CJ Huntley

Huntley is an American forward who reached the NBA through a two-way contract with the Phoenix Suns after going undrafted in 2025 and developing through the Valley Suns of the NBA G League. His path to the league included a five-year college career at Appalachian State, a 1,000-point milestone, and multiple two-way stints with Phoenix separated by a brief waiver.

Born on January 6, 2002, in Huntersville, North Carolina, Huntley attended Davidson Day School. In his junior year, he averaged 14 points, led the team to the quarterfinals of the NCISSA 2A playoffs, and finished with a 20-5 record. He committed to Appalachian State and spent five seasons with the Mountaineers.

As a freshman, he played in 23 games, started three, and averaged 3.3 points. As a sophomore, he contributed 200 points, 113 rebounds, and 18 assists, with a career-high 20 points against South Alabama. As a junior, he averaged 9.2 points, had a career-high in rebounds, and recorded at least six rebounds in seventeen games. The next season, he shot 54 percent from the field and 34 percent from three-point range, a career best. On December 13, 2023, he scored a career-high 22 points against Queens. In his final season as a graduate senior, he averaged 15.7 points and became Appalachiathians thirty-seventh player to score 1,000 career points.

After going undrafted in the 2025 NBA draft, Huntley signed a two-way contract with the Phoenix Suns on June 26, 2025. He did not appear in a game before being waived on November 17, following the signing of Jamaree Bouyea. After the waiver, he was added to the Valley Suns active roster on November 20. On March 2, 2026, Phoenix re-signed him to a two-way contract after Jamaree Bouyea was promoted to a standard contract. Huntley made his NBA debut with the Suns on March 22, 2026.

Huntley is a stretch-forward with shooting range, rebounding instincts, and positional size. At Appalachian State, his 54 percent shooting from the field and 34 percent from three reflected a player capable of scoring inside and stretching the floor. His rebounding improved each season, and his senior year production demonstrated a capacity to lead an offense. At the NBA level, his role is developmental. He projects as a floor-spacing big who can rebound in limited minutes, though his defensive versatility and strength remain works in progress.

Huntley enters the 2025-26 season as a two-way contract player with the Phoenix Suns. His path includes Davidson Day School, five Appalachian State seasons, a 1,000-point milestone, undrafted free agency, a brief two-way stint, a waiver, G League assignment with the Valley Suns, a re-signing in March 2026, and an NBA debut on March 22, 2026. His journey from Huntersville through Boone and into the NBA reflects a developmental trajectory built on incremental college improvement and persistence through the two-way pathway.