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Draft Profile: R.J. Hunter

Opinions expressed on this page are solely those of the author(s) and don't represent the opinions of the Celtics front office.

NBA Draft Combine Measurements

Pros/Cons

Why You Might Know Him

By Taylor C. Snow

Between R.J. Hunter’s late-game heroics, and his father Ron’s sideline antics, the coach-son combo became fan favorites during this year’s NCAA Tournament. Facing third-seeded Baylor in the second round of the tourney, Hunter swished a 35-foot, game-winning 3-pointer for a 57-56 upset win. In the background, his father, who was nursing a torn Achilles tendon, famously flopped off his stool in celebration, creating one of the most iconic images of the 2015 tournament.

Scouting Report

R.J. Hunter is a wiry, 6-foot-6 shooting guard with unlimited range and a 6-foot-10 ½ wingspan. He needs to put on weight but is stronger than he looks. Hunter is a coach’s son who has a high basketball IQ. He also wants the ball in the clutch (and excels in the clutch), and that’s an intriguing combo. His wingspan and quick release make it extremely difficult to challenge and/or affect his shot. He’s ready to contribute in the NBA at the offensive end right now. He’s a fantastic shooter with a quick and clean release, who is very good at reading defenders off of screens. I love that he always gets his shoulders squared to the basket in catch-and-shoot opportunities. He does, however, need to improve his use of screens. He’s likely to play off the ball at the next level and those screens will be his greatest ally. He settled a bit this year, allowing defenses (which keyed in on him) to push him far away from the basket. That resulted in a rougher-than-expected shooting season, but I’m not concerned with that. He can and will make shots. Hunter’s quick feet and instincts allow him to change direction very well. That will translate to his ability to free himself for shots in the NBA, and it also indicates that he can become a good defender. He has a very good handle with both hands but likes to take the ball off the dribble to his left. There is a heavy tendency for him to finish almost exclusively with his right hand around the basket. He does show some jitters in traffic, as things seem to speed up on him. However, when the floor is spaced, he has proven to be a very capable passer and playmaker. Hunter has quick feet and good hands but does not display lateral quickness and change of direction at the defensive end, which is unique and worrisome. He proved at the Draft Combine testing that he has great lateral quickness, but it doesn’t show face on defense, which leads me to believe that his instincts might not be on par with his athleticism. He also doesn’t always give maximum effort at the defensive end and gazes at the ball when the opponent takes a shot, rather than boxing out or attacking the glass. He needs to keep his center of gravity lower and not over-stride, which should help that lateral quickness show face. He must also eliminate his tendency to gamble on steal attempts and bite on shot fakes. Defensively, I believe the ability is there, he just needs to bring it out. Getting maximum effort out of Hunter and cleaning up his defensive mechanics – both of which I believe are attainable goals – should help him to become a capable defender in the NBA.

Biography

By Taylor C. Snow

Ronald Jordan “R.J.” Hunter was born on Oct. 24, 1993, in Oxford Ohio, to Ron – the current head coach of Georgia State – and Amy Hunter. He is the godson of Ron Harper, who won five NBA titles during a 15-year professional career. As a senior at Pike High School (Indianapolis, Ind.), Hunter led his team to a runner-up finish at states, averaging 20.5 points, 6.6 assists, 3.8 assists and 2.9 steals per game. He also shot 50 percent from the floor and 41 percent from beyond the arc. Hunter chose to attend Georgia State to play under his father’s tutelage. His collegiate debut came against No. 8 Duke on Nov. 9, 2012; he had an impressive showing with 14 points and 10 rebounds. That season, he set a program record for points by a freshman with 527 (17.0 per game) and was named Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Year. The next year, the Bulldogs moved to the Sun Belt Conference and Hunter earned Player of the Year honors. He averaged 18.4 points per game and nailed 100 3-pointers, becoming the first Panther to hit triple-digits in that category. He also set the school record for free throw percentage (88.2), netting 142 of 161 attempts. On Dec. 22, 2013, he notched a career-high 41 points against UTSA, tallying a Georgia State and Sun Belt-record 12 3s. It was the most 3-pointers in a single game by any NCAA player during the 2013-14 season. His success carried over to this past season, as he scored a school-record 688 points and repeated as Sun Belt Player of the Year. He took over the Panther record books, becoming the program’s leader in points (1,819), free throws (448), free throw percentage (.853) and 3-pointers made (253). The Panthers earned a berth into the NCAA tournament as a 14-seed and upset heavily favored Baylor. With 2.6 seconds left in the game, Hunter nailed a desperation 3 from 35 feet out, sealing a 57-56 win. He then scored 20 in a season-ending loss to Xavier in the following round. Hunter declared for the NBA Draft on April 17.