C.J. Cox shines in NCAA Tournament debut for Purdue

C.J. Cox, a freshman from Massachusetts, is enjoying his first NCAA Tournament experience with Purdue. Growing up in Lexington, he always dreamed of playing in the tournament while watching games on TV. Cox recently helped lead Purdue to victory against High Point in Providence. Just a year ago, he was in Brooklyn watching his future team play. At that time, he could only imagine himself on the court. Now, he is making significant contributions and has become an important player for his team. Purdue's coach, Matt Painter, discovered Cox during an AAU game in the summer of 2023. Painter valued Cox’s skills and his character, despite him not having many recruitment offers from other colleges. Cox's athletic background comes from a family of athletes; his father played at Harvard and his mother ran track at Syracuse. Cox has shown his talent on the court, scoring well and providing strong defense. He is particularly noted for guarding the opposing team's best players. This season, he became a starter and was excited to kick off the tournament in Providence, where he had family and friends supporting him. Cox felt grateful for the opportunity to play in front of a crowd of around 16 familiar faces. He expressed how special it was to have his loved ones there, celebrating a tournament win alongside him.