{{Short description|American basketball player (born 1998)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2025}} {{Infobox basketball biography | name = TJ Starks | image = T.J. Starks.jpg | image_size = | caption = Starks in 2017 | position = Shooting guard / point guard | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 2 | weight_lb = 196 | league = CBA | team = Jiangsu Dragons | number = 6 | nationality = American | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|9|11}} | birth_place = | high_school = Lancaster (Lancaster, Texas) | college = * Texas A&M (2017–2019) * Cal State Northridge (2020–2021) | draft_year = 2021 | career_start = 2021 | years1 = 2021–2022 | team1 = Nevėžis Kėdainiai | years2 = 2022 | team2 = Semt77 Yalovaspor | years3 = 2022–2023 | team3 = Kolossos Rodou | years4 = 2023 | team4 = Al-Rayyan | years5 = 2023–2024 | team5 = Apollon Patras | years6 = 2024 | team6 = Juventus Utena | years7 = 2024–2025 | team7 = Astana | years8 = 2025 | team8 = Tasmania JackJumpers | years9 = 2025–2026 | team9 = Shijiazhuang Xianglan | years10 = 2026–present | team10 = Jiangsu Dragons | highlights = *Kazakhstan League champion (2025) *Qatari League champion (2023) *First-team All-Big West (2021) *Big West Newcomer of the Year (2021) *SEC All-Freshman Team (2018) }} '''Tahjon Komar''' "'''TJ'''" '''Starks''' (born September 11, 1998) is an American professional basketball player for the Jiangsu Dragons of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). He played college basketball for Texas A&M and Cal State Northridge.
==Early life== Starks attended Lancaster High School and played under head coach Ferrin Douglas. As a junior, he averaged 12 points, eight rebounds and three assists per game. Starks led the Tigers to its second consecutive Class 5A State Championship and scored 20 points during the championship-game win against Elkins High School. As a senior, he was selected as the 2017 5A Region II District 10 Offensive Player of the Year as well as a Class 5A All-State selection by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches.<ref name="Hattersley">{{cite news |last1=Hattersley |first1=Andrew |title=A&M G TJ Starks suspended indefinitely for violating team rules |url=https://247sports.com/college/texas-am/Article/TJ-Starks-Texas-AM-Suspended-Indefinitely--138565655/ |access-date=September 6, 2021 |work=247 Sports |date=November 14, 2019}}</ref> Starks was regarded as a three-star prospect and committed to Texas A&M in June 2016 over an offer from Oklahoma.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Riddle |first1=Greg |title=Three-star recruit T.J. Starks commits to Texas A&M after helping Lancaster win state title |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/high-school-sports/2016/07/01/three-star-recruit-t-j-starks-commits-to-texas-am-after-helping-lancaster-win-state-title/ |access-date=September 6, 2021 |work=Dallas Morning News |date=June 30, 2016}}</ref>
==College career== As a freshman, Starks made 15 starts and averaged 9.9 points and 2.3 assists per game.<ref name="Hattersley" /> He helped lead Texas A&M to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament and scored 21 points in an upset of North Carolina in the second round. Starks earned SEC All-Freshman Team honors.<ref>{{cite web |title=Meet the Matadors: TJ Starks & Amound Anderson |url=https://gomatadors.com/news/2020/11/13/mens-basketball-meet-the-matadors-tj-starks-amound-anderson.aspx |website=Cal State Northridge Matadors |access-date=September 6, 2021 |date=November 13, 2020}}</ref> He made a buzzer-beating three-pointer on January 12, 2019, to propel the Aggies to an 81–80 win over Alabama.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Alex |title=WATCH: Texas A&M's TJ Starks hits buzzer beater to give Aggies win over Alabama |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/2019/01/12/watch-texas-am-s-tj-starks-hits-buzzer-beater-to-give-aggies-win-over-alabama/ |access-date=September 6, 2021 |work=Dallas Morning News |date=January 12, 2019}}</ref> On February 26, Starks sustained a right shoulder injury in a loss against LSU, which required hospitalization and forced him to miss the rest of the season.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dauster |first1=Rob |title=Texas A&M guard TJ Starks taken to hospital after shoulder injury |url=https://collegebasketball.nbcsports.com/2019/02/27/texas-am-guard-tj-starks-taken-to-hospital-after-shoulder-injury/ |access-date=September 6, 2021 |work=NBC Sports |date=February 27, 2019}}</ref> He averaged 12.3 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game as a sophomore.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Thompson |first1=Cole |title=Update: TJ Starks Suspended Indefinitely |url=https://www.si.com/college/tamu/basketball/breaking-tj-starks-suspended-indefinitely |access-date=September 6, 2021 |work=Sports Illustrated |date=November 14, 2019}}</ref> Starks missed the first two games of his junior season with an ankle injury he sustained during an exhibition game. On November 14, 2019, he was suspended indefinitely due to being arrested for possession of two ounces or less of marijuana.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Travis |title=Texas A&M basketball player TJ Starks suspended indefinitely following drug arrest |url=https://theeagle.com/sports/college/aggiesports/mens_basketball/texas-a-m-basketball-player-tj-starks-suspended-indefinitely-following-drug-arrest/article_5f83dbfe-0709-11ea-bf7f-27331d43cded.html |access-date=September 6, 2021 |work=The Bryan-College Station Eagle |date=November 14, 2019}}</ref>
Starks entered the transfer portal and was contacted by Mo Williams, an assistant coach at Cal State Northridge. Despite not being familiar with the program, he committed to the Matadors over interest from DePaul. Starks sat out the rest of the season as a redshirt and was expected to help replace the production of the departing Lamine Diane and Terrell Gomez.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Whicker |first1=Mark |title=Whicker: CSUN’s TJ Starks is filling up the basket, reeling in the years |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2021/03/01/whicker-csuns-t-j-starks-is-filling-up-the-basket-reeling-in-the-years/ |access-date=September 6, 2021 |work=The Orange County Register |date=March 1, 2021}}</ref> On February 19, 2021, he scored a career-high 31 points in a 75–74 loss to Hawaii.<ref>{{cite news |title=Madut scores 23 to lead Hawaii over CSU Northridge 75-74 |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401252768 |access-date=September 6, 2021 |work=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |date=February 19, 2021}}</ref> As a redshirt junior, Starks averaged 21.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.4 steals per game.<ref name=rytas/> He was named to the First Team All-Big West as well as Big West Newcomer of the Year.<ref>{{cite web |title=Big West Announces 2020-21 Men’s Basketball All-Conference Team |url=https://bigwest.org/news/2021/3/8/big-west-announces-2020-21-mens-basketball-all-conference-team.aspx |website=Big West Conference |access-date=September 6, 2021 |date=March 8, 2021}}</ref> Following the season, he declared for the 2021 NBA draft.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Parker |first1=Timothy |title=With NBA Draft coming, CSUN star TJ Starks looks for his chance |url=https://spectrumnews1.com/ca/la-west/sports/2021/07/27/csun-star-tj-starks-awaits-nba-draft|work=Spectrum News 1|date=July 27, 2021|accessdate=September 6, 2021}}</ref>
==Professional career== On September 5, 2021, Starks signed his first professional contract with Rytas Vilnius of the Lithuanian Basketball League.<ref name=rytas>{{cite web |title=Rytas bring in rookie T.J. Starks |url=https://www.eurobasket.com/Lithuania/news/703615/Rytas-bring-in-rookie-T.J.-Starks |website=Eurobasket |access-date=September 6, 2021 |date=September 5, 2021}}</ref> He did not play for Rytas,<ref name=Eurobasket>{{cite web |title=T.J. Starks, Basketball Player, News, Stats - asia-basket |url=https://basketball.asia-basket.com/player/TJ-Starks/428934 |website=Eurobasket LLC |access-date=3 October 2025 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> and in October 2021, he was named in the training camp roster for the Wisconsin Herd of the NBA G League after a successful tryout.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wisconsin Herd Announces 2021 Training Camp Roster |url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/wisconsin-herd-announces-2021-training-camp-roster/n-5758540 |website=Our Sports Central |access-date=October 30, 2021 |date=October 26, 2021}}</ref> He did not play for Wisconsin,<ref name="Eurobasket" /> and on December 11, 2021, he signed with Nevėžis of the Lithuanian Basketball League.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nevėžis added an American who participated in the Morning Review / News |url=https://www.diglogs.com/lithuania/nevezis-added-an-american-who-participated-in-the-morning-review-news/ |website=Diglogs |access-date=January 3, 2022 |date=December 11, 2021}}</ref> In 10 games for Nevėžis, he averaged 18.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.<ref name="Eurobasket" /> On March 26, 2022, Starks signed with Semt77 Yalovaspor of the Turkish Basketball Super League for the rest of the season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sportando.basketball/en/yalovaspor-lands-t-j-starks/|title=Yalovaspor lands T.J. Starks|last=|first=|date=March 26, 2022|website=|publisher=Sportando|language=En|access-date=March 26, 2022}}</ref> In six games, he averaged 13.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.5 steals per game.<ref name="Eurobasket" />
Starks played for the Sacramento Kings during the 2022 NBA Summer League.<ref name="Eurobasket" /> He then joined Greek club Kolossos Rodou for the 2022–23 season. In 12 games, he averaged 14.1 points, 1.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game.<ref name="Eurobasket" /> In April 2023, he joined Qatari club Al-Rayyan, averaging 18.3 points in 12 games.<ref name="Eurobasket" />
On July 31, 2023, Starks signed with Greek club Apollon Patras.<ref>{{cite news |title=Welcome to Apollon Patras TJ Starks |url=https://apollonpatras.gr/welcome-to-apollon-patras-tj-starks/ |access-date=3 October 2025 |work=Apollon Patras |date=31 July 2023 |language=Greek}}</ref> On January 8, 2024, he parted ways with the team.<ref>{{cite web|title=Απόλλωνας Πάτρας: Ο Χριστόπουλος αλλάζει οριστικά τον Σταρκς|url=https://www.sportal.gr/basket/article/apollonas-patras-o-xristopoylos-allazei-oristika-ton-starks-2024010816052284291|website=sportal.gr|language=el|date=January 8, 2024|accessdate=January 15, 2024}}</ref> On January 14, 2024, he signed with Juventus Utena of the Lithuanian Basketball League until the end of the 2023–24 season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Utenos komandos gretas papildė T.J. Starksas|url=http://www.utenosjuventus.lt/2024/01/14/utenos-komandos-gretas-papilde-t-j-starksas/|website=utenosjuventus.lt|language=lt|date=January 14, 2024|accessdate=January 15, 2024}}</ref>
In August 2024, Starks signed with Astana of the Kazakhstan Championship for the 2024–25 season.<ref>{{cite news |title=Astana inks T.J. Starks, ex Juventus |url=https://www.asia-basket.com/Kazakhstan/news/886653/Astana-inks-T.J.-Starks,-ex-Juventus |access-date=3 October 2025 |work=asia-basket.com |date=12 August 2024}}</ref>
On October 3, 2025, Starks signed with the Tasmania JackJumpers of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) as an injury replacement for David Johnson.<ref>{{cite news |title=JackJumpers bring in import as Injury Replacement Player |url=https://www.jackjumpers.com.au/news/jackjumpers-bring-in-import-as-injury-replacement-player |access-date=3 October 2025 |work=Tasmania JackJumpers {{!}} Official NBL Website |date=3 October 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Pike |first1=Chris |title=Starks perfect spark as Bannan continues to shine |url=https://authory.com/ChrisPike/Starks-perfect-spark-as-Bannan-continues-to-shine-a20f880509422421bb40da301f30ee7f9 |access-date=7 October 2025 |work=authory.com |date=5 October 2025}}</ref> He parted ways with the JackJumpers on November 6, 2025.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Tasmania JackJumpers thank Tahjon 'TJ' Starks for his contribution to the club during his contract as an Injury Replacement Player. |url=https://www.facebook.com/TasmaniaJackJumpers/posts/pfbid0DjbQic7KrwTU6y7rQy7PZREsvhdcGeiKYTLcQnS8pLtneNPF1ryMYRF6413DohD1l |access-date=7 November 2025 |work=facebook.com/TasmaniaJackJumpers |date=6 November 2025}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Eurobasket.com player|428934}} * [https://12thman.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/tj-starks/6560 Texas A&M Aggies bio] * [https://gomatadors.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/tj-starks/4289 Cal State Northridge Matadors bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Starks, TJ}} Category:1998 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century American sportsmen Category:Al-Rayyan SC basketball players Category:American expatriate basketball people in Australia Category:American expatriate basketball people in China Category:American expatriate basketball people in Greece Category:American expatriate basketball people in Kazakhstan Category:American expatriate basketball people in Lithuania Category:American expatriate basketball people in Turkey Category:American expatriate basketball people in Qatar Category:American men's basketball players Category:Apollon Patras B.C. players Category:Basketball players from Dallas County, Texas Category:Basketball players from Ellis County, Texas Category:BC Juventus players Category:BC Nevėžis players Category:Cal State Northridge Matadors men's basketball players Category:Jiangsu Dragons players Category:Kolossos Rodou B.C. players Category:People from Lancaster, Texas Category:Point guards Category:Shijiazhuang Xianglan players Category:Shooting guards Category:Tasmania JackJumpers players Category:Texas A&M Aggies men's basketball players Category:Yalovaspor BK players