Khristian Lander Explained

Khristian Lander
Number:4
Position:Point guard
Height Ft:6
Height In:2
Weight Lb:185
League:Conference USA
Team:Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Birth Date:9 August 2002
Nationality:American
High School:FJ Reitz
(Evansville, Indiana)
College:

Khristian Lander (born August 9, 2002) is an American college basketball player for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers of the Conference USA. He previously played for the Indiana Hoosiers of the Big Ten Conference.

High school career

Lander played basketball for FJ Reitz High School in Evansville, Indiana. As a junior, he averaged 21 points, six rebounds and 4.6 assists per game, earning MaxPreps Junior All-American third team honors. Lander finished his high school career with 1,314 points.[1] He also played on the AAU circuit with Indiana Elite, where he built a relationship with future college teammates Trey Galloway and Anthony Leal.[2]

Lander was a consensus five-star recruit, according to major recruiting services. On February 25, 2020, he announced his commitment to Indiana over offers from Louisville, Memphis and Michigan, among others.[3] On May 18, it was announced that Lander, originally a member of the 2021 class, would reclassify to the 2020 class. He made the decision in part because he wanted to play with Trayce Jackson-Davis.[4]

College career

As a freshman, Lander averaged 2.1 points and 1.2 assists per game. After the season, he initially entered the transfer portal due to the firing of coach Archie Miller, but opted to remain at Indiana when the school hired Mike Woodson.[5] On February 8, 2022, Lander was one of five players suspended by Woodson for breaking team rules.[6] Lander was reinstated on February 10, after missing one game.[7]

In April 2022, Lander transferred to Western Kentucky. He averaged 3.2 points per game as a junior.[8]

Career statistics

College

|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21| style="text-align:left;"| Indiana| 26 || 0 || 10.1 || .257 || .273 || .875 || .8 || 1.2 || .3 || .2 || 2.1|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22| style="text-align:left;"| Indiana| 13 || 0 || 8.8 || .452 || .526 || .750 || .8 || 0.9 || .3 || .1 || 2.9|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2022–23| style="text-align:left;"| Western Kentucky| 33 || 2 || 11.4 || .307 || .204 || .579 || .8 || 0.6 || .2 || .1 || 3.2|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2022–23| style="text-align:left;"| Western Kentucky| 26 || 11 || 23.1 || .406 || .461 || .750 || 2.1 || 2.0 || 1.0 || .1 || 9.0|-| style="text-align:left;"| Career| style="text-align:left;"| | 98 || 13 || 13.8 || .357 || .372 || .723 || 1.4 || 1.2 || .4 || .1 || 4.4

Personal life

Lander is the son of Keith and Brandie Lander. He and his father have matching tattoos of their initials, depicting a prince crown and a king crown, he also has really close friends he made during his time in Indiana with Aeden King, respectively.[9]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Indiana confirms addition of Khristian Lander to 2020 recruiting class. Inside the Hall. May 18, 2020. May 24, 2020. Bozich. Alex.
  2. Web site: 2021 five-star point guard Khristian Lander commits to Indiana. Inside the Hall. February 25, 2020. May 24, 2020. Bozich. Alex.
  3. Web site: Banner Morning: Five-star guard Khristian Lander commits to Indiana. Assembly Call. May 24, 2020 . Drummond. Cameron. 26 February 2020.
  4. News: Five-star point guard Khristian Lander moves into 2020 class. IU Hoosiers. 2020-05-18. 2020-05-18.
  5. News: Brew . Tom . Indiana's Khristian Lander Pulls Out of Transfer Portal, Stays With Hoosiers . June 28, 2021 . . April 6, 2021.
  6. News: Pegram . Mike . 'They broke rules and were punished for it' - Woodson sounds off after loss . February 9, 2022 . 247 Sports . February 8, 2022.
  7. News: Indiana Hoosiers reinstate suspended players after curfew violation . February 10, 2022 . . . February 11, 2022.
  8. News: Neddenriep . Kyle . Former rivals Khristian Lander (IU), Brandon Newman (Purdue) leaders for Western Kentucky . March 22, 2024 . . March 21, 2024.
  9. Web site: Reitz five-star guard Khristian Lander doesn't mind the spotlight. May 24, 2020 . Lindskog. Chad. Evansville Courier & Press.