CJ Massingale re-signs with the Knox Raiders.
By Greg Oakford
REIGNING MVP, CJ Massingale has returned to the Knox Raiders’ fold.
The 2009 season will mark the superstar’s fifth consecutive season with the raiders in the SEABL.
Massingale is the first signing for the fast-approaching ’09 season and will indubitably generate a lot of excitement for fans that saw CJ have his best year to date as a professional and lead his team mates to the SEABL East Championship.
After three initial seasons with Knox (2005-07) including a championship in ‘06 which saw the shooting guard increase his productivity each year, the Washington native took his game to another level in season 2008 under a new head coach in Graham Longstaff and a more up-tempo style of play.
Massingale led the league in scoring at 27 points per game to go with pulling down seven rebounds, dishing out two assists and finishing eleventh in steals.
The league’s most explosive player came out firing from opening night, notching up 37 points against Mt. Gambier and showing signs of things to come for the remainder of the season.
Other notable performances came against Ballarat where CJ recorded a season-high 51 points and had the Knox Converse Stadium fans on the edge of their seats, a 47-point home outing against Geelong and two 37-point productions versus Nunawading and Bendigo also highlights.
Massingale said the challenge of returning as conference champions and looking to go one step further to win the overall SEABL Championship had been a major factor in his decision to resign.
“There’s such a great support base at Knox and I’m looking forward to coming over with my fiancé this time around,” he said.
Massingale is set to return in late January 2009 where he will continue to build his legacy for the Raiders.
