Welcome to “That’s A Wrap,” our player-by-player recap of the 2022-23 Indiana Hoosiers. First up: CJ Gunn.
Gunn (20 video games): 2.0 factors, .6 rebounds, .4 assists and 30.9 FG% in 7.5 minutes per recreation.
A top-120 recruit nationally within the 2022 class in response to 247Sports, CJ Gunn completed his first season in Bloomington with combined outcomes.
The 6-foot-6 Lawrence North product dedicated to Indiana within the winter of 2021 when Archie Miller was nonetheless roaming the sidelines in Bloomington.
Gunn selected to stay with the Hoosiers following the teaching change from Miller to Mike Woodson within the spring of 2021 and inked a Nationwide Letter of Intent in November of 2021.
“C.J. is an area child who has super love for Indiana College,” Woodson mentioned on the time of Gunn’s signing. “He’s loyal and devoted and can deliver dimension and athleticism to the wing place. He comes from a really revered and successful highschool program in Indiana and can be capable of assist us along with his means to play a number of positions. I feel he, just like the others, could have an actual alternative to develop and enhance in our system. We are able to’t wait to have the chance to work with him when he will get to campus.”
After averaging 23.5 factors per recreation and being named an Indiana All-Star in 2022 at LN, Gunn arrived in Bloomington on a workforce with a well-established rotation and competitors for minutes.
He appeared in 20 of Indiana’s 35 video games in his first season however logged double-digit minutes in simply 5 video games. 4 of these video games have been in opposition to “purchase” opponents in November and December. After logging two minutes in a win in opposition to Ohio State on Jan. 28, Gunn performed a complete of 11 minutes over Indiana’s last 14 contests. He didn’t play in any of IU’s 5 postseason video games.
Gunn shot 38 % from 3-point vary as a senior in highschool however struggled from distance in his first season as a Hoosier. He made simply two of his 24 3-point makes an attempt (8.3 %) and didn’t make a 3-pointer in Massive Ten play. His last offensive score as a freshman – 78.8 – was the bottom on the workforce in response to KenPom. To Gunn’s credit score, his confidence didn’t wane regardless of the misses. He by no means hesitated to take photographs from the perimeter when he was open.
Defensively, Gunn typically introduced vitality and athleticism when he earned a possibility to see the ground. His dimension and size for a two-guard will give him a possibility to change into a disruptive defender as his profession progresses.
Backside line: This offseason is a vital one for Gunn, who could have a possibility to assert a spot within the rotation subsequent winter. Jalen Hood-Schifino is off to the NBA, Miller Kopp graduated and Tamar Bates left for Missouri. These departures open minutes within the backcourt that Woodson and the teaching employees should fill. To play extra repeatedly, Gunn goes to wish to show he can knock down perimeter photographs constantly whereas additionally exhibiting progress as a defender. Given the dearth of minutes he performed as a freshman, it’s onerous to attract any conclusions about Gunn’s potential because the Massive Ten degree. If he will get a possibility to play extra subsequent season, the expertise is there for a major leap ahead.
Quotable: “I’m simply enjoying the sport the best means. Final 12 months I used to be used to enjoying in opposition to tiddlywinks, so now it’s a distinct degree. It’s a distinct degree of ball. I’ve simply acquired to regulate to the sport, and it comes with training onerous and meshing with the fellows, and that’s how I have a look at it.” – Gunn after scoring a season-high 11 factors in a 96-72 win in opposition to Elon on Dec. 20, 2022.
Filed to: C.J. Gunn
