Getting to know Dayton Flyers Redshirt Senior Rodney Chatman

Rodney Chatman dribbling against pressure (courtesy Dayton Media Relations)
Rodney Chatman UD BKB Finally back on court. On his injury. From Georgia to Dayton. 2 17 21.mp3

The University of Dayton Flyers will return to Blackburn Court on Friday, when the Flyers host Saint Louis. Game time is 7 p.m. ET. It will be UD’s Senior Night. Student-athletes Rodney Chatman, Jalen Crutcher, Camron Greer, Jordy Tshimanga and Ibi Watson will be honored in pre-game ceremonies, as will managers Marin Reis, Alex Roberts and Matthew Weckesser.

  • POSITION Guard
  • HEIGHT 6-1
  • CLASS Redshirt Senior
  • HOMETOWN Lithonia, Ga.
  • HIGHSCHOOL Lithonia

2019-20 Redshirt Junior)
• Started all 31 games, averaging 7.7 points, 3.2 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game
• Led team in steals and was second in assists
• Scored 12 points (3-5 3-pt.) in his UD debut in the Indiana State win
• With Jalen Crutcher out, stepped up with 17 points (7-11 FG) and six assists vs. Grambling
• Scored 14 points (5-6 FG, 2-2 FT) against Davidson
• Chatman is one of the best defensive guards in the A-10, if not the country.  He had the primary assignment on Georgia’s Anthony Edwards, and Saint Mary’s’ Jordan Ford.  Edwards was held to six points (14 points under his average), and Ford to 11 (10 points under his).  At Rhode Island, Fatts Russell was held to nine points (half his average) on 2-for-13 shooting.
• Was named the co-winner (with Trey Landers) of the Steve McElvene Award, which goes to the team’s top defender

2018-19 (Redshirt Sophomore)
• Sat out the season due to NCAA underclassman transfer restrictions 

2016-18 (Freshman and Sophomore seasons at Chattanooga)
• Started three games as a freshman, and started all 29 at point guard as a sophomore
• Led the team in scoring in seven games as a sophomore, with a career high 26 against ETSU
• Averaged 13.3 points, 4.5 assists, and 4.1 rebounds per game as a sophomore
• Shot 45.3 percent from the field, 33.9 percent from the three point line, and 78.2 percent on free throws
• Finished with a career high 14 assists in a road game at Jacksonville State in December 2017
• Ranked sixth in the Southern Conference in minutes per game at 32.3

High School 
• Averaged 13.3 points, 6.2 assists and 4.1 steals per contest as a senior
• Class 4A All-Georgia mention after junior and senior campaigns
• Had a triple-double (18 points, 10 rebounds & 10 assists) against North Clayton during his senior season

Personal
• Son of Rodney and Glenda Chatman
• His dad, Rodney, played for George Raveling at USC from 1990-93 
• Born on Aug. 24, 1998 in Daytona Beach, Fla., and attended high school in Lithonia, Ga.
• Has two siblings — Bryce and Alexis
• Majoring in Education
• AAU Team was Q6 All-Stars
• High School Coach was Wallace Corker

CHAT SCRATCH FEVER
• Rodney Chatman returned to action at Rhode Island, playing 36
minutes and getting seven points and four assists.
• He had surgery to repair a torn tendon in his right hand on Jan.
5, after suffering the injury against La Salle on Dec. 30.
• He missed 11 games.
• Chatman gives the Flyers of two point guards on the floor for
most of the game. He is an elite defender and competitor.
• “Chat” had 15 points (6-9 FG, 3-4 FT) in the 2 OT win over
Mississippi State.
• He scored 21 points and had five steals against Old Miss. At
the defensive end, he held Ole Miss All-SEC guard Devontae
Shuler to 12 points (six under his average), 4-of-16 shooting
(he came in shooting .500), 2-of-9 from three-point (previously
.476) and one assist (2.5 under his average).
• It bears repeating that Chatman is one of the best defensive
guards in the A-10, if not the country. Last season, he had the
primary assignment on Georgia’s Anthony Edwards, and Saint
Mary’s’ Jordan Ford. Eventual top NBA draft pick Edwards was
held to six points (2-10 FG, 14 points under his final average),
and Ford to 11 (10 points under his). Grambling All-SWAC
guard Ivy Smith, Jr. was held to half his average (6 points).
Rhode Island’s Fatts Russell scored 13 of his 19 after Chatman
fouled out with 8:33 left in the game (and UD up 22) in the
Flyers’ 87-67 win Dayton. At Rhode Island, Russell was held to
nine points on 2-for-13 shooting in UD’s 84-57 win.
• Rodney Chatman is the only Flyer returnee who started all 31
games last season.
• A transfer from Chattanooga, Chatman started all 29 games at
point guard for Chattanooga in 2017-18, averaging 32.2 minutes,
13.3 points, 4.5 assists, and 4.1 rebounds per game.

COURTESY DAYTON MEDIA RELATIONS