for Rhode Island over offers from Seton Hall, SMU and Western Kentucky, among others.[7]

College career

On December 4, 2017, Russell was named Atlantic 10 freshman of the week after scoring 20 points in wins over Brown and Providence.[8] As a freshman, Russell averaged 7.0 points per game.[9] In the NCAA Tournament, he scored 15 points including two clinching free throws with 11 seconds remaining and had five assists and two steals in a 83–78 overtime win against Oklahoma.[10] Russell scored a career-high 41 points on March 5, 2019, in a 86–85 overtime win against St. Joseph's.[11] It was the highest scoring effort by a Rhode Island player in a road game. Russell finished his sophomore season averaging 14.2 points and 3.7 assists per game.[12]

On January 15, 2020, Russell scored 25 points against St. Joseph's and surpassed the 1,000 point threshold. He scored 30 points on January 30, in a 87–75 win over VCU.[13] On February 13, Russell was named to the midseason watch list for the Naismith Trophy.[14] At the close of the regular season, Russell was named to the First Team All-Atlantic 10 and the Defensive Team.[15] He was named the U.S. Basketball Writer's Association District I Player of the Year and was selected to the National Association of Basketball Coaches 2019–20 Division I All-District 4 First Team. Russell averaged 18.8 points and 2.9 steals per game, second in Division I. Following the season, he declared for the 2020 NBA draft but intended to keep his college eligibility.[16] On February 16, 2021, in a game against Dayton, Russell became Rhode Island's all-time leader in steals.[17] As a senior, he averaged 14.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game, earning Third Team All-Atlantic 10 honors. After the season, Russell transferred to Maryland.[18]

On February 27, 2022, Russell scored a career-high 27 points and surpassed the 2,000 point mark in a 75-60 win over Ohio State.[19] He was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten.[20]

Professional career

Mornar (2022–2023)

On July 7, 2022, Russell signed with Mornar of the ABA League and the Montenegrin League.[21]

Galatasaray Nef (2023)

On January 21, 2023, he signed with Galatasaray Nef of the Basketbol Süper Ligi.[22]

Manisa BB (2023–2024)

On June 21, 2023, he signed with Manisa BB of the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi.[23]

Pınar Karşıyaka (2024–present)

On June 28, 2024, he signed with Pınar Karşıyaka of the Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL).[24]

Career statistics

College

|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2017–18| style="text-align:left;"| Rhode Island| 34 || 0 || 17.9 || .352 || .298 || .810 || 1.6 || 1.6 || .8 || .0 || 7.0|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19| style="text-align:left;"| Rhode Island| 32 || 32 || 34.1 || .338 || .223 || .737 || 2.7 || 3.7 || 1.8 || .3 || 14.2|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20| style="text-align:left;"| Rhode Island| 30 || 29 || 35.7 || .388 || .357 || .824 || 3.4 || 4.6 || 2.9 || .2 || 18.8|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21| style="text-align:left;"| Rhode Island| 23 || 22 || 33.2 || .337 || .235 || .799 || 4.5 || 4.5 || 1.9 || .1 || 14.7|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career| 119 || 83 || 29.7 || .356 || .281 || .790 || 2.9 || 3.5 || 1.8 || .2 || 13.4

Personal life

Russell's older brother DeWayne played college basketball for Grand Canyon before playing professionally overseas.[25]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jensen . Mike . Fatts Russell makes it a special night on Hawk Hill -- for Rhode Island . . February 13, 2020 . January 16, 2020.
  2. Web site: Koch . Bill . Bryant's death felt especially in Philadelphia . . February 13, 2020 . January 28, 2020.
  3. Web site: Chavez . Chris . How Rhode Island Star Daron 'Fatts' Russell Got His Nickname As A Baby . . February 13, 2020 . March 15, 2018.
  4. Web site: Tynes . Tyler . Meet 'Fatts' Russell, March Madness' first cult hero . . February 13, 2020 . March 15, 2018.
  5. Web site: Gallen . Daniel . Imhotep Charter star Daron Russell finishes his high school career as a 'winner'. . February 13, 2020 . April 19, 2017.
  6. Web site: Hunt . Donald . Imhotep Charter's Daron Russell selected as Public League MVP . . February 13, 2020 . March 22, 2016.
  7. Web site: Rhode Island basketball has landed their first recruit in the class of 2017. . . February 13, 2020 . June 30, 2017.
  8. Web site: Watanabe, Tillman Share A-10 Player of the Week Honors . . February 14, 2020 . December 4, 2017.
  9. Grasso Era begins Tuesday when Bryant faces URI . . February 14, 2020 . November 5, 2018.
  10. News: Jones . David . Tiny freshman Fatts Russell plays big as Rhode Island outlasts Trae Young and Oklahoma in NCAA tournament . February 14, 2020 . . March 15, 2018.
  11. News: Juliano . Joe . Imhotep's Fatts Russell scores 41 points to lift Rhode Island over St. Joseph's in overtime . February 14, 2020 . . March 5, 2019.
  12. News: Koch . Bill . URI selected fourth at Atlantic 10 Media Day; Cyril Langevine, Jeff Dowtin, Fatts Russell earn individual honors . February 14, 2020 . . October 24, 2019.
  13. News: Russell scores 30 as Rhode Island extends win streak to 8 . February 14, 2020 . . . January 31, 2020.
  14. Web site: Koch . Bill . URI guard Fatts Russell among nominees for Naismith Trophy . . February 13, 2020 . February 13, 2020.
  15. Web site: Toppin Named Atlantic 10 Player of the Year, Grant Voted Coach of the Year. March 10, 2020. March 10, 2020.
  16. News: Coit . Nick . URI Guard Fatts Russell Enters Name Into 2020 NBA Draft . March 28, 2020 . ABC6 . March 27, 2020.
  17. Web site: DiSano . Chris . Rhody's Master of Theft: The Anatomy Of The Fatts Russell Steal . YurView . April 3, 2021 . February 20, 2021.
  18. Web site: Oyefusi . Daniel . Former Rhode Island guard Fatts Russell joining Maryland men's basketball as Terps strike in transfer portal again . . April 3, 2021 . April 3, 2021.
  19. News: McFadden . Ryan . On day of celebration, Fatts Russell and Eric Ayala lead Maryland men's basketball to 75-60 upset over No. 22 Ohio State . March 4, 2022 . . February 27, 2022.
  20. 2021-22 Big Ten Men's Basketball Postseason Honors Announced. https://web.archive.org/web/20220308180525/https://bigten.org/news/2022/3/8/2021-22-big-ten-mens-basketball-postseason-honors-announced.aspx. dead. March 8, 2022. . March 8, 2022 . March 8, 2022.
  21. Web site: Fets Rasel treće pojačanje Mornara Barsko zlato!. July 7, 2022. kkmornar.bar. bs. July 8, 2022.
  22. Web site: Daron Russell Galatasaray Nef'te!. January 21, 2023. Galatasaray. tr. January 21, 2023.
  23. Web site: Manisa Fatts Russell'ı açıkladı. June 21, 2023. basketfaul. tr. June 23, 2023.
  24. KSKBasket . 1806750086967251374 . Daron Russel Pınar Karşıyaka’mızda!.
  25. Web site: Geoghegan . William . 'We just let him be Fatts' . . February 13, 2020 . December 21, 2017.