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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: Neumann-Goretti Standout Christian Ings Triple Threat on the Court for Norfolk State

By Donald Hunt, 02/03/25, 11:30AM EST

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BY DONALD HUNT

There are several college basketball players from Philadelphia who have been making a significant impact at their schools. Christian Ings, a former Neumann-Goretti standout, is one of them. He has been playing some great basketball for Norfolk State.

Ings, a 6-2, 180-pound graduate student, is averaging 27.5 points, 4.2 assists and 2.3 rebounds a game for the Spartans. Norfolk State (15-8 overall, 5-1 con.), a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, have gained some valuable experience during the preseason. Ings feels this year’s team actually started to take shape last season when Norfolk State won the CIT (Collegeinsider.com Postseason Tournament) championship, which he received Most Valuable Player recognition. The CIT is a postseason tournament for teams that were not chosen for the NCAA Division I tournament or the National Invitation Tournament (NIT).


Norfolk State's Christian Ings (Photo/ Norfolk State Athletics)

“We have a lot of new guys with a couple of returners,” Ings said. “We had a lot of success win the CIT. We fell short of the main goal trying to win the [MEAC] tournament. We’re re-focused. The team is great.”

Ings has a special role with Norfolk State. He can score, defend, rebound and look for the open man as the team’s point guard.

“I’m an extension of a coach as a floor general,” he said. “I got to make sure everything on the court is up to speed. It’s something me and my coach [Robert Jones, Norfolk State head coach] work on every day at practice. Control the floor as a point guard should.”

Ings has a lot of family members from Philly who travel to watch him play during the season. They may not always make it down to Norfolk, Va., but have seen him play at other MEAC schools in Delaware, Maryland and Washington, D.C.


Norfolk State's Christian Ings in game vs. Alabama A&M University (Photo/ Norfolk State Athletics)

“They try to basically come to Delaware State and Morgan State,” he said. “Last year, they came to Howard. They came to Coppin [State].”

Norfolk State is on a three game win streak and are (8-1) at home.


Neumann-Goretti grad Christian Ings helped lead team to 2018 PIAA 3A State Title. ( PSD photo by Kathy Leister)


Neumann-Goretti's own Christian Ings continues to bring his A-game for Norfolk State ( PSD photo by Geneva Heffernan)