It was always CJ Huntley’s dream to play Division I basketball and make it to the NBA. This dream is finally a reality.
On June 25, Huntley received the life changing call from the Phoenix Suns, and later signed a two-way contract with the organization as a forward.
“Being around my family and friends and receiving that call just meant the world to me,” Huntley said.
Before the draft, Huntley spent five years as a member of the App State men’s basketball team.
Huntley is part of App State history, including being the first player recruited by head coach Dustin Kerns to commit to the Mountaineers.
While at App State, Huntley finished with 1,324 points, and appeared in 153 games, tied for most in program history. He was a part of 96 wins, the second most of all time.
Huntley’s work ethic was on full display during his college career, and assistant coach Bob Szorc saw it first hand.
“He has skills you can’t teach. So when you combine those things with time in the gym, you are going to get better,” Szorc said.
Szorc watched his play style develop. He said Huntley was “a lob threat that can stretch the floor,” and he “has the ability to protect the rim.”
In his final year at App State, Huntley was a role model for then freshmen center Michael Marcus Jr. He is now a sophomore forward.
“I respect him because even though I was coming in new, I was able to learn a lot from him,” Marcus Jr. said.
Marcus Jr. was able to watch Huntley play and compared his play style to a surfer, saying he was able to go with the flow of the game and adapt.
Even though he is no longer a Mountaineer, Huntley has left a lasting impression on those he spent time with.
“CJ is an incredible human being who has an incredible heart for people,” Szorc said. “He is a Mountaineer through and through, and the feeling for me is just proud of him and proud to be a part of it.”
Huntley spent all of last summer working out and preparing for his moment. He believed he showed the Suns all they needed to see.
“I feel like I had my best workout with them and showed my full potential,” Huntley said. “My work ethic and how I am off the court showed them the side of CJ Huntley that every organization wants to have.”
Huntley immediately began the transition into the NBA lifestyle, suiting up in orange and purple during the Summer League. He highlighted the spacing and physicality differences between the college and the professional level. To prepare, he bulked up from 190 pounds when he first joined App State to 221 pounds heading into the NBA.
Despite this change, he still managed to have an 18 point and 9 rebound performance in his final game of the Summer League, giving him the confidence he needed to believe he belonged at the next level.
Another struggle of the NBA lifestyle is moving away from home. Huntley, a North Carolina native, is now 2,000 miles away from home in Arizona.
Huntley said the main difference between the states was the weather, but having his family and friends helped ease the transition.
Despite this, Huntley is excited to start his career wearing his dad’s college number, 22.
“My dad wore that in college, and I just wanted to represent him through everything I do everyday,” Huntley said.
Huntley said he is anxiously awaiting the start of the NBA season on Oct. 21.
“I am most excited about just being out there with the guys doing whatever it takes,” Huntley said.
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