Christian and Q: Two decades of basketball tales

Jim Christian will officially be introduced as the next Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Canisius on Thursday.  Coach Christian had spent the last two seasons at Kent in an administrative/advisory role to Rob Senderoff.

Before that, Christian had stops as the head coach at Boston College, Ohio University and TCU.

16 years ago Christian was the Head Coach at Kent State.  He was coming off a historic season with the Golden Flashes helping KSU to a 28-7 record, and a MAC regular season and tournament championship.  The Flashes also achieved their first ever national ranking in regular season history, coming off a memorable late night Bracket Buster win at St. Mary’s.

Christian’s starting five man and defensive unicorn that year?  Haminn Quaintance, a 6-7 athletic juggernaut from Sarasota, Florida.  “Q” as he is known, started his career at Jacksonville, sat out the 2005-2006 season and watched the Flashes win another MAC crown, before stepping on the court in 2006-2007.  

Capable of defending all five players on the court, Q was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2007-2008.  Up in Cleveland, Q was named MAC Tournament MVP in helping lead the Flashes to a weekend to remember for KSU fans and players alike.

In 2007 I was a student manager for the Golden Flashes men’s program.  In the basketball office, Q would come in to say hello frequently.  One day he wasn’t alone.  His newborn son Jayden was with him.  Jayden would hang out in the office with dad, soaking it all in.

Fast forward 17 years or so.  You may have heard Jayden grew up and is pretty good at basketball.  He’s ranked as the nation’s 14th best player in the ESPN Top 100.  He made some national news this week by requesting a release from his letter of intent to Kentucky, after Head Coach John Calipari left for Arkansas this week.

Q’s son is a 6-9 athletic freak that dunks everything in sight.  He was a McDonald’s All-American after a great season at Word of God Christian Academy in North Carolina.  

Jayden represented USA Basketball at FIBA U16 Americas Championship last summer while averaging 6.7 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.  He committed to Kentucky over Missouri, while taking visits to South Florida, Florida and Ohio State.  Kent State also offered him.  Will he come to Kent and play where his dad played, and come play for Uncle Sendy?  Not likely.

Christian will be at a podium at Canisius Thursday taking on his next challenge in coaching.  Q isn’t the player he was without Christian and his staff and Coach was able to parlay his success in Kent to numerous other stops.  We will see where Jayden Quiantance takes his talents to, and beyond.

A lot has changed in college basketball since 2007.  NIL, the transfer portal, etc.  A lot has stayed the same.  The passion I have for Kent State and its programs remain the same, if not greater.

Coaching has become more transactional than transformational.  I know Senderoff and his staff strive to make Kent a transformational experience for all athletes.  I think Q would agree that it was transformational for him and Jim Christian as well.  The fans are certainly appreciative and grateful for both, and the memories they helped create.  

In 2008 Chistian left for TCU, after that MAC Championship and Q’s senior year.  16 years later Coach Christian will still impact lives, win games and enjoy doing it, while Q gets to watch his son become a star.  Life and basketball through this Kent State lens.  I’m looking forward to the next story for the Blue and Gold.