BORN: 06/01/2002
LAST TEAM: Appalachian State Mountaineers (NCAA)
HEIGHT: 211 cm
WEIGHT: 100 kg
PRO
- Shooting range
- Size
- Solid finisher
WEAKNESSES
- Rebounds
- Handling – passing
- Defensive awareness
VIDEO
ACTUAL
POTENTIAL
INTRODUCTION
C.J. Huntley was recruited and will play his entire college career with the Mountaineers, a detail worth highlighting amid many transfers. During these years, he has demonstrated consistent development, culminating in a standout senior season where he achieved career-best averages in points, surpassed 1000 points, and minutes played while earning preseason All-Sun Belt Third-Team honors. Last season, led by Donovan Gregory, they finished first in the Sun Belt Conference at the end of a historic regular season with a record of 27-7 for App State.
PHYSICAL
C.J. Huntley possesses a formidable presence in the frontcourt. His height and wingspan make him a significant threat on the court. He has good footwork that makes him quite dynamic, but he is not a great athlete and lacks some verticality. His body is quite solid, but the upper part could be strengthened with muscle mass to better handle contacts in the paint. He can improve in coordination and in terms of energy, as sometimes he appears to be an elegant but soft player.
OFFENSIVE PHASE
C.J. Huntley has shown versatility on offense that makes him a two-way player, with his shooting from beyond the arc (34.1% on 2.5 attempts last season, starting this season at 35.1% on 3.6 per game) allowing him to stretch the floor. His catch and shoot forces defenses to adjust, and when defended by a shorter opponent, he effectively positions himself in the post, where he can finish with a soft touch (72.3% from 2-P last year) thanks to good footwork. He struggles against physically stronger opponents who can use their bodies to stop or slow down his movement from the post and can improve his mid-range shooting. In pick and roll situations, his versatility allows for multiple scenarios, although he is not an overly efficient or vertical roller to be considered a lob threat. He has shown promising passing skills and the ability to read his teammates’ cuts, but along with ball-handling, these are areas he needs to work on significantly to make them reliable.
DEFENSIVE PHASE
C.J. Huntley utilizes his size and length, making him a decent rim protector (0.8 blocks per game). A good sense of positioning and his wingspan allow him to defend effectively near the basket. However, he lacks energy on the boards, and his numbers are limited for his height (6.1 rebounds in 30 minutes across 15 games this season). While his shot-blocking and paint defense are strengths, improving lateral quickness and defensive prowess could enhance his ability to guard more agile opponents. The limited number of fouls can guarantee him more time on the court, but a lack of intensity in using his body in contact situations is evident.
IMPROVED AREAS
To elevate his game, C.J. Huntley should focus on developing his strength and agility to better compete against physically imposing players on the boards. Enhancing his ball-handling and playmaking abilities would add versatility to his offensive repertoire, making him a more dynamic scorer and facilitator. Additionally, improving lateral quickness and defensive awareness will be crucial for defending multiple positions effectively at the next level. He has an interesting upside and can become a player of good profile given his qualities. It will be important for his growth to have a better awareness of his abilities. Starting in a medium-low level league in Europe can help him in this.