Bearkat senior is a quick learner
2/14/2007 1:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
FROM THE HUNTSVILLE ITEM
BY CODY STARK
It was a normal late August afternoon pick-up game at the Health and Kinesiology Center, a summer pastime Sam Houston State basketball players enjoyed while anxiously waiting for the season to begin.
Newly signed junior college transfer C.J. Hadley was getting to know his Bearkat teammates and developing a feeling for them while dusting the rust of his skills.
A young talent brought in to possibly replace senior Chris Jordan at the end of the year, Hadley was looking forward to being a big-time contributor to the SHSU program. Everything was going smoothly until a jump stop resulted in one awkward movement and a pop in one knee that ended any chances of Hadley making an impact in 2006.
A torn anterior cruciate ligament robbed Hadley of a year of eligibility by limiting him to only a handful of minutes in the final few games last season.
“It was hard going through that injury,” said Hadley, who is orignally from St. Louis. “Sitting on the bench and knowing that you could help your team was hard. But I had to stay positive and do whatever I could to help the team out. I would give anything to have that year back, but the Lord works in mysterious ways, so I guess there was a reason he wanted me to sit out a year.”
The Bearkats went on to have a pretty good season without Hadley's services. SHSU posted its third 20-win season since moving up to the NCAA Division I level in 1987-88 and finished as the runner-up in the Southland Conference in both the regular season and postseason tournament.
But maybe Hadley was the missing puzzle piece who could have lifted the Bearkats past Northwestern State and propelled them to their third SLC title in eight years and second NCAA tournament appearance.
It wasn't meant to be, though, and all Hadley could do was look toward the future.
Coaches say it usually takes a junior college player a half a year to adjust to Division I basketball, yet Hadley didn't have that luxury. He was thrown in the fire, pretty much having to start from scratch as a senior this season.
“He missed most of last season, and we only played him a minute here and a minute there in a few games at the end of the year,” SHSU head coach Bob Marlin said. “He was behind in everything we were doing. He came in this summer and really worked hard to catch up. He has gotten off to a good start for us and worked his way into the starting lineup.”
It took a few games for Hadley to get warmed up this season, but his transition has become complete. He has quickly become a dangerous outside shooter and productive contributor on the boards. Among the top perimeter threats in the SLC, Hadley is averaging 43 percent shooting from behind the arc. He has also become one of the Kats top scorers, averaging 8.6 points a night behind Ryan Bright (14.9), Aaron Wade (12.2) and Jejuan Plair (10.8).
Hadley's offensive production has also been able to allow Plair to become the floor leader. Without having to worry about being the second or third scoring option, Plair has directed SHSU's offense on the court and is second in the league in assists at 5.75.
“A lot of people knew I could play great defense, but I can also get hot from behind the arc,” Hadley said. “I feel like it is my defense that helps my offense. I can be off offensively at times, but my defense is never off. I just work hard on defense and my offense comes. At my junior college (Three Rivers), we worked a lot on shooting. That has made me a better rounded player.”
Dubbed “the Candyman” by his teammates because he brings a bottomless pit of energy to the court, Hadley has been a major factor in the Bearkats becoming the hottest team in the SLC.
Hadley has scored in double digits in six straight games and SHSU (9-2 in SLC, 17-7 overall) has won five in a row.
In the biggest road trip of the season, Hadley went for 13 in an 84-79 victory over West Division leader Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and 20 in a 10-point win over East-leading Northwestern State last week.
“C.J. has endless energy and can play all day,” Marlin said. “He is one of the best defenders in the league and is a great rebounder. He is also a very good shooter.
“He has done a really good job shooting the ball, but he is a great defender as well. He hustles all over the floor, dives for loose balls and is active every time he hits the court. He brings a lot of energy to this team.”
BY CODY STARK
It was a normal late August afternoon pick-up game at the Health and Kinesiology Center, a summer pastime Sam Houston State basketball players enjoyed while anxiously waiting for the season to begin.
Newly signed junior college transfer C.J. Hadley was getting to know his Bearkat teammates and developing a feeling for them while dusting the rust of his skills.
A young talent brought in to possibly replace senior Chris Jordan at the end of the year, Hadley was looking forward to being a big-time contributor to the SHSU program. Everything was going smoothly until a jump stop resulted in one awkward movement and a pop in one knee that ended any chances of Hadley making an impact in 2006.
A torn anterior cruciate ligament robbed Hadley of a year of eligibility by limiting him to only a handful of minutes in the final few games last season.
“It was hard going through that injury,” said Hadley, who is orignally from St. Louis. “Sitting on the bench and knowing that you could help your team was hard. But I had to stay positive and do whatever I could to help the team out. I would give anything to have that year back, but the Lord works in mysterious ways, so I guess there was a reason he wanted me to sit out a year.”
The Bearkats went on to have a pretty good season without Hadley's services. SHSU posted its third 20-win season since moving up to the NCAA Division I level in 1987-88 and finished as the runner-up in the Southland Conference in both the regular season and postseason tournament.
But maybe Hadley was the missing puzzle piece who could have lifted the Bearkats past Northwestern State and propelled them to their third SLC title in eight years and second NCAA tournament appearance.
It wasn't meant to be, though, and all Hadley could do was look toward the future.
Coaches say it usually takes a junior college player a half a year to adjust to Division I basketball, yet Hadley didn't have that luxury. He was thrown in the fire, pretty much having to start from scratch as a senior this season.
“He missed most of last season, and we only played him a minute here and a minute there in a few games at the end of the year,” SHSU head coach Bob Marlin said. “He was behind in everything we were doing. He came in this summer and really worked hard to catch up. He has gotten off to a good start for us and worked his way into the starting lineup.”
It took a few games for Hadley to get warmed up this season, but his transition has become complete. He has quickly become a dangerous outside shooter and productive contributor on the boards. Among the top perimeter threats in the SLC, Hadley is averaging 43 percent shooting from behind the arc. He has also become one of the Kats top scorers, averaging 8.6 points a night behind Ryan Bright (14.9), Aaron Wade (12.2) and Jejuan Plair (10.8).
Hadley's offensive production has also been able to allow Plair to become the floor leader. Without having to worry about being the second or third scoring option, Plair has directed SHSU's offense on the court and is second in the league in assists at 5.75.
“A lot of people knew I could play great defense, but I can also get hot from behind the arc,” Hadley said. “I feel like it is my defense that helps my offense. I can be off offensively at times, but my defense is never off. I just work hard on defense and my offense comes. At my junior college (Three Rivers), we worked a lot on shooting. That has made me a better rounded player.”
Dubbed “the Candyman” by his teammates because he brings a bottomless pit of energy to the court, Hadley has been a major factor in the Bearkats becoming the hottest team in the SLC.
Hadley has scored in double digits in six straight games and SHSU (9-2 in SLC, 17-7 overall) has won five in a row.
In the biggest road trip of the season, Hadley went for 13 in an 84-79 victory over West Division leader Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and 20 in a 10-point win over East-leading Northwestern State last week.
“C.J. has endless energy and can play all day,” Marlin said. “He is one of the best defenders in the league and is a great rebounder. He is also a very good shooter.
“He has done a really good job shooting the ball, but he is a great defender as well. He hustles all over the floor, dives for loose balls and is active every time he hits the court. He brings a lot of energy to this team.”
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