CJ Fredrick provides health update entering summer

John Calipari is hoping to get Kentucky guard CJ Fredrick at full health ahead of the upcoming basketball season. Fredrick missed all of the 2021-22 season due to various leg injuries, and played at Iowa during his two previous seasons. Now a redshirt junior, he’s on pace to debut at Kentucky this fall.

Media members asked Fredrick at a ProCamps event about his injury status. He replied, “I’m happy with where my health is,” adding that his hamstring is in good shape too (he tore it just before the start of last season).

Fredrick continued, “I’ll be doing everything with the team this summer,” which is a testament to how far he’s come since initial injuries last fall. “I worked really hard last year just to get my body in really good shape,” he said.

Then Fredrick explained his plan for getting back into game shape. “My Goal was to get as thin and as lean as possible,” after starting to get healthy, since he said he had gained some weight while injured. “I think I’ve done a good job of that,” Fredrick reported. Now, he says he’ll “try to bulk up” during summer workouts.

The former three-point specialist from Iowa is finally getting back into playing shape after missing the entire 2021-22 season. Kentucky looks to be getting a big-time threat back this fall.

CJ Fredrick background

Fredrick is entering his second season with Kentucky. He missed all of the 2021-22 year with various leg injuries, including a hamstring tear just before the first game of the season. Before transferring to Lexington, Fredrick spent two seasons at Iowa, where he started every single game he played in as a freshman and sophomore. 

For the Hawkeyes, Fredrick was an absolute sniper from three-point range. He converted 46.1% from deep as a freshman, then increased his accuracy to 47.4% as a sophomore, effectively making him the deadliest eye in the Big Ten. 

He also turned over the lowest percentage of his possessions of any player in the conference during his sophomore season in 2021. Kentucky was missing a sure-handed sharp-shooter in 2022.

Fredrick is set to return to the fold for the ‘Cats after missing all of the 2021-22 season. The Northern Kentucky native will be a much-needed shooting threat for the ‘Cats this upcoming season. But health will be Fredrick’s no. 1 concern until he’s fully comfortable once again. 

If he can stay on the court and knock down a few open shots, CJ Fredrick will be on his way to a stellar season.