« Men’s Basketball 2013-14

C.J. Fair

School
Syracuse
Position
Forward
Major
Child & Family Studies
PPG
16.7
RPG
6.2
APG
1.3

Classroom

Fair is pursuing a degree in Child and Family Studies in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics. Entering the Fall 2013 semester, he has maintained a 2.49 grade point average and is expected to graduate in May 2014.

Character

As a senior, Fair will be one of the captains of a Syracuse squad that is coming off an NCAA semifinal appearance. The consensus among Fair’s peers is that he is a team leader and great individual. His teammates love to be around him as he is always passing on words of encouragement and helping however he can.

Community

Fair has been active in not only the Syracuse community, but in our communities throughout the nation. Last year, he assisted at both the Make a Wish Foundation and Boys and Girls Club of Syracuse in late October. During Syracuse’s off day in San Diego as part of the “Battle on the Midway” last season, Fair and the rest of the men’s basketball team contributed four hours of their time at one of the rescue shelters in town. Fair was back at it again in Syracuse less than two weeks later, aiding in one of Syracuse’s turkey drives.

Competition

Fair had a lot of expectations to live up to entering his senior season after leading Syracuse on a Final Four run in 2013, that saw the Orange finish 30-10 overall. He was named a Preseason Third Team All-American selection by Sporting News and to the Preseason First Team All-ACC by Athlon Sports, USA Today and Lindy’s Sports.

Fair met those expectations, earning All-America Second Team honors by the United States Basketball Writers Association and was the organization’s Player of the Year for District II. He was also selected by the ACC head coaches and the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association (ACSMA) to the first team All-ACC and is a Wooden Award finalist.

Leading the Orange to a school-record 25 wins to begin the season and a No. 1 national rankings, Fair topped the team in scoring during the regular season with 16.9 points per game and ranked second on the team averaging 6.2 rebounds per contest. Those numbers were good for seventh and 16th, respectively, among ACC individuals. Fair started all 31 games and reached double figures in scoring in 29 times. Two of those games, Fair set and tied a career-high with 28 points, the first instance coming in a 91-89 overtime victory against Duke. He also posted a pair of double-doubles on the season.

In 2012-13 Fair earned second-team All- BIG EAST Conference honors and was a second-team National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-District 5 selection in 2013. Fair led the team in scoring at 14.5 points per game and rebounding at 7.0 rebounds per game.

His numbers were higher in conference-only games, averaging 15.8 points and 7.3 rebounds an outing. Fair’s 7.0 rebounds per game also ranked eighth in the BIG EAST.

As a sophomore, Fair helped the Orange to their best record in program history at 34-3. He ranked fifth on the team in scoring with 8.5 points per game and second in rebounds, averaging 5.4 per contest.