New Trier guard Christopher Kirkpatrick picks Princeton

It pays to be first, and in this case the prize for early-bird Princeton basketball was New Trier guard Christopher Kirkpatrick.

Princeton head coach Mitch Henderson and his team were in pursuit of the 6-foot-3 Kirkpatrick from day one, Kirkpatrick said, helping the rising senior understand his potential role in the program.

With that in mind, Kirkpatrick announced with a social media post on July 24 his commitment to the Ivy League power.

“The head coach was just very consistent with reaching out to me ever since coaches could contact me,” Kirkpatrick said. “I really liked the guys when I went on my official (visits) there and the style of the play. I also definitely want to play as a freshman, and they think very highly of me and I have a good chance to do that when I go there.”

Kirkpatrick came into New Trier with a game that already had the attention of college scouts. He ascended to the Trevians’ starting lineup as a sophomore, helping the team make a second straight state-finals appearance.

A three-level scorer and high-level defender, Kirkpatrick became the team’s statistical leader as a junior. He averaged 22 points to go with 6 assists and 6 rebounds per game, and though he missed multiple weeks with an ankle injury, he eclipsed 1,000 varsity points.

His play as a Trevian and with club program Fundamental U attracted multiple offers from Division I programs, such as Brown, Green Bay and University of Illinois at Chicago. In the end, Princeton edged the others, including Loyola University at Chicago, especially because it offered an opportunity to get on the court immediately, Kirkpatrick said.

“My whole life I’ve just played and I just want to continue to get as many reps as possible so I can continue to get better,” he said.

Kirkpatrick is not the only Trevians hooper to find his way to the Ivy League. In recent years, Jake Fiegen (Cornell) and Jackson Munro (Dartmouth) also headed to and found starters’ minutes in the prestigious league.

A bit before then, 2013 New Trier graduate Steven Cook committed to Princeton after leading the Trevians to an elite eight appearance as a senior. Cook became a three-time All-Ivy League selection. He texted Kirkpatrick to congratulate him on his Princeton commitment.

“It’s cool to see guys where I am from be successful in the Ivy League,” Kirkpatrick said. “That definitely makes me feel good about going there.”

Princeton has the most conference championships (30) in the history of Ivy League men’s basketball. The Tigers’ last title came in 2024, which completed a three-peat atop the league.

Princeton is coming off a 19-11 season in which the Tigers finished tied for third in the league with an 8-6 record.

The Tigers are known for their active and quick offense, focusing on movement and finding open looks at the rim and behind the arc. Sound familiar?

“We kind of run a Princeton-style offense at New Trier,” Kirkpatrick said. ” … It’s a fast offense where guys read and react, and the ball is in the guards’ hands a good amount and that’s what I like.”

Not that it’ll be easy.

Kirkpatrick knows he has work to do — apart from competing in a final high school season — before he’s ready for Division I basketball.

“I want to continue to put on weight, get after it in the weight room,” he said, “and I want to continue to work on my leadership skills, because going in as a freshman and a point guard, coaches are going to expect you to know how to lead the team.”

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