Happy Sunday night, Wahoos! There are just 12 days left until the Hoos tip off in Greensboro against Spartans, so it’s time to look at the player that will be donning the number 12 this season: De’Andre Hunter.
A first year out of Philadelphia, Hunter is part of the powerful incoming class. He brings height, length, and a soft shooting touch to the wing, a position that needed some support after the Hoos lost Malcolm Brogdon. Of the incoming first years, Hunter was the last to commit after a monster summer in 2015 that saw his stock rise and pushed him from a three-star to a four-star recruit. Hunter has already shown he possesses solid decision making abilities by choosing Virginia over Maryland, NC State, Notre Dame, and Miami.
In addition to pure athleticism and the ability to slam home high-flying dunks, Hunter has good ball handling skills. His wingspan (buzz word!) of 7-2 should make him a menace in the Pack Line. Aaron, Hunter’s brother, was instrumental in helping him develop his shot and hone his ball handling skills. On their recent trip to Spain, Hunter was the only player to play in all five games, scoring 30 points in four games (stats for Hunter in the first game were difficult to find). Check out this emphatic score that came in Virginia’s fifth and final game in Spain:
HUNTER DUNKER: De'Andre ends @UVAMensHoops' tour of Spain with a bang #HeWasntReady pic.twitter.com/FpXgyBwm4i
— VirginiaSportsTV (@VaSportsTV) August 18, 2016
As it is every year with every player coming in to Tony Bennett’s system, the amount of playing time Hunter gets will hinge on his ability to understand the Pack Line. That said, I think he will see a lot of playing time as one of the first guys off the bench to spell the likes of Marial Shayok or Devon Hall. His ceiling is incredibly high, so seeing Hunter develop over this season - and the next three years - will be fun and exciting.
The Stats:
Position: Guard
Height: 6-7
Weight: 212
Instagram: drehunter_
Nickname That I’m Sure He’s Never Heard Before: Dr. Dre
Best: Squad when announcing his commitment
Check back tomorrow when we take a look at Ty Jerome!