June 15 was the first day that coaches could directly contact class of 2022 recruits. Our “Names to Know” series provides a quick look at IU basketball recruiting targets as their names emerge on the trail.
C.J. Gunn is a guard from the northeast side of Indianapolis.
Indiana’s interest in Gunn emerged last week when the IU staff made direct contact along with a host of other Division One programs.
2022 guard CJ Gunn tells me Kansas State, Michigan State, Butler, Illinois, Cincinnati, Iowa, Georgia State, Ball State, Miami Ohio, Western Kentucky, Belmont, Ohio State, Valparaiso, Alabama A&M, Middle Tennessee, Purdue, and Indiana have all reached out to him. pic.twitter.com/5DpXfG3FFA
— College Basketball and Recruiting (@EditsRecruiting) June 21, 2020
Gunn is not ranked yet by the major recruiting services, but expect that to change in the coming months. He received his first high major offer from Kansas State last week, and IU is obviously just one of many programs involved early.
Playing on perhaps the best team (Lawrence North) in Indiana in 2019-20, Gunn averaged 7.1 points and 2.5 rebounds as a sophomore.
But don’t let those stats fool you. Lawrence North was a stacked squad, with several Division One basketball players (Tony Perkins, D.J. Hughes, Shamar Avance) on the roster along with IU quarterback commit Donaven McCulley and wide receiver recruiting target Omar Cooper.
With Mr. Basketball finalist Perkins now off to Iowa, look for Gunn to make a major jump in production as a junior and emerge as one of the top in-state recruits in the class of 2022.
For AAU, Gunn is playing for the state’s top Nike program, the Indy Heat. The Daily Hoosier watched Gunn in his first action of the summer over the weekend, and the interest from high major programs makes perfect sense.
The first thing that stands out when watching the 6-foot-4 Gunn is his ability to transition from zero to sixty in the blink of an eye. Both on the fast break and in the half court, Gunn went from what looked like cruise control to dunking before the defense knew what happened on multiple occasions.
Gunn also has a nice looking stroke from the perimeter. He shot 35 percent from the 3-point line as a sophomore.
Although it was just the first weekend of AAU action, Gunn will need to look to attack even more. He is explosive enough to get by most defenders on the circuit, and athletic enough to finish once he gets a step on his man.
If he can couple that kind of relentless attacking mindset with a reliable pull-up jumper, Gunn appears likely to blow up as an upperclassman. If his game continues to develop, Gunn could end up being one of IU’s biggest priorities and perhaps the top ranked in-state true shooting guard in the class.
Thus far Gunn has the offer from Kansas State along with Ball State and Alabama A&M.
See more 2022 names to know from the past week: Leon Bond | A.J. Casey | MJ Rice | De’Ante Green | Trejuan Holloman
6’4” Lawrence North 2022 SG CJ Gunn – BREAKOUT Sophomore Season – Big Things ahead for this young man! Great Kid, Great Parent, and Great Athlete.
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📺: https://t.co/tTKMfEwutI@_datkidcj @LNHSwildcats @KyleNeddenriep @lnwildcats @CJ_Gunn22 @Phenom307 #inthegym pic.twitter.com/KPcB9Pdd9l
— In The Gym Hoops (@inthegymhoops_) January 14, 2020
*My Sophomore Season Highlights*
(CJ Gunn SG, 6’5”, 175lbs, 2022)
Lawrence North High School, Indianapolis, IN; #LNMB #M14Made #IndyHeatEYBL #NotCommitted pic.twitter.com/QYFzSEYJiE— CJ Gunn (@CJ_Gunn22) April 11, 2020
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