A.J. Guyton

Photo Credit: The Star

Arthur James “A.J.” Guyton is a former professional American basketball player and current basketball coach from Peoria, Illinois. Guyton played basketball for Indiana University and was selected 32nd overall in the second round of the NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls. He has played for the Chicago Bulls, Golden State Warriors, and for professional teams overseas.

  • Name: Arthur James “A.J.” Guyton
  • Position: Guard
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: 47 years old
  • Birthday: February 12, 1978
  • Hometown: Peoria, Illinois
  • High School: Peoria High School (Peoria, Illinois)
  • Height: 6’1″ (1.85 m)
  • Weight: 180 lb (82 kg)
  • Seasons: 4 (1996-1997, 1997-1998, 1998-1999, 1999-2000)
  • Jersey: #25
  • NBA Draft: 2000 / Round 2 / 32nd overall (by the Chicago Bulls)
  • Professional Career:
    • Chicago Bulls (2000-2002)
    • Golden State Warriors (2002-2003)

Social media:

A.J. Guyton’s Indiana University Career

From 1996 to 2000, Guyton was recruited by coach Bobby Knight to play basketball for the Hoosiers. In Guyton’s first year, he averaged close to 14 points and 4 assists per game. He would later become the second Hoosier freshman to collect 400 points, 100 steals and 100 assists, the other player being Isaiah Thomas. The team ended up going 22-11 that year and finishing 5th in the Big Ten, later losing to Colorado in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Guyton would later win Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

Guyton’s sophomore year was more impressive than his freshman campaign. He averaged close to 17 points and 4 assists per game. His abilities landed him on the All-Big Ten Team. The team that year finished 20-12 overall and finished 5th in the conference, later losing to Connecticut in the second round of the NCAA Tournament after defeating Oklahoma.

During Guyton’s junior year, he was named captain by coach Knight and still put up impressive scoring totals of 16 points and close to 3 assists per game. Although his junior year numbers were slightly worse, his team was overall more successful, finishing 23-11 and second in the Big Ten. Later, the team would fall to St. John’s in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, who ended up advancing to the elite eight.

Guyton’s senior year was his most impressive year statistically. As team captain once again, he averaged close to 20 points per game (most in the Big Ten) while shooting close to 42% from three. Guyton was later named consensus first team All-American and Big Ten Player of the Year. His senior year success pushed IU to a 20-9 overall record that year and a 4th place Big Ten finish. Unfortunately, the Hoosiers that year were upset by Pepperdine in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in a 6 versus 11 seed match-up.

While at Indiana University, Guyton appeared in every single game and started in many of them. After graduating, Guyton was Indiana’s all-time leader in three-pointers, fourth in all-time scoring, eighth in all-time Indiana assists, and tenth in steals. Guyton’s teams also made the NCAA Tournament each year. He was also named Indiana’s most valuable player all four years he was there.

On June 10, 2014, Guyton learned that he was being inducted into the Indiana University Basketball Hall of Fame for his achievements at Indiana.

A.J. Guyton’s Professional and Post-Professional Career

The Chicago Bulls decided to take a chance on Guyton in the second round of the 2000 NBA Draft. He played for the Bulls from 2000 to 2002. In his rookie year, although Guyton only played 33 games, he started 8 of them and averaged 6 points and 2 assists per game per 19 minutes. He also shot an impressive 39% from three. Although Guyton played in more games for the Bulls his second year, he played less minutes per game and his scoring numbers were slightly worse. Guyton would move on from the Bulls and play for the Golden State Warriors the next year but very briefly. He then later took his talents overseas and played in various European countries.

After bouncing around international teams, Guyton became an assistant coach for Illinois Central College under head coach Tony Wynsinger, a former 4-year guard at the University of Illinois and fellow Peoria, Illinois native. Guyton would later end up taking an assistant coaching job with the Windy City Bulls, the Chicago Bulls’ NBA Development League affiliate. After Chris Collins led the Northwestern Wildcats to an NCAA Tournament appearance, Guyton was then hired as Northwestern Basketball’s Director of Player Development. The following year, Guyton moved on and took an assistant coaching position for Loyola-Maryland basketball team.

A.J. Guyton Videos

Highlights of the Indiana Basketball Star
Highlights of Guyton Against Rival Purdue

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Contributor: Sudhin Krishnan