Christian Vital

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Christian Vital

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| position = Point guard

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 2

| weight_lbs = 187

| league = LBA

| team = Derthona Basket

| number = 1

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|3|21}}

| birth_place = Queens Village, New York, U.S.

| high_school =

| college = UConn (2016–2020)

| draft_year = 2020

| career_start = 2021

| years1 = 2021–2022

| team1 = Rio Grande Valley Vipers

| years2 = 2022

| team2 = Hamilton Honey Badgers

| years3 = 2022

| team3 = Raptors 905

| years4 = 2022–2023

| team4 = Salt Lake City Stars

| years5 = 2023

| team5 = Brampton Honey Badgers

| years6 = 2023–2024

| team6 = Legia Warszawa

| years7 = 2024

| team7 = Henan Golden Elephants

| years8 = 2024–present

| team8 = Derthona Basket

| highlights =

FIBA Europe Cup Top Scorer (2024)
All-PLK Team (2024)
Polish Cup winner (2024)
NBA G League champion (2022)
CEBL champion (2022)
CEBL Finals MVP (2022)
2× All-CEBL Second Team (2022, 2023)
CEBL steals leader (2022)
First-team All-AAC (2020)

}}

Christian Lucien Vital (born March 21, 1997) is an American professional basketball player for Derthona Basket of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA). He played college basketball for the UConn Huskies.

Early life and high school career

Vital is the oldest of five children born to Rose Vital-Williams. He grew up playing basketball for the PSA Cardinals Amateur Athletic Union program.{{cite web |last1=Amore |first1=Dom |title=Christian Vital hopes to save his best for his last season with UConn men |url=https://www.courant.com/sports/uconn-mens-basketball/hc-sp-uconn-men-christian-vital-special-section-20191107-20191101-44f5c5a4urhutc7ykjshe57g4a-story.html |website=Hartford Courant |accessdate=May 9, 2020 |date=November 1, 2019}} He played chess from age five, competing in various tournaments in New York City, and continued playing the game in high school.{{cite web |last1=Borges |first1=David |title=UConn freshman Christian Vital excels on hardwood — and on chessboard |url=https://www.registercitizen.com/uconn/article/UConn-freshman-Christian-Vital-excels-on-hardwood-11962370.php |website=The Register Citizen |accessdate=May 9, 2020 |date=January 30, 2017}} Vital began high school at the Rectory School in Pomfret, Connecticut, living away from his family.{{cite web |last1=Amore |first1=Dom |title=Christian Vital primed to step for UConn up in hometown |url=https://www.norwichbulletin.com/sports/20161204/christian-vital-primed-to-step-for-uconn-up-in-hometown |website=The Bulletin |accessdate=May 10, 2020 |date=December 4, 2016}} He played basketball for St. Thomas More School in Oakdale, Connecticut for his final two years of high school. In his final season, Vital averaged 16.8 points, seven rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game, leading his team to a 31–7 record and the National Prep Championship final. He earned New England Preparatory School Athletic Council Class AAA first team honors and was selected to play in the Jordan Brand Classic Regional Game.{{cite web |title=Christian Vital |url=https://uconnhuskies.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/christian-vital/10574 |publisher=University of Connecticut Athletics |accessdate=May 10, 2020}} Vital originally committed to play college basketball for UNLV but re-opened his recruitment after head coach Dave Rice left the program. On April 29, 2016, he committed to UConn over an offer from Louisville, among others.{{cite web |title=Recruit Christian Vital chooses UConn over Louisville |url=https://www.nhregister.com/uconn/article/Recruit-Christian-Vital-chooses-UConn-over-11329658.php |website=New Haven Register |accessdate=May 10, 2020 |date=April 29, 2016}}

College career

Vital started 10 games as a freshman and averaged 9.1 points and 3.5 rebounds per game, though the Huskies finished with a 16–17 overall record, the program's first losing season in 30 years.{{cite news |last1=Keefe |first1=Gavin |title=From Five Guys down to the Dynamic Duo, UConn Class of 2020 is ready to leave its mark |url=https://www.theday.com/article/20191106/SPORT07/191109559 |accessdate=May 18, 2020 |work=The Day |date=November 6, 2019}} On November 19, 2017, Vital scored a career-high 30 points in a 85–66 win over Boston University.{{cite news |title=Vital's career night leads UConn to 85–66 win over Boston U |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400987955 |accessdate=May 18, 2020 |work=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |date=November 19, 2017}} As a sophomore, Vital averaged 14.9 points, a team-leading 5.4 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game. Following the season he declared for the 2018 NBA draft, but opted to return to UConn, citing "unfinished business."{{cite news |last1=Amore |first1=Dom |title=Christian Vital Returning For 'Unfinished Business' At UConn |url=https://www.courant.com/sports/uconn-mens-basketball/hc-sp-uconn-men-vital-0522-story.html |accessdate=May 18, 2020 |work=Hartford Courant |date=May 21, 2018}} Vital averaged 14.9 points and 5.6 rebounds per game as a junior while leading the Huskies with 52 steals. As a senior, Vital averaged 16.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.5 steals per game.{{cite news |last1=Carroll |first1=Charlotte |title=Christian Vital is trying to move on after the abrupt ending to his UConn career |url=https://theathletic.co.uk/1809814/2020/05/12/christian-vital-is-trying-to-move-on-after-the-abrupt-ending-to-his-uconn-career/ |accessdate=May 18, 2020 |work=The Athletic |date=May 12, 2020}} He was named to the First Team All-American Athletic Conference.{{cite news |last1=Ostrout |first1=Neill |title=Vital named to All-AAC first team; Bouknight (third team) on all-rookie squad |url=https://www.journalinquirer.com/sports/college/uconn_mens_basketball/vital-named-to-all-aac-first-team-bouknight-third-team/article_2d0508f0-62e0-11ea-b644-e7022aca73e1.html |accessdate=May 18, 2020 |work=Journal Inquirer |date=March 20, 2020}} Vital scored 1,735 points in his UConn career, hitting an AAC-record 265 three-pointers.{{cite news |last1=Amore |first1=Dom |title='You could see the magic starting to happen:' Christian Vital reflects on his UConn career, the empty finish and his basketball future |url=https://www.courant.com/sports/uconn-mens-basketball/hc-sp-uconn-men-christian-vital-wrap-20200513-20200512-3iarmoffindijhrzerjfc4xtde-story.html |accessdate=May 18, 2020 |work=Hartford Courant |date=May 12, 2020}}

Professional career

=Rio Grande Valley Vipers (2021–2022)=

On August 19, 2020, Vital signed his first professional contract with BG Göttingen of the Basketball Bundesliga.{{cite web|first=Miles|last=Schmidt-Scheuber|title=Christian Vital To Start Professional Career With BG Goettingen|url=https://www.eurobasket.com/Germany/news/641468/Christian-Vital-To-Start-Professional-Career-With-BG-Goettingen|website=Eurobasket.com|date=August 19, 2020|access-date=August 23, 2020}} However, his contract was terminated on September 21.{{cite web|title=Goettingen released Vital|url=https://www.eurobasket.com/Germany/news/645386/Goettingen-released-Vital|website=Eurobasket.com|date=September 21, 2020|access-date=September 21, 2020}} After going undrafted in the 2020 NBA draft, he signed with the Memphis Grizzlies,{{cite web|title=Memphis Grizzlies sign Christian Vital|url=https://www.nba.com/grizzlies/news/memphis-grizzlies-sign-christian-vital-201216|website=NBA.com|date=December 16, 2020|access-date=October 16, 2021}} but waived on December 16.{{cite web|title=Memphis Grizzlies sign Shaq Buchanan|url=https://www.nba.com/grizzlies/news/memphis-grizzlies-sign-shaq-buchanan-201216|website=NBA.com|date=December 16, 2020|access-date=October 17, 2021}} He later joined the Memphis Hustle of the NBA G League in January 2021, but did not compete in any games.{{cite web|title=Memphis Hustle announce 2021 roster|url=https://memphis.gleague.nba.com/news/memphis-hustle-announce-2021-roster-210126|website=NBA.com|date=January 26, 2021|access-date=January 26, 2021}}

On October 16, 2021, Vital signed with the Houston Rockets but was waived shortly thereafter.{{cite web|first=Arthur|last=Hill|title=Rockets Sign, Waive Christian Vital|url=https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2021/10/rockets-sign-waive-christian-vital.html|website=HoopsRumors.com|date=October 16, 2021|access-date=October 17, 2021}} He subsequently joined the Rio Grande Valley Vipers{{cite news|first=Henry|last=Miller|title=New faces kick off Vipers training camp|url=https://myrgv.com/the-monitor/2021/10/26/new-faces-kick-off-vipers-training-camp/|work=The Monitor|date=October 26, 2021|access-date=November 2, 2021}} where he played 45 games and averaged 12.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and shot .401 from three-point range while helping the Vipers win the G League Championship.{{cite web|title=Honey Badgers Sign NBA G League Chamption|url=https://www.cebl.ca/honey-badgers-sign-nba-g-league-champion|website=CEBL.com|date=May 12, 2022|access-date=May 23, 2022}}

=Hamilton Honey Badgers (2022)=

On May 12, 2022, Vital signed with the Hamilton Honey Badgers of the CEBL. On August 14, he won the franchise's first CEBL title with the Honey Badgers.{{Cite web |date=2022-08-15 |title=Agada And Vital Carry Honey Badgers To First Championship In Club History |url=https://www.cebl.ca/agada-and-vital-carry-honey-badgers-to-first-championship-in-club-history |access-date=2022-08-15 |website=www.cebl.ca |language=en}} Vital was named the CEBL Final MVP after scoring 17 points in the 90–88 win over Scarborough. Over the season, Vital averaged a team leading 17.4 points and 4.8 rebounds in 15 games.{{Cite web |title=Hamilton Honey Badgers 2022 Team Stats - 2022 Honey Badgers Stats |url=https://www.honeybadgers.ca/2022-stats |access-date=2022-08-15 |website=www.honeybadgers.ca |language=en}}

=Raptors 905 (2022)=

Vital joined the Toronto Raptors for the 2022 NBA Summer League.{{Cite web |title=Toronto Raptors 2022 NBA2K23 Summer League Roster |url=https://www.nba.com/summer-league/2022/vegas/team/1610612761/raptors |access-date=July 5, 2022 |website=NBA.com}} He did not make the final roster but was added to their G League affiliate, Raptors 905.

=Salt Lake City Stars (2022–2023)=

On December 15, 2022, Vital was traded to the Salt Lake City Stars.{{cite web|url=https://gleague.nba.com/transactions/|website=gleague.nba.com|title=2022-23 NBA G League Transactions|date=December 15, 2022|access-date=December 15, 2022}}

=Brampton Honey Badgers (2023)=

On April 1, 2023, Vital signed with Hapoel Haifa of the Israeli Basketball Premier League, but didn't play for them.{{cite news|first=Dario|last=Skerletic|title=Christian Vital joins Hapoel Haifa|url=https://sportando.basketball/en/christian-vital-joins-hapoel-haifa/|newspaper=Sportando|date=April 1, 2023|access-date=April 4, 2023}} On May 10, he signed with the Brampton Honey Badgers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League.{{cite web|title=Honey Badgers Welcome Back CEBL Finals MVP Christian Vital|url=https://www.cebl.ca/honey-badgers-welcome-back-cebl-finals-mvp-christian-vital|website=CEBL.ca|date=May 10, 2023|access-date=June 13, 2023}}

=Legia Warszawa (2023–2024)=

On July 20, 2023, Vital signed with Legia Warszawa of the Polish Basketball League.{{cite web|title=Christian Vital nowym koszykarzem Legii Warszawa|url=https://legiakosz.com/aktualnosci/christian-vital-nowym-koszykarzem-legii-warszawa-5564|website=LegiaKosz.com|date=July 20, 2023|access-date=September 23, 2023|language=pl}}

=Henan Golden Elephants (2024)=

On June 6, 2024, Vital joined the Henan Golden Elephants of the National Basketball League.{{cite web |author=Henan Golden Elephants |title=河南赊店老酒男子篮球俱乐部已与外籍球员克里斯蒂安·维塔尔正式完成签约 |url=https://weibo.com/5163961768/OhKjZbFWF |website=Weibo |access-date=2024-06-10 |date=2024-06-06}}

=Derthona Basket (2024–present)=

On June 22, 2024, he signed with Derthona Basket of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA).{{Cite web|url=https://www.derthonabasket.it/il-capocannoniere-dellultima-fiba-europe-cup-arriva-al-derthona-christian-vital-e-bianconero/|title=Il capocannoniere dell’ultima FIBA Europe Cup arriva al Derthona: Christian Vital è bianconero|last=|first=|date=June 22, 2024|website=derthonabasket.it|publisher=|language=it|access-date=June 23, 2024}}