Chris Watson was a consistent scorer and offensive threat during his four-year career for the Purple Eagles basketball team. Watson, a 6-foot-7 forward from White Plains, New York, led the Purple Eagles in scoring in his final three seasons and was third in the MAAC in scoring in his junior and senior seasons.

As a junior, he scored a career-high 40 points on 16 field goals in a 79-77 overtime win against Siena on February 19, 1996. The 16 field goals made are tied for the most in a conference game in program history. Watson averaged a career-high 17.4 points per game as a senior while also leading the MAAC in field goal percentage (.568).

Watson helped lead NU to the MAAC Tournament semifinals in 1996 and 1997 while earning All-MAAC Tournament honors each time. Watson was selected to the 1995-96 All-MAAC First Team and earned All-MAAC Second Team honors during the 1994-95 and 1996-97 seasons.

He finished his career with 1,711 career points, which placed him fourth at the time in Niagara history behind Calvin Murphy, Juan Mendez and Tremmell Darden. He is now seventh all-time.

Watson also ranks in the top-10 of the Niagara career record books in field goals made (615), field goal attempts (1,210), field goals percentage (.508), free throws made (466), free throw attempts (771) and in steals (160).

PE.com: Why did you decide to attend Niagara University?
Chris Watson: Niagara was actually my first official visit. Basketball wise I felt it was a great opportunity because I would be attending with 4-5 more freshman so I felt the chance to play right away was big, plus the chance to grow with those guys I felt would lead us to be successful as we became upper class men. Once I stepped on campus and was out in the city of Niagara Falls, I felt like I was home away from home right away. I had developed a good chemistry with the coaching staff from the recruiting process and felt great with the veterans who were already on the team, so it was an easy decision for me.

PE.com: How did you end up choosing to play your sport? Does the game itself have a special significance to you?
CW: As a kid, my friends and I would play lots of different sports to keep busy and basketball was the main sport the older guys would play where I grew up. One day they needed an extra player and I was the tallest of the young guys I used to hang around with, so I got picked up. Surprisingly to me I held my own and was hungry to get back to play again with them. I still have that same hunger till this day.

PE.com: What moment or moments from your time as a student-athlete do you look back upon with most fondness?
CW: The whole four years actually. Being a student athlete was the greatest thing in the world. The relationships you build, all the people you meet, the competition on the floor, just everything. I'm proud that I got an opportunity to represent an establishment like Niagara University.

PE.com How have your experiences as a student-athlete aided you in your professional career?
CW: The one thing it did for me was help me to be able to be out on my own and survive. Going to NU was the first time I was away from my family and closest friends, so that in itself made me have to grow up fast and learn how to handle things on my own. Of course Jack Armstrong gave me more life lessons than I can count while I was there.

PE.com: What was the most important lesson you learned as a student-athlete?
CW: Unfortunately most of the lessons that I learned only came after it was all over. You're just so young and u can't see some of the things until you're removed from the situation. As good a player as I was, I saw only after that I could have been so much better. I played most of the time on my God given abilities and that is really unfortunate, but I was young just simply didn't know. I use that disappointment now though. I work as hard as I can to be the best version of myself so I never have any regrets.

PE.com: Did you have a memorable coach, teacher, advisor, mentor, etc.? What important lessons did he/she impart?
CW: Jack Armstrong was the guy I looked up to and the man I wanted to make proud. He wanted me to be great and he pushed me all the time to perform to the best of my abilities. We had our ups and downs, but he is someone I will never forget.

PE.com: What have your friendships/relationships with your teammates meant to you through the years?
CW: I keep in touch with lots of the guys that I played with and even the ones that I don't talk to much anymore are still my family. Anyone that I went to battle with every day, whether it be for a season or four season, is family to me.

PE.com: What are you doing now?
CW: I'm in my 19th season right now playing professionally and I never thought I would play this long but here I am. I started off in Uruguay and played there for two years before coming to play in Israel. I also played in England, Belgium, and Sweden, but I played most of my career here in Israel. I became a citizen in 2003 and played twice on the Israeli National Team which was really cool. I won championships here and made a good name for myself over there years. I played with and against lots of NU alum over there years like Jeremiah Johnson, Tremmell Darden, Alvin Young, Ben Bilal, just to name a few. All and all, it has been a long and interesting ride for me as a basketball player.