Lobo Basketball Adds Guard CJ Noland
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The New Mexico men’s basketball program announced Monday the addition of CJ Noland, a transfer guard from North Texas. The 6-4, 215-pound native of Waxahachie, Texas will have one year of eligibility with the Lobos after playing last season with the Mean Green and the previous two seasons at Oklahoma.
Last season at North Texas, Noland averaged 10.9 points and 2.8 rebounds per game, while shooting 38.4 percent from 3-point range. In conference play, he was UNT’s second leading scorer, averaging 11.5 points in the American Athletic Conference. Noland scored in double figures in 20 games last season, highlighted by a career-high 23 points against Tulane in the AAC Tournament and 21 points at LSU in the first round of the NIT.
“We are excited about the addition of CJ to our basketball program,” said head coach Richard Pitino. “He has the size and skill at the guard spot that we were looking for. He is tough, versatile, competitive and a winner. CJ will be a valuable addition to our team from day one.”
Noland spent his first two seasons at Oklahoma, appearing in 59 games, including eight starts for the Sooners. In 2021-22, he was named to the All-Big 12 Freshman Team after averaging 3.9 points off the bench while shooting 43.6 percent from behind the arc. Noland had his first career double figure game with 10 points against Kansas State and later scored eight points in less than eight minutes against No. 7 Kansas. As a sophomore, Noland started eight of the 26 games he appeared in for the Sooners, averaging 3.2 points per game. He scored in double figures twice in 2022-23, with 11 points against UNC Wilmington and a team-high 11 points at No. 11 TCU.
“New Mexico intrigued me by their style of play and the fact that they have good players returning that I can see myself playing with and winning with,” said Noland. “On top of that, the Lobos have such a passionate fanbase that I can’t wait to play in front of in The Pit.”
Noland is a 2021 graduate of Waxahachie High School, just outside of Dallas, where he was a consensus top 100 four-star recruit. As a senior, he led the Indians to a No. 1 ranking in Texas and was voted to the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches 6A All-State team.