How Basketball Made NC State TE Justin Joly a Better Pass-Catcher

**Justin Joly** didn't arrive at **NC State** purely as a football player — and the Wolfpack tight end says his basketball roots have directly shaped the way he operates in the passing game. 📋 **The Connection** Joly, a former basketball player now lining up at tight end, draws a clear parallel between the two sports when it comes to catching the ball at its highest point. > *"Jump up in the air. Time the rock correctly, and catch it with a full frame instead of catching it on one side. It feels like catching a rebound or a putback, basically."* — **Justin Joly, NC State TE** ———————————————— ✅ **The Takeaway** For Joly, the instincts developed on the hardwood — body positioning, timing, and using both hands to secure the ball — translate directly to contested catches at the tight end position. The ability to go up and claim the ball with a full frame, rather than reaching to one side, is a skill he traces back to his days on the basketball court.