UNC Tar Heels are landing this coveted Broward County track star 

Cardinal Gibbons standout hurdler Craig (C.J.) Saddler II got a first-hand taste of the storied North Carolina-Duke basketball rivalry on his recruiting trip to North Carolina.

The frenzied atmosphere at the Dean Smith Center left him hungry to elevate the North Carolina men’s track program to the same level as its men’s blue blood basketball counterparts.

“I would love to change the culture,” Saddler said. “North Carolina is a powerhouse basketball school mainly. I would love to build the program with the track team and let us all succeed. UNC was my final visit. There was no doubt UNC was the right place for me.”

The feeling is mutual as the Tar Heels have landed not only one of the nation’s top hurdlers, but also an outstanding student-athlete with a great work ethic.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic ended the high school track season early, Saddler gave a glimpse of things to come when he clocked a U.S. No. 5 36.98 in the 300 hurdles at the Sam Burley Invitational.

Even far from running his best race — Saddler stumbled on the second to last hurdle and fell through the last hurdle, Saddler posted his career-best and finished third.

Saddler’s promising start also included Broward’s top times in the 200 (21.65), (400 (48.89) and No. 5 (non-wind aided) time in the 110 hurdles.

Despite the premature end to his senior season and a shot of winning his first state title (Saddler was a favorite in the 300 hurdles) Saddler has wasted no time lamenting the unseen turn of events.

“It was very disappointing,” Saddler said. “I was projected to win the 110 and 300 hurdles but everything happens for a reason. God’s timing is perfect. Going off of that. It’s unfortunate but if God intended for me to miss out on a state title it was for me to have a larger blessing on the next level.”

Cardinal Gibbons coach Jeremiah Whitfield believes the 6-3, smooth gliding Saddler, is on a path to college stardom in the 400 hurdles due to the strong base he has built mastering the 300 hurdles- arguably the toughest race on the high school level.

“C.J’s first 250 [meters] is his strength because of his steps between the hurdles,” said Whitfield. “He still needs to focus on the last 20 meters. With his height and speed and him grasping the hurdles, not everybody can grasp the hurdling, we knew the 300 hurdles was the right event for him. We built his foundation. I’m sure he will eventually hold the North Carolina 400 hurdles record.”