Three games into her college career, freshman guard Makena Christian already looks like she belongs. The former Wisconsin state Player of the Year and ESPN Top 100 recruit has made the transition to NCAA basketball look easy.
In her first game at Williams Arena, Christian made an unforgettable impression with 23 points in 21 minutes, sinking five three-pointers along the way. It was a performance for the records.
Her performance marked the most points by any Minnesota player making her college debut since 1999, when Lindsay Lieser had 23 against Ball State University.
Christian had been waiting for her collegiate debut. The Gophers’ home opener atmosphere was loud, and could have easily been distracting, yet Christian was unfazed.
“I was excited to play with all my teammates,” Christian said. “Being in The Barn was really cool. The atmosphere and the energy were great but mainly, I was just really excited to be out there with my teammates.”
Her calm presence is rare for a first-year guard. It has stood out immediately to coaches and teammates. Head coach Dawn Plitzuweit noted having high expectations for Christian, but was impressed by how steady she was all evening.
“I thought she handled the emotions of her first home game at a really high level,” Plitzuweit said. “She’s naturally calm and steady, and she did good things on both ends of the court.”
Christian’s early success is no surprise to those who followed her high school career. She was ranked #52 nationally as a recruit by ESPN and as the number one guard in Wisconsin by Prep Girls Hoops.
In her senior year, she averaged 25.3 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists. During her time there, her team made it to the North Shore Conference Championship and had a state semifinals appearance.
She has carried that ability to perform under pressure straight to the college scene.
Minnesota is looking to be a special team this year. The Gophers have top-tier recruits and she has already gained the trust of her teammates, including redshirt junior Mara Braun. Braun expressed excitement about Christian and what she can bring to this program.
“Oh my gosh, she’s great,” Braun said. “She comes in every day wanting to work, and we know she can shoot the ball. Anytime it’s in her hands, we know there’s a good chance it’s going up and it’s going in. Honestly, we have full confidence in her.”
Christian followed up her first game with strong performances in her second and third. She had 11 points and 3 steals in game two, then stayed consistent against Marquette on Tuesday night with 8 points, shooting 50% from three.
It is a small sample size, but one that already shows promise. Her ability to stay composed and shoot under pressure has made her an early standout. If her first two weeks are any indication of what is to come, Minnesota fans have plenty to look forward to.
