Mean Green Sign Former Four-Star Prospect CJ Noland

cousin oliver · June 5, 2023

DENTON, Texas – UNT men’s basketball head coach Ross Hodge on Monday announced the signing of Oklahoma transfer CJ Noland.

A 6-foot-3 guard who is a native of Waxahachie, Texas, Noland was a four-star recruit coming out of high school in 2021 and was ranked as the nation’s No. 86 overall recruit by Rivals. Over the last two years, Noland played in 59 games for the Sooners and started eight this past season as a sophomore.

Following his freshman campaign, Noland was voted to the Big 12 All-Freshman Team as a lethal shooter coming off the bench, making nearly 45 percent of his shots from beyond the arc and over 53 percent of his total attempts. Noland twice scored in double figures against Big 12 opponents. He scored eight points in under eight minutes versus No. 7 Kansas during his freshman season. In the 2022 NIT, Noland helped lead the Sooners to a first round win over Missouri State with six points, six rebounds and two steals.

During his senior year at Waxahchie High School, Noland led the Indians to a No. 1 ranking in Texas and a 6A Regional final appearance. He was voted by the 2021 Texas Association of Basketball Coaches to the 6A All-State honor in addition to all region and all district, which he earned three years in a row.

Noland will be joining a UNT men's basketball program that is coming off its most successful season in its history. The Mean Green won a program-record 31 games last season to go along with tying the program-record for conference wins (16). UNT earned a bid into the 2023 NIT where they defeated Alcorn State, Sam Houston, Oklahoma State, Wisconsin and UAB in route to its first NIT championship in program history.

Noland is one of five newcomers to sign with the Mean Green so far this offseason. He joins newcomers UTSA transfer John Buggs, Ole Miss transfer Robert Allen, NJCAA First Team All-American transfer Jason Edwards and incoming freshman Alex Cotton.

The Mean Green, who have now won a championship trophy in each of the last four seasons, elevated then associate head coach Ross Hodge to head coach on April 2.

UNT season tickets for the 2023-24 Mean Green men and women's basketball teams are available now at www.meangreentickets.com. Tickets start as low as $99 for men's and $75 for women's basketball. For more information on tickets, contact the Mean Green Ticket Office at 940-565-2527 or at ticketoffice@unt.edu. Fans can visit the UNT Athletics Ticket Office located at Gate 2 of Apogee Stadium between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.