CJ McCollum Fantasy News and Statistics

The first thing that comes to mind when a sports fan thinks of Canton, OH, is the Pro Football Hall of Fame. While C.J. McCollum may never overtake those hallowed halls in terms of notoriety, the Canton-born sharpshooter has made a name for himself in the NBA. He is the embodiment of a strong work ethic and has become one of the game’s brightest stars with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Like most 5-foot-2 freshmen in high school, McCollum wasn’t on anyone’s radar as a prospect. But thanks to a 12-inch growth spurt over his next three years, McCollum became one of the top scorers in the state of Ohio and left GlenOak High as the school’s all-time leading scorer. Based on his late development, McCollum was a three-star recruit and signed with mid-major Lehigh in the Patriot League.

While McCollum grew in height during high school, he would pack on muscle while in college. He gained about 30 pounds during his four years at Lehigh, and just as his increased height made him a prospect for college, his added weight attracted NBA scouts. His play on the court certainly didn’t hurt his cause either, as he was the two-time Patriot League Player of the Year and had his biggest game when it mattered most. In the 2012 NCAA Tournament, McCollum scored 30 points as No. 15 seed Lehigh upset No. 2 Duke in the first round.

The Portland Trail Blazers had their eyes on McCollum and took him with the No. 10 pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. The Blazers saw similarities with McCollum and their 2012 first-round pick Damian Lillard, who also came from a mid-major and ended up winning Rookie of the Year. However, McCollum didn’t make nearly the impact as a rookie as Lillard did, as he appeared in just 32 games. The 2014-15 season was much of the same, and after two years in the NBA, Lillard had played just 100 games and averaged 6.3 points per contest.

The Blazers underwent a rebuild during the summer of 2015 as five of their six players who played the most minutes departed. Almost by default, McCollum was elevated to the starting lineup, and he did not disappoint the Portland brass for their faith in him. He tripled his scoring average to 20.8 points per game, as the Blazers didn’t miss a beat and actually advanced farther in the playoffs than the year before. McCollum was named the league’s Most Improved Player, and he signed a $106 million extension that will keep him in Portland until 2021.

While most players peak in their contract years, McCollum wasn’t satisfied and turned in his best performance after signing the lucrative extension. For the third straight season, McCollum increased all three of his shooting percentages, including leading the NBA in free throw percentage. He also scored a career-high 23.0 points per game, as he and Lillard combined to have the NBA’s highest-scoring backcourt.

McCollum has progressed in every season, and there’s no reason to believe he’s peaked. At 26 years old, he is just entering his prime and is already an elite shooter and scorer. If he can show the same type of improvement in his all-around game or on the defensive end, then McCollum can expect to be a first-time All-Star in the near future.