Missouri State's Undersized Sparkplug Guard Poised for Breakout
Freshman guard C.J. Gaines (5-8, 155 lbs) brings explosive Savannah flair to Missouri State, blending high school dominance (15.5 PPG as senior, 4x all-region) with college hustle—starting as a frosh elsewhere at 7.2 PPG before transferring. In 2025-26, he's logging heavy minutes (20+ MPG) off the bench, showcasing pesky defense, quickness, and playmaking that belies his size, with no injury flags and a gritty intensity perfect for fast-paced systems. Ideal fit for teams needing a tough, energetic combo guard who elevates tempo and disrupts foes—watch him climb stat sheets.[2][7]
