Florida lands fast-rising 4-star CJ Ingram, shifts focus to hoops in legacy move
The Florida Gators have secured the commitment of fast-rising 2025 class prospect CJ Ingram. The 6-foot-6 forward from Oak Ridge High School is one of the top recruits in the nation (No. 73 per 247Sports) and already has ties with the University of Florida through his father Cornelius Ingram’s time with the program in the early 2000s.
CJ Ingram announced his decision to go to Florida, a 10-minute route from his home, through an Instagram post before he enters his final year at Hawthorne High.
He also had offers from the Cincinnati Bearcats, Arizona State Sun Devils, Georgia Bulldogs, Pittsburgh Panthers, Kansas Jayhawks, Dayton Flyers and Georgetown Hoyas.
CJ's dad, Cornelius Ingram, was a multi-sport athlete during his time with the Gators and later switched his focus to football. He then transitioned from being a quarterback to a tight end for the program, winning two national championships.
Similarly, CJ Ingram also played both football and basketball at Hawthorne. He has been playing as the quarterback for the last two seasons, which also got him an offer from the Gators football coach Billy Napier. However, Ingram wants to focus solely on basketball and committed to Todd Golden after visiting the school in June.
What will CJ Ingram bring to Florida Gators?
A preview of what Ingram will bring to Florida was seen in the Nike EYBL Circuit. While he was not among the top scorers of the tourney, his averages of 12.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists helped the Florida Rebels to a 9-6 record, sixth in the Merritt Conference.
Moreover, he increased his efficiency after earning the invitation to Peach Jam’s main event. He averaged 16.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists on 60.0% shooting throughout the five games.
The 16-year-old is most known for his hard work and unique athleticism from his class. He can utilize his physical strength and explosiveness on both ends of the court, albeit while he dedicately works at improving his game. Todd Golden and his coaching staff have been in constant touch with the young athlete and have shown a leaning toward maintaining his natural versatility on the floor.
The high schooler is already adept at operating at the wing and being a power forward in a small ball lineup. Moreover, not only can he put the ball in the basket, but he can also dish it to teammates effectively.