Chris Lykes

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Chris Lykes

| image =Chris Lykes 22 iLab Basketbol TBL 20241028 (1).jpg

| caption = Lykes with iLab Basketbol in 2024

| position = Point guard

| height_ft = 5

| height_in = 7

| weight_lb = 160

| number = 22

| league = Türkiye Basketbol Ligi

| team = iLab Basketbol

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|7|22}}

| birth_place = Mitchellville, Maryland, U.S.

| high_school = Gonzaga College
(Washington, D.C.)

| college = * Miami (Florida) (2017–2021)

Arkansas (2021–2022)

| draft_year = 2022

| career_start = 2022

| career_end =

| years1 = 2022–2023

| team1 = Horsens IC

| years2 = 2023–2024

| team2 = Denain Voltaire Basket

| years3 = 2024–present

| team3 = iLab Basketbol

| highlights =

}}

File:Chris Lykes (cropped).jpg in 2020]]

Christopher Lykes (born July 22, 1998) is an American professional basketball player for iLab Basketbol of the Türkiye Basketbol Ligi. He played college basketball for the Miami Hurricanes and the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Early life

Lykes began playing basketball in second grade and competed for Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C. He was a starter since his freshman season, despite standing only {{height|ft=5|in=6}}.{{cite news |last1=Bogage |first1=Jacob |title=Gonzaga guard Chris Lykes — all 5 feet 8 of him — is the biggest playmaker in D.C. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/highschools/gonzaga-guard-chris-lykes--all-5-foot-8-of-him--is-the-biggest-playmaker-in-dc/2017/02/23/63e6bc4a-f3cd-11e6-a9b0-ecee7ce475fc_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |accessdate=February 21, 2020 |date=February 23, 2017}} As a sophomore, he helped his team win the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) championship over top recruit Markelle Fultz and DeMatha Catholic High School.{{cite news |last1=Parker |first1=Brandon |title=2015-16 Basketball preview: WCAC boys |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/highschools/2015-16-basketball-preview-wcac-boys/2015/12/02/a3d276ae-9812-11e5-94f0-9eeaff906ef3_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |accessdate=February 21, 2020 |date=December 2, 2015}} In his junior season, Lykes averaged 22 points and 4.3 assists per game and was named WCAC player of the year and D.C. Gatorade Player of the Year.{{cite web |title=Washington, D.C. Boys Basketball POY: Chris Lykes |url=https://usatodayhss.com/2016/gatorade-washington-d-c-boys-basketball-poy-chris-lykes |website=USA Today High School Sports |accessdate=February 21, 2020 |date=March 17, 2016}}

As a senior, he averaged 17.6 points and 4.2 assists, repeating as WCAC player of the year.{{cite web |title=Washington Catholic Athletic Conference All-League Basketball Boys |url=https://www.wcacsports.com/sports/mbkb/2016-17/releases/20170405g5boyv |publisher=Washington Catholic Athletic Conference |accessdate=February 21, 2020 |date=March 1, 2017}} On February 16, 2017, Lykes became his school's all-time leading scorer, passing Tom Sluby. He finished his career with 2,266 points.{{cite web |last1=Halley |first1=Jim |title=Miami signee Chris Lykes breaks Gonzaga's career scoring record |url=https://usatodayhss.com/2017/chris-lykes-breaks-gonzagas-career-scoring-record |website=USA Today High School Sports |accessdate=February 21, 2020 |date=February 17, 2017}} Lykes helped Gonzaga win a postseason triple crown, with WCAC, District of Columbia State Athletic Association (DCSAA) and Alhambra Catholic Invitational titles.{{cite web |title=2016-17 MaxPreps High School Boys Basketball All-American Team |url=https://www.maxpreps.com/news/90GdoEN1_UCBDFsChBO2nw/2016-17-maxpreps-high-school-boys-basketball-all-american-team.htm |publisher=MaxPreps |accessdate=February 21, 2020 |date=April 6, 2017}} He was a four-star recruit and the No. 48 player in the 2017 class, according to ESPN. Lykes committed to playing college basketball for Miami (Florida) over offers from Villanova, among other NCAA Division I programs. He was drawn to Miami due to the success of fellow undersized guards Shane Larkin and Ángel Rodríguez with the program.{{cite web |last1=Kim-Martinez |first1=Isaiah |title=5-foot-7 freshman guard continues to shatter expectations |url=https://www.themiamihurricane.com/2017/11/06/5-foot-7-freshman-guard-continues-to-shatter-expectations/ |website=The Miami Hurricane |accessdate=February 21, 2020 |date=November 6, 2017}}

College career

As a freshman, Lykes averaged 9.6 points and 2.3 assists per game.{{cite web |last1=Rubenstein |first1=Alan |title=Miami Basketball gets high rating in ESPN BPI for 2018-19 season |url=https://caneswarning.com/2018/08/10/miami-basketball-gets-high-rating-in-espn-bpi-for-2018-19/ |website=CanesWarning.com |date=10 August 2018 |publisher=FanSided |accessdate=February 28, 2020}} He developed a close friendship with teammate Lonnie Walker IV. During his sophomore season, Miami coach Jim Larrañaga called him "crazy, but he's also crazy good" for his tendency to make risky plays that usually turn out well. Lykes scored a career-high 28 points on January 3, 2019, in a 87–82 loss to NC State.{{cite news |last1=Wine |first1=Stephen |title=No. 18 North Carolina State pounds host UM in second half, wins ACC opener 87–82 |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-hurricanes/fl-sp-um-hoops-mbb-ncstate-20190103-story.html |accessdate=February 28, 2020 |work=South Florida Sun-Sentinel |agency=Associated Press |date=January 3, 2019}} Lykes scored 20 points in a loss to North Carolina on January 19, and tied a season-high with four three-pointers.{{cite news |title=Miami Hurricanes' 5-7 Chris Lykes is 'crazy, but crazy good' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2019/01/23/miami-hurricanes-5-7-chris-lykes-is-crazy-but-crazy-good/38944287/ |accessdate=February 28, 2020 |work=USA Today |agency=Associated Press |date=January 23, 2019}} Lykes averaged 16.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game as a sophomore.{{cite web |last1=Rubenstein |first1=Alan |title=For Miami basketball to improve in 2019-20 Chris Lykes needs help |url=https://caneswarning.com/2019/06/23/miami-basketball-improve-2019-20-chris-lykes-needs-help/ |website=CanesWarning.com |date=23 June 2019 |publisher=FanSided |accessdate=February 28, 2020}} He was named to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) All-Academic Team for the second straight season. Coming into his junior season, Lykes was named Preseason Second Team All-ACC.{{cite web |title=Lykes Named Preseason Second Team All-ACC |url=https://hurricanesports.com/news/2019/10/10/mens-basketball-lykes-named-preseason-second-team-all-acc.aspx |website=Miami Hurricanes |accessdate=February 28, 2020 |date=October 10, 2019}} Lykes missed four games in January 2020 with a groin injury.{{cite news |last1=Stock |first1=Christopher |title=PG Chris Lykes, SG Kameron McGusty aiming for returns |url=https://247sports.com/college/miami/Article/Miami-Hurricanes-PG-Chris-Lykes-SG-Kameron-McGusty-aiming-for-returns-143429777/ |accessdate=February 28, 2020 |work=247 Sports |date=February 6, 2020}} He sat out a game against Syracuse on March 8 with a laceration near his eye. As a junior, Lykes averaged 15.4 points, 2.4 assists, and 2.1 rebounds per game.{{cite news |last1=Stock |first1=Christopher |title=Chris Lykes out with injury, status uncertain for ACC tournament |url=https://247sports.com/college/miami/Article/Miami-Hurricanes-basketball-PG-Chris-Lykes-out-with-injury-status-uncertain-for-ACC-tournament-144751726/ |accessdate=April 2, 2020 |work=247 Sports |date=March 8, 2020}} Lykes was named All-ACC Honorable Mention.{{cite web|url=https://theacc.com/news/2020/3/8/athlete-awards-2020-acc-mens-basketball-award-winners-announced.aspx|title=2020 ACC Men's Basketball Award Winners Announced|website=theacc.com|publisher=Atlantic Coast Conference|date=March 9, 2020|accessdate=March 9, 2020}} Two games into his senior season, he suffered a season-ending ankle injury. Lykes transferred to Arkansas for his final year of eligibility, choosing the Razorbacks over USC.{{cite web|url=https://247sports.com/college/arkansas/Article/Chris-Lykes-transfers-to-Arkansas-Miami-163685760/|title=Chris Lykes transfers to Arkansas|website=hawgsports.com|publisher=247 Sports|date=April 7, 2021|accessdate=April 7, 2021}}

Professional career

After going undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft, Lykes signed with Horsens IC of the top league in Denmark, Basketligaen. He averaged 22.0 points, 4.8 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game over 26 games, leading his team to an overall 17-9 record.

On June 27, 2023, Lykes signed with Denain Voltaire of the 2nd Division French League, LNB Pro B.