Winston Crite facts for kids
Crite in 1987
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 20, 1965 Bakersfield, California, U.S. |
| High school | South (Bakersfield, California) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Listed weight | 233 lb (106 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Texas A&M (1983–1987) |
| NBA Draft | 1987 / Round: 3 / Pick: 53rd overall |
| Selected by the Phoenix Suns | |
| Pro career | 1987–1997 |
| Career history | |
| 1987–1988 | Phoenix Suns |
| 1988–1989 | Brisbane Bullets |
| 1989–1990 | Grand Rapids Hoops |
| 1990 | Manila Pure Foods |
| 1990–1991 | Grand Rapids Hoops |
| 1991 | Grupo IFA Granollers |
| 1992–1993 | ASA Sceaux |
| 1993 | Cholet Basket |
| 1994–1995 | BCM Gravelines |
| 1995–1996 | Montpellier Basket |
| 1996–1997 | Racing de Avellaneda |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Winston Arnel Crite (born June 20, 1965) is a retired American professional basketball player. He is known for his successful career at Texas A&M University and playing for the Phoenix Suns in the NBA. After his time in the NBA, Crite played professionally in Europe. Today, he helps young players improve their basketball skills. He played as a power forward.
Contents
Early Life and High School Success
Winston Crite grew up in Bakersfield, California. He went to South High School Bakersfield. As a sophomore, he helped his team win the San Joaquin Valley Championship. In his final year, The Bakersfield Californian newspaper named him the All Area Player of the Year. He was also chosen for the All Northern California all-star team.
College Basketball at Texas A&M (1983–1987)
Crite decided to play college basketball at Texas A&M University for coach Shelby Metcalf. In his very first game in 1983, Crite made history. He was the first freshman at Texas A&M to achieve a "double-double" in his first game. This means he scored 24 points and got 15 rebounds. Only one other freshman has done this since.
Crite played in 123 games during his college career and started 118 of them. He got better each year.
- In his first year (1983–1984), he averaged 8.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.
- By his senior year, he averaged 16.8 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.
He was chosen for the "All Southwest West Conference" team four times. He was also named "All Tournament" for three years in a row.
Amazing Tournament Win
In Crite's senior year, his team had a tough time, losing many games. They were ranked eighth in their conference tournament. This meant they had to play against the top-ranked team, TCU, who were 15th in the country.
Crite scored 30 points in a huge upset win against TCU. His team then beat the defending champions, Texas Tech. Finally, they won against Baylor in the championship game. Crite was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. This win earned the Aggies a spot in the NCAA Tournament, which was their first time since 2006.
College Records
Winston Crite holds several records at Texas A&M:
- He is the all-time leader in blocked shots with 200.
- He is second in school history for total rebounds with 913.
- He is also fourth on the school's all-time scoring list.
In September 2009, Crite was honored by being inducted into the Texas A&M Hall of Fame.
Professional Basketball Career
After college, the Phoenix Suns picked Winston Crite in the 1987 NBA draft. He was the 53rd player chosen overall.
Playing in the NBA
In his first season (1987–1988) with the Phoenix Suns, Crite played in 29 games. He averaged 3.0 points and 2.2 rebounds per game. In his second season, he played only two games before an injury kept him from playing more.
International Play
After his time in the NBA, Crite played in Australia's NBL for the Brisbane Bullets in 1989. He was chosen for the Australian NBL All-Star Game. He averaged 20.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in Australia.
After Australia, Crite spent several years playing professional basketball in Europe. He earned "All-League" honors in both Spain and France. In 1993, while playing for ASA Sceaux, he was named the Most Valuable Foreign Player in the French 2nd Division. He also helped his team win the French 2nd Division championship that year. After that season, he was also named to The Buckler All-Europe Team.
Life After Basketball
After retiring from professional basketball, Winston Crite returned to his hometown of Bakersfield. Parents of young athletes asked him to help train their children.
In 2002, Crite and his wife Mechelle started a basketball training club called The Footwork Shop, Inc. Instead of playing regular games, Crite's company focuses on teaching skills all year round. They especially work on advanced footwork. As of July 2025, he is the School Community Specialist and Varsity Boys’ Basketball Coach at Frontier High School in Bakersfield. He also works as a teacher at West High School with his two nephews, Conrado and Pablo Crite.
See also
In Spanish: Winston Crite para niños
