Bloomington Leader

Beware the Dog – CJ Gunn Bringing His Best

Sometimes you just have to have a "dog" in you; that fire, feistiness and ferocity that makes you -- always -- a pain to play against.

CJ Gunn has it -- on offense and defense – born with it in part, developed it by father's intensity. He wants to guard the best, and be guarded by the best. It's a reason why this former Lawrence North high school all-stater (who was the Indiana-Kentucky All-Star MVP) is a member of Indiana's heralded basketball freshman class. It gives him a chance, despite a lack of imposing size and a relatively low national ranking (No. 17 by 24/7 Sports), to be a key contributor for a potential Big Ten title contender.

For this, Gunn thanks his father, Christopher, and sister, Lauren, and a youth steeled by grueling one-on-one sessions.

"My pops, he's a really aggressive guy," Gunn says. "When it comes to sports, he taught my sister and me growing up to always be competitive.

"I feel like that competitive drive, even going against my sister when I was little, that competitive drive that I always had growing up that (my father has) implemented in me has stayed with me to this day."

To really understand what being a "dog" means starts by understanding that DMX, Bow Wow and even George Clinton and Parliament Funkaelic sang about it in various interpretations.

A cynic could ask, what does that have to do with basketball, but who needs more cynicism these days? Besides, that misses the point, which is, Gunn wants to beat you, and your little dog, too.

"I grew up always having that dog in me on both ends of the floor," he says. "It's really important to me to be a two-way player and not only be the best player on the offensive end, but to also guard the best player on the other team.

"I pride myself on defense and keeping my defender in front of me and also playing the right spot off the ball."

It's paid off in team success. Gunn helped Indianapolis Lawrence North High School to a 2021 Class 4A state runner-up finish, as well as a sweep in the Indiana-Kentucky All-Star series.

That reflects the Gunn family's knack for success. Lauren Gunn helped Lawrence North win the 2020 Class 4A state championship, then went on to play at Valparaiso.

While growing up, their father would take them to a Fishers elementary school playground for intense one-on-one games.

"Me and my sister used to go probably for two, three hours," Gunn says. "We used to scratch each other, make each other bleed, cry. Just doing that with my sister and having that competitive spirit since a young age, I can have that against anybody."

The elder Gunn's intensity is matched by IU coach Mike Woodson. C.J. Gunn wouldn't want it any other way.

"Different guys are motivated in different ways," Gunn says. "Some guys, you have to talk trash to them to get them motivated. Some guys you have to uplift to get motivated.

"Coach Woodson takes the time to know us and know what we prefer. He knows how to motivate us all in different ways.

"With me specifically, he gets on me. I'm a hard-nose player. I learn through hard nose, like my dad is really aggressive. Coach Woodson, he just knows how to make me focus and dial in more."

Size and strength matter, especially in the Big Ten, which rates among the nation's most physical conferences.

The 6-6 Gunn is listed at 186 pounds, 11 more pounds than his high school days, but 14 less than basketball strength coach Clif Marshall's goal for him by the end of the summer. When it comes to being physically ready, he's behind fellow freshmen Kaleb Banks, Malik Reneau and Jalen Hood-Schifino.

The good news -- he's catching up fast.

Gunn got with former IU football standout Courtney Roby (whose 170 career receptions rate fifth in program history) and his Sparx Athletic Refinery near Indianapolis to get a head start on strength training. They met with Marshall to coordinate what needed to be done.

"The weight lifting with Coach Clif, from what I was doing, is definitely more intense," Gunn says. "There's more energy in the room. Courtney did a good job preparing me for that.

"Nutrition and sleep are really important. It's all part of the process. You have to take in all of those factors. Really lock in on staying disciplined to those.

"I'm getting used to it. I love it."

That will be huge in his quest to crack a backcourt rotation of Xavier Johnson, Hood-Schifino, Trey Galloway, Tamar Bates and Anthony Leal.

The biggest key for Gunn, as it is for all the Hoosiers, is to make shots. If he does that, and plays defense to Woodson's high standards, he'll get minutes, perhaps a lot of them.

Gunn certainly has the shooting pedigree. He once made a school-record nine three-pointers against Fort Wayne Snider, and was 46-for-123 on three-pointers (37.4 percent) last season. As a senior he averaged 23.5 points (with a high of 38 against Warren Central) while shooting 46.8 percent from the field.

Given the Hoosiers' 5.9 three-pointers a game last season ranked last in the Big Ten, Gunn could make instant impact.

"I think I've set myself up to be that shooter. Obviously, we are still getting that work in. It's a day-by-day -- not all days are good days and not all days are bad days. It's just all about listing each other up and keeping a positive mindset and looking at the end goal and just treating every day to get better.

"I'm going to continue to put in the work so you can see it translate on the floor later this year."

Adds Banks: "He's a good player. He's a really good shooter. I know I can count on him to knock down a shot."

Gunn's early commitment to IU was solidified when Woodson was hired in the spring of 2021.

"We know some of Coach Woodson's family through friendships and relationships," Gunn says. "Once we heard Coach Woodson was going to be the coach, there was no doubt in my mind that I wanted to play for him. He's just a legend at IU, legendary NBA player, NBA coach. I believe he can turn me into the best player (I can be)."

And so he joins his teammates in summer workouts that are a mix of offense and defense.

"We are all offensive players, so the offense takes care of itself. We really try to focus on the defensive end. All the freshmen are learning the spots on defense and learning the rotations.

"That's the biggest part we need to improve in, but offense, we all know the positions and we all know how to move the ball and we all play well off each other."

As far as adjusting to the college game, Gunn says, "I wouldn't say there was anything I didn't expect. It's just an adjustment to the speed of the game and how important it is to be in shape and to be conditioned.

"The everyday work, multiple hours a day, more than once a day, I think that's the biggest thing and getting used to it. It's more like a job than high school."

Original source can be found here.