2 decades ago CJ McCollum was a 5’2″ high school freshman, but both his stature and his game have grown quite a bit since then. He was named Gatorade Ohio Player of the Year in 2009, Patriot League Player of the Year at Lehigh in 2010, graduated in 2013 as the all-time leading scorer in Patriot League history, and 13 years after being drafted 10th overall by Portland he is preparing to begin his 14th year in the NBA as a member of the Hawks. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Coach Brett Reed about his former player’s amazing college career and his legacy at Lehigh. CJ turns 35 today so let us be among the 1st to wish him a happy birthday!
CJ was born/raised in Canton, OH, and was named Gatorade state POY as a SR: how did you convince him to join you at Lehigh? It was a great sales pitch! We heard about him after he had a 50-PT outburst at GlenOak High School. I had a chance to see him play and thought that he was terrific. I made the understatement of my career and said, “He can probably help us”!
He started 31 games as a freshman and became the 1st player in Patriot League history to be named conference ROY/POY in the same season: how was he able to come in and dominate right from the start? He is a terrific player, as you can tell. He did not start the 1st couple of games that season because we were bringing back a player who had been named conference ROY in Rob Keefer, but eventually I realized that we could not keep CJ off the floor. We had some great senior leaders, and they wanted him to succeed.
As a sophomore he led the league in MPG/FT%/SPG/PPG: I remember him as primarily a 3-PT shooter, but it seems like he was a great all-around player? He was an excellent shooter but was so much more than that. He was a little smaller in stature but was very elusive and had a smooth game that allowed him to create angles/advantages. We got on him to make other people better, rebound the ball, and play a little defense.
In the 2012 NCAA tourney he scored a game-high 30 PTS in a 5-PT upset of #2 seed Duke in Greensboro: what are your memories of arguably the biggest win in school history? It was a great moment for him, for me as a coach, and for our entire team. He made a choice to come here and get a great degree, but that day he had a chance to show everyone what he could on the national stage. He was confident/competitive and brought our group of guys together, as evident by the upset.
In January 2013 he broke his left foot in a game against VCU: how disappointed was he/you to see his college career end early? It was incredibly disappointing. He made the decision to put the NBA on hold, and then he was unable to do the 1 thing that he loved to do. I thought our team could have gone further in the NCAA tourney that March, but not after losing a player like that.
He put on 30 pounds of muscle during his 4 years in Bethlehem: how much of an advantage was his strength on the court? I give him all the credit for the way he continued to grow as a player for us. Some people might become complacent after being named conference POY as a freshman, but he continued to improve/grow every year. He focused on the weight room/nutrition and his body evolved: he became someone who could use his athletic power on the court.
After being drafted 10th overall by Portland, he had to sit out the 1st 6 weeks of the regular season, then was assigned to the Idaho Stampede of the D-League once he got back onto the court: were you concerned that he had such a bumpy ride once he got to the pros? No, but injuries are a part of a game that can ruin careers. He came through some struggles and kept his confidence/focus up. The NBA is a big step up in talent even if you are not overcoming an injury. He had a great disposition and was never going to quit. He built repeated successes, which gave him a great foundation.
Off the court he married his college sweetheart Elise, worked as an ESPN analyst, and has his own wine label: is he 1 of those guys who just succeeds at everything he tries to do? He is incredibly intelligent/thoughtful and looks at the big picture. He was a great player but embraced the degree by demonstrating leadership on our campus, which continued into the NBA when he became president of the Players’ Association. He was rubbing elbows with the brightest people of his generation at Lehigh: he has a great business mind and is an excellent entrepreneur.
CJ turns 35 today and will begin his 14th NBA season this fall: when people look back on his career, how do you think he should be remembered the most? He should be remembered for being an outstanding basketball player, incredible leader, and phenomenal person. Rarely do you get such a talented player who made such a big impact, but his basketball ability pales in comparison to the man he is.
