Julian Champagnie goes undrafted, signs two-way deal with the Sixers

It was a bittersweet Thursday night for Julian Champagnie. Like his twin brother Justin one year ago, he did not hear his name in the NBA Draft. Fortunately for him, he was still able to sign with an NBA team by the end of the night.

The Philadelphia 76ers signed Champagnie to a two-way contract, according to Kyle Neubeck of the Philly Voice. Champagnie will have the flexibility to earn a spot on the 15-man roster or hone his skills for the 76ers’ G-League affiliate club, the Delaware Blue Coats.

The two-time First Team All-Big East honoree averaged 19.2 points per game last season, shooting 41 percent from the field and 33.7 percent from beyond the arc. Scouts believe that his shooting ability and his 6-foot-8 frame will allow him to stake out a niche on an NBA roster.

Assuming Champagnie is sent down to the G-League, he will play alongside another former St. John’s star, Shamorie Ponds. As the first overall pick in the 2021 G-League Draft, Ponds averaged 13.5 points per game in 11 appearances for the Blue Coats last season.

As for the St. John’s men’s basketball program, their years-long drought of not sending a player to the draft continues. The last Red Storm player to be selected in the draft was Sir’Dominic Pointer, when he was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the 53rd overall pick in the 2015 draft.