La Salle’s CJ Fleming is a player to watch
La Salle 2017 guard CJ Fleming talks Bellarmine CJ Fleming is one of the finest shooters in Southwest Ohio. But, the funny thing is that his dad would rather see his numbers go down a bit this season. “If his…
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Continue ReadingLa Salle 2017 guard CJ Fleming talks Bellarmine
CJ Fleming is one of the finest shooters in Southwest Ohio. But, the funny thing is that his dad would rather see his numbers go down a bit this season.
“If his numbers will go down that means the other players’ numbers have gone up,” says La Salle coach Dan Fleming, who is CJ’s father.
“We are much more balanced. We are a better team. CJ is going to Bellarmine – we have nothing to worry about college-wise. We have to make this the best team we can make it.”
CJ is indeed verbally committed to Bellarmine, a Division II power in Louisville, Ky. There is an ironic story about that too.
“To be honest with you we recruited Bellarmine as much as Bellarmine recruited him,” Dan Fleming says. “It is really just a great fit for him.”
CJ Fleming, a 6-0 junior guard, verbally committed in late September. The Greater Catholic League South division player of the year averaged 15.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.2 steals for the Lancers (20-6) last winter.
Instead of waiting for more offers – Fleming won’t sign until November 2016 – he felt the time was ready to commit. Ironically, it was the experience of his elder brother Ryan Fleming who helped with the decision.
“My brother’s freshman year (Ryan at NKU) of college he played there,” CJ Fleming says. “When I went to the game it was nuts. There was someone people there and I just loved it.”
CJ Fleming built a rapport with the coaches and says he will visit the campus this Saturday when the team plays Christian Brothers University.
“It’s really neat down there,” CJ Fleming says. I just love everything about it. This is what I wanted.”
La Salle opens its season Dec. 8 at nearby Northwest High School. The Lancers have a late start intentionally in order to wait for the football players who may be playing for a second straight state championship the first week of December.
Fleming put the work in the summer and says another year of varsity experience has made him smarter and a better leader on the floor.
“Just knowing how to play the game better,” CJ Fleming says. “Just knowing what to do with the ball and my hands. Just taking care of the ball – things like that.”