Javaris
Cortez Crittenton (born
December 31, 1987) is an American former professional basketball player and convicted murderer. During his four
year career, Crittenton played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, and Washington Wizards of
the National Basketball Association (NBA),
the Zhejiang Lions of
the Chinese Basketball Association,
and the Dakota Wizards of
the NBA D-League. He was
previously the starting point guard for
the Georgia Tech men's
basketball team On August 26, 2011, Crittenton was charged with the murder of
Jullian Jones, a 22-year-old mother of four. After pleading guilty to
manslaughter in 2015, he was sentenced to 23 years in prison. Crittenton
was born to Sonya Dixon[2] in Atlanta, Georgia. He attended Southwest
Atlanta Christian Academy, where, as a high school sophomore, he played alongside Dwight Howard.[2] Crittenton and Howard led Southwest Atlanta to
victory in the GHSA class
A state championship that season. As a junior, in 2005, Crittenton averaged 28.4 points, 7.5 assists, and 8.2 rebounds. He once again
led Southwest Atlanta to the GHSA class A state finals, where they lost to
powerhouse Randolph-Clay. As a senior, Crittenton averaged 29 points, 9 assists and 7
rebounds, and led Southwest Atlanta to the GHSA class A semi-finals against
Randolph-Clay. After dismissing Randolph-Clay they headed to the championship
game once again. This time they were successful in beating rivals Whitefield
Academy to become state champions. Following the season he was named
a McDonald's All American.
He was also named Mr. Georgia Basketball by The Atlanta
Journal-Constitution. Crittenton carried a 3.5 GPA in high school,
and was a member of the Future Business Leaders of America and
the Senior Beta Club. While
at Georgia Tech, Crittenton excelled and was considered a team leader, a rare
accolade for a freshman.[4] Tech coach Paul Hewitt urged Crittenton to take over a leadership
role on the team after his play in several games in February 2007. He recorded
a career high of 29 points in a February 13 game against Florida State. After a
single season, he left school to go pro. Crittenton was drafted with the 19th
pick in the first round of the 2007 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. During an NBA Summer
League game on July 8, 2007, he had 18 points, including a game winning
jump-shot with 1.6 seconds left in the game. In the Lakers' first preseason
game against the Golden State Warriors in Honolulu, Crittenton had 18 points along with one assist in a
111–110 loss. On August 26, 2011, Crittenton was charged with the August 19
murder of Jullian Jones, a 22-year-old mother of four. Atlanta Police Department indicated
that Jones was not the intended target; they believed that Crittenton was
targeting a person who robbed him in April 2011. Jones was shot in the leg and died during
surgery. Crittenton was arrested by the FBI in John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California,
on August 29, while waiting to board a flight back to Atlanta. His lawyer
stated that Crittenton's sole purpose for the trip to Atlanta was to surrender
himself to custody Crittenton was extradited to Atlanta to stand trial for
the murder. After his arrest, he denied any involvement. Crittenton was
released on a $230,000 bond. Crittenton and his cousin Douglas
Gamble were officially indicted on April 2, 2013, on 12 counts in connection
with Jones' death, including charges of murder, felony murder, aggravated
assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm during the commission of
a felony, giving false statements, attempted murder, and participation in
criminal street gang activity. Crittenton reportedly joined the Crips after
signing with the Los Angeles Lakers, according to Fulton County assistant
district attorney Gabe Banks, and allegedly also shot at Demontinez Stephens
earlier in August 2011. The target in both shootings was reportedly Trontavious
Stephens, Demontinez's brother and a member of the R. O. C. Crew, which is part
of the Bloods. While
out on bond on the murder charges, Crittenton was arrested pursuant to a
January 10, 2014, indictment of him and 13 other persons who were accused of
selling multi-kilo quantities of cocaine and several hundred pounds of
marijuana. Crittenton was charged with two counts of conspiracy to violate the
Georgia Controlled Substance Act. On
April 29, 2015, shortly before his trial was set to begin, Crittenton pleaded
guilty to voluntary manslaughter with a weapon and aggravated assault with a
firearm. He was sentenced to 23 years in prison.