CJ Happy Commits to Princeton

By Dylan Thayer | Thursday, July 6th, 2023

On the first day of July, we saw Milton Academy and Middlesex Magic star center, CJ Happy, announce that he is committing to Princeton University. 

The Massachusetts native started his high school basketball career at Wachusett Regional High School in the small town of Holden, just north of Worcester. From freshman to sophomore year Happy sprouted up from around six-three, six-four to a towering six-eight. The summer before his sophomore year consisted of a lot of work on his game, and it paid dividends once he stepped on the floor his second year. 

While starting to build a bigger reputation on the basketball court, CJ faced two life-changing losses. In the summer leading up to his sophomore year, his father Robert passed away. This past year, he lost his brother Garrett. Despite dealing with tragedy, CJ continues to grind in the gym and improve his game, showing just how resilient the young man is. 

Wachusett assistant Zack Berman spoke on Happy’s time there and his improvement from freshman to sophomore year, “Going into his sophomore year, he made a tremendous jump and was the cornerstone of our team on both ends of the floor,” he said. “CJ has fought through so much adversity in his short life thus far, and no one deserves this more than him!” added Berman. 

After two seasons at Wachusett, Happy announced that he would be transferring to Milton Academy and reclassifying into the class of 2024. 

During his time at Milton Academy, Happy has been a force at the five spot for a program that has seen immense success. Over the past two seasons, he has helped Milton Academy win 43 games and became yet another member to commit to playing Division I basketball. 

This past year, he was a vital factor in the team’s best season in the history of their program. The Mustangs went 24-2 while winning the ISL championship and taking home the NEPSAC Class A title over another star-heavy St. Sebastian’s team. 

Outside of high school ball, Happy has spent the past five years playing his grassroots with the Middlesex Magic. 

Middlesex Magic UAA coach and program director, Mike Crotty, has high praise for the center and the character that he embodies: “CJ Happy is one of the finest young men and teammates I’ve ever had the chance to coach.” He went on to say, “I think that he will immediately continue to propel an already amazing culture at Princeton during his time there.”

While still having another season left to play in high school, CJ decided that he found the program he dreamed of in Princeton University. 

“I chose Princeton because it is the ultimate combination of high-level academics and basketball. As soon as I stepped on campus I fell in love with the school,” he tells us when asked what factored into his decision. “My best basketball is in my future and I know that being at Princeton I’ll have access to great coaches and resources that will help take my game to new levels.”

He continued by saying, “I felt an unreal connection to coach (Mitch) Henderson and others on the staff. Not only as coaches but as people. I’m looking forward to building new relationships with everyone there as soon as I step on campus. I know I made the right choice.”

Princeton was the school Happy felt was the best fit for his future on and off the court, but he had a list of others in his recruitment, receiving offers from Lehigh, Navy, New Hampshire, Holy Cross and American University.

The future is bright for this resilient, hard-working young man, and he looks to continue his successful basketball career at one of America’s most prestigious universities.