Frank Champion is excited to make his basketball debut with the Chattanooga Mocs

Frank Champion cheers on his teammates as he waits for medical clearance for his Mocs debut

Photo by Ray Soldano/GoMocs.com

Entering your name in the transfer portal is like contacting political lawyers during an election campaign. It’s a furious duel in which college coaches try to curry favor, something Frank Champion experienced firsthand last March.

Shortly after Champion expressed his desire to leave North Georgia University after four seasons by entering his name into the portal, he received a call from a familiar phone number that he had saved four years earlier.

The name was displayed as “Coach Galfsky, VMI,” a reminder that Champion had been a target of the Keydets coaching staff as he was deciding his college future at Lithonia High School on the outskirts of Atlanta. A lot had changed in recent years for both Champion and assistant coach Ander Galfsky, who was hoping for a commitment.

After graduating during the chaotic COVID outbreak, Champion was dropped from high school and ended up 80 miles north of Lithonia at North Georgia, a Division II program in Dahlonega. Meanwhile, Galfsky enrolled from VMI in Chattanooga when his boss, head coach Dan Earl, took over the leadership of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga program in 2022.

His time as a champion at North Georgia elevated his status at the national level, earning him Division II All-America honors the last two years. The 6-foot-2 forward left his mark as the school’s all-time leader in points (1,763) and rebounds (839) while averaging 17.6 points per game over his four seasons.

That’s why seeing his name on the portal list triggered Galfsky’s quick reaction.

“Coach Galfsky was one of the first calls I got,” Champion said. “I knew his phone number looked familiar because I saved it four years ago. But it was listed under VMI, so I had to change that to UTC.”

Galfsky’s previous efforts to convince Champion to come to VMI had been unsuccessful, but the foundation of trust had been established.

“Coach Earl and his staff wanted me to come to VMI, but I couldn’t do it,” Champion said. “A cousin of mine was there and I talked to him about what it was like up there. But he wanted to join the military and that was a good fit for him, but I knew that wasn’t my goal so I took them off the list of schools I was considering.”

With Earl and Galfsky now in Chattanooga, Champion was interested in hearing their vision for his future.

“When I talked to them, I got a good sense that there is a family atmosphere in Chattanooga,” Champion said. “They told me about the history of Chattanooga basketball itself and had the same passion to bring that energy back to the program. I think Chattanooga just gave me that family feeling that I was used to in North Georgia. That was something I was looking for in the program and they nailed it.”

After receiving numerous offers from a number of middle schools, Champion became the linchpin of Earl’s transfer stock that included Pacific’s Makai Richards, Walsh’s Garrison Keeslar, Bellarmine’s Bash Wieland and Alabama-Huntsville’s Jack Kostel.

“I knew they had a really good team, especially with Trey Bonham and Honor Huff coming back,” Champion said. “There are no two better guards in the same lineup, and I think I’m pretty good at playing off smaller guards and finding spaces to score.”

Champion was generally aware of the UTC program growing up just outside of Atlanta, but had another source to help confirm his decision. Rodney Chatman, a fellow Lithonia High School graduate, signed with UTC out of high school and played two years for the Mocs before finishing his career with stops at Dayton and Vanderbilt. The former Mocs point guard gave Champion a positive assessment of his time in Chattanooga.

“Rodney texted me right after I selected UTC,” Champion said. “There was no overlap in high school, but I knew about him. He said, “Oh man, Chattanooga is a beautiful city.” I love this place. Man, you’re going to like it. They will treat you right.’”

Champion was eager to make the most of his final year of play and had to deal with the disappointment of missing pre-season with an injury that delayed his Mocs’ debut. But instead of lamenting his setback, the optimistic champion turned the situation around for the better.

“Honestly, I wouldn’t call it frustrating during this time,” Champion said. “As a competitor, it’s not easy to sit on the bench because you want to be out there. But it was good for me as a manager. Overall, being on the sidelines helped me see the game from a different perspective.

“I also think being there for my teammates has helped me so that when I’m on the floor with them they know I’ve been with them the whole time. I try to be the first one off the bench and bring a lot of energy. So that was a good thing for me and I tried to keep a positive perspective.”

The champion’s skillset will give the Mocs a solid interior presence that will complement their current rotation of post players. Champion is a skilled ballplayer who played the point before a growth spurt moved him inside. He has a knack for creating his own shots and is a tireless rebounder.

“Frank is a super athlete,” Earl said during a preseason discussion. “He handles the ball really well for his size, can create ideas, really pass and is a really dynamic player. “I think he’ll be really good for us.”

The version of Champion that will take the field for UTC is very different from the version of player Earl first tried to recruit for VMI.

“I realized my ability to adapt, that was the biggest thing I learned in North Georgia,” Champion said. “Coming in, I didn’t really know what college basketball was going to be like. I was kind of in between positions in high school. Our coaches at North Georgia were good at getting people where they needed to be and they gave me a good opportunity. I can use my size to my advantage with my footwork that comes with my skills as a defender. My coaches there recognized that and helped me use it to my advantage.”

The body of work that Champion put together in North Georgia was impressive. After averaging 20.2 points, 9.9 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game in his sophomore season, Champion led the Nighthawks to a 21-8 record and a berth in the NCAA Division II Tournament.

Last season as a junior, North Georgia posted a 28-7 record with an appearance in the D-II Elite Eight as Champion averaged 17.6 points per game with 7.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game and achieved a shooting rate of 59% from the field. He had a game-high 33 points, a game in which he converted 19 of 21 free throws.

If there was any reluctance to leave North Georgia, it was the fact that he was leaving behind his younger brother Chase, a sophomore guard. The couple spent their entire lives competing together and grew up with basketball as a focus as their father, Frank Sr., worked at one of the local recreation centers in Lithonia.

“I felt like it was time to let him do his own thing,” Champion said. “We have been together for most of our lives and have been fortunate to have the opportunity to play together at the highest levels.”

With Champion poised to make his introduction to Chattanooga basketball once he completes his recovery, he’s eager to finally be more than just a cheerleader alongside his teammates.

“I’m ready to play,” Champion said. “We still have a lot of season ahead of us, so I’m just trying to do my best. I think I will bring a consistent inside presence that fits our offense perfectly. I hope we can make a positive impact with what we have achieved so far.”

Chattanooga (5-3) has won five straight games and will face Lipscomb (4-4) at McKenzie Arena on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The game includes the “Teddy Bear Toss,” in which fans are encouraged to bring a stuffed animal to donate to the Salvation Army or Erlanger Children’s Hospital.

Paul Payne can be emailed at [email protected]

Frank Champion was under the watchful eye of UTC athletic trainer Gracie Thurson

Photo from GoMocs.com