The 2022 recruiting class for the Indiana basketball program was the first true class for head coach Mike Woodson. It not only was going to set the groundwork for what the program was trending to on the floor, but also the mentality and maturity that the team was going to have moving forward.
There was only one in-state player in the class — Lawrence North (Ind.) guard CJ Gunn. Gunn was the lowest ranked prospect in the class for IU and the only one of the four who had committed to the previous staff.
Throughout his freshman season, Gunn played sparingly and only saw action in 20 games.
Gunn’s inconsistent minutes may have contributed to his struggles shooting the ball — something that was Gunn’s best skill throughout high school. But, that didn’t stop the 6-foot-5 wing from bringing an edge to the floor whenever his name was called.
“Coach just always tells me and the other guys to just stay ready and be ready to hoop,” Gunn said last season after his career-high 11 points against Elon. “Obviously I wanted to get in the game, so when I get the opportunity I’m going to play the best ball I can and do the things Coach asks me to do.”
Doing what coach asked of Gunn was not always shooting the ball. Gunn, who was just 2-of-24 from three on the season, found other ways to make an impact — especially defensively.
Long stretches without seeing the floor tested the freshman, however. Carving out minutes while playing behind seniors and the eventual Big Ten Freshman of the Year was no easy task.
And with that, Gunn will be the first to admit that doubt quickly crept into the mind. But, it was about blocking out the negative thoughts and controlling what he could control that has now led the sophomore guard to have a larger role in year two.
“It’s difficult. No path in life is going to be easy. You’re going to have those thoughts about ‘I can’t do this,’ ‘I’m not going to get there,’ but I’m a faithful guy and I believe that God is always going to have my back and through that faith, why would I give up now? You just got to keep going,” Gunn told reporters over Zoom on Thursday. “You’re going to get to where you want to get to. As long as you’re in the gym and you’re putting that work in and your love for the game is genuine, then God got me.”
Now, Gunn is excited for the challenge that comes with an expected increased role.
“It’s a challenge but that’s why I came here. I didn’t come here to be comfortable,” Gunn said. “I came here to be pushed outside my element and to get used to being comfortable being uncomfortable. I see it as a great opportunity for me to take my game to the next level.”
The Indiana basketball program will look quite different in Gunn’s second season than it did in year one. Trayce Jackson-Davis is no longer sporting an IU jersey. Jalen Hood-Schifino is gone after just one season.
In total, six rotational players including four starters are gone.
Instead, Indiana brings in three transfers and a three-man high school class to fill the holes.
While there will be growing pains with next season’s roster, Gunn — among others — is ready for the challenge and are putting in the work behind the scenes to make things click when the ball tips in November.
“One thing about us and our team and one thing I love is that we built this culture here and Coach Woodson has helped build this culture, too – we are in the gym consistently every day getting better,” Gunn added. “That’s everybody in the locker room, counting the walk-ons. Everybody.
“Everybody is worried about transitioning and being a new team this year. I’m not worried at all about that. Not one bit. I feel like we’re deep this year and we’re going to handle business.”
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