By Mike Walsh

The last time the Worcester area heard about Christian Horton, he was shredding opponents at the 2012 Clark University High School Basketball Tournament and leading the Quabbin Panthers to an 18-3 record.

Horton, who moved to Rutland in the seventh grade, now attends Nichols College, where he is a freshmen guard on the Bison’s basketball team.

The teen doesn’t have the story of a typical Worcester youth, however. Horton was born and spent much of his early life in Trenton, N.J. A tough neighborhood forced him to make the move to Rutland, where he lived with his aunt and attended Quabbin Regional High School.

In Trenton, basketball was an escape. His stepfather introduced him to the game as a way to stay out of trouble, but that game turned into a passion and a connection between the two.

At Quabbin, Horton was noticed by Nichols’ current head coach Jeff Lindgren, an assistant at the time. A recruiting process followed, and Lindgren attempted to sell Nichols to the young man.

Around the same time Lindgren was promoted to head coach, Horton decided to attend Nichols, a member of the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC). After visits to Westfield State and Framingham State, Horton found that the Bison had the feel a close-knit family, something that greatly appealed to him, as most of his family remains in New Jersey.

Lindgren also had a connection through Horton’s high school coach, Dennis Dextrater, who also strived to create a basketball family among his players.

“I played for Coach Dextrater in AAU, so we have a really good relationship,” said the first-year head coach. “We knew that Christian had great athleticism and a feel for controlling a basketball game.”

Lindgren had witnessed Horton’s performances in the Clark Tournament for two seasons and was very impressed. After averaging 15.5 points per game in 2011, Horton led Quabbin to the championship in 2012.

“Throughout my years at Quabbin, the big thing is always winning the Clark Tournament,” said Horton. “Finally winning one and having a banner up there is probably one of my biggest high school moments.”

Horton spent much of last summer back in his home state, lifting weights and preparing for his first collegiate season. The differences between the high school and college game are vast and numerous, but Horton is taking it one step at a time.

“Whatever the coach needs me to do,” Horton said of his role with the Bison. “I’m going to need to get stronger and think more.”

Lindgren knows Horton’s speed and basketball IQ are going to translate to the next level. At various AAU tournaments, he watched as Horton dominated future scholarship players.

With his first semester coming to a close, Horton is thoroughly enjoying the experience. Four games into the season, he is averaging 11.5 minutes as a backup guard and posted nine points and three assists in a win over Lasell College.

“We have a close relationship,” said his coach. “He is a really good student with a lot of character. Everyone on campus loves him.”

In the classroom, Horton is also taking care of business. “Time management is definitely the toughest part ~ planning out your day with basketball and getting homework and projects done,” Horton said. “It isn’t like that in high school.”

A sports management major, he is thoroughly enjoying the program and the area.

“The school is everything I thought it would be and more,” said the freshman.