With Nothing Left to Prove at Virginia, Two-Way Star Eyes Next Level
Why are we examining the “negatives” of a Draft prospect who goes hard on both
ends, has an NBA-ready body and mentality, is the ultimate team player, was the
arguably the best defender in college hoops and led his team to the National
Championship – going off for 27 points and nine boards while holding a fellow
lottery pick to 5-for-22 shooting in the deciding game?
Because it’s the silly season before the NBA Draft.
Virginia sophom*ore De’Andre Hunder is a classic case of proof vs. potential.
It’d be difficult to compile a better college resume than the one Hunter will
bring to NBA teams during the pre-Draft process. But franchises at the top of
the Lottery are often less enamored with what you’ve done than what you can do
in the future. And for a player who’ll turn 22 midway through his rookie season,
that’s a genuine concern – despite his prolific two-year track record with the
‘Hoos.
Hunter’s (and Virginia’s) story is well-documented.
After being named the ACC’s Sixth Man of the Year as a freshman, the rugged 6-7
forward broke his wrist in the Conference tourney and was sidelined for the 2018
NCCA Tournament. No. 1-seeded Virginia then proceeded to suffer the biggest
upset in the history of the Big Dance – becoming the first top seed to fall to a
No. 16 and doing so in embarrassing fashion – falling by 20 to the upstart UMBC
Retrievers.
Hunter and Tony Bennett’s Cavaliers came back beyond hungry this past year and
rumbled through the regular season and Tourney – led on both ends by Hunter, who
put the icing on the cake in the title game when he went off for 27 points and
nine boards – going 4-of-5 from long-range, including the game-tying triple with
15 seconds remaining in OT.
On the defensive end, he held Jarrett Culver – widely considered the most
versatile player in college hoops – to 15 points on 5-for-22 shooting, including
0-for-6 from beyond the arc.
Hunter didn’t put up monster stats as a sophom*ore, but he was still one of the
most efficient offensive players in the country – improving his scoring average
from 9.2ppg as a redshirt freshman to 15.2ppg in his second season. In 2018-19,
Hunter shot 52 percent from the floor, including 44 percent from deep and 78
percent from the stripe.
Hunter excelled on the other end of the floor – earning ACC Defensive Player of
the Year honors.
So, with all this in mind, what’s the problem?
The problem is what Hunter’s upside is at the NBA level. He’ll almost certainly
be a solid two-way player for whichever team selects him. But if he goes in the
early Lottery – as expected – what’s his upside? Is he Thaddeus Young or Kawhi
Leonard?
He’s proven himself at the collegiate level – even showing big improvement from
one season to the next, starting zero games in 2017-18 and all 38 the next year.
And it would be hard to prove one’s team value more than Virginia’s two
experiences in the Tourney – choking to an unknown without Hunter and winning
the Whole Enchilada with him.
De’Andre Hunter will definitely be a top 10 pick when next Thursday night rolls
around.
The short- and long-term questions are all that await: Who will pick him and
what will he develop into when he arrives?
Despite being on of college hoops’ top defenders, the physical Hunter committed
four or more fouls in just three games last year at Virginia. Photo by David Dow
via NBA/Getty Images
STRENGTHS There aren’t many holes to Hunter’s game. And most of the critiques
about Hunter’s offensive challenges can be attributed to Virginia’s slow-down
system. Malcom Brogdon and Joe Harris didn’t shatter records in Charlottesville,
but they’ve each developed into excellent pros.
Hunter has good range offensively, although he’s a reluctant long-range shooter,
attempting less than three treys per game as a sophom*ore. Of course, he proved
how effective he can be from deep under the brightest lights in the NCAA title
game.
Hunter moves well without the ball and because of his two-way prowess, doesn’t
always need a lot of touches to impact the game. He’s a solid rebounder off both
the offensive and defensive glass. He uses his powerful frame to absorb and
fight through contact.
The Philadelphia native has a mature game. He doesn’t turn the ball over and has
excellent basketball instincts. He’s not the greatest athlete in this year’s
Draft, but is still and above-the-rim performer.
Defensively, Hunter might be without peer in the incoming class. He’s an
intelligent, athletic defender who can handle bigs physically and is quick
enough to switch to guards on the perimeter – utilizing his impressive 7-2
wingspan to flummox both.
And then there’s something no coach can teach – Hunter’s relentless motor, going
full-bore for 94 feet.
WEAKNESSES Critics have an easy target when it comes to Hunter’s age. He turns
22 on December 1, which is relatively ancient for a prospect in today’s Draft.
The four players discussed near the top of the 2019 Class – Zion Williamson, Ja
Morant, R.J. Barrett and Darius Garland – will still be teenagers when Adam
Silver calls their name next Thursday.
Finding weaknesses to Hunter’s game is a different story.
He’s not a strong ball-handler and he’s not a big three-point threat –
attempting just under three triples per game as a sophom*ore. Scouts also feel
he’ll need to speed up his release at the next level, where shooting space is
even tougher to find. He also lacks a reliable ‘go-to’ post move.
Hunter is a very good athlete, but not a dynamic or explosive. Some have even
labeled him ‘mechanical.’
HOW HE’D FIT The Cavaliers don’t have a lot of holes to fill along the front
line – possessing a nice blend of seasoned vets and up-and-coming youngsters,
especially at the 4 and 5. Adding the defensive-minded, pro-ready Hunter to a
frontline that includes Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson, Larry Nance Jr., John
Henson and Ante Zizic would make Cleveland’s frontline a formidable one.
(And let’s be honest, local writers would be salivating for the moment he and
Tristan have a big night together so they can work “Hunter, Thompson” into a
headline.)
Cedi Osman made a nice leap at small forward last year – quadrupling his scoring
average from his rookie to sophom*ore seasons. He and Hunter at the 3 would give
the Wine and Gold a nice 1-2 punch at the 3. And Hunter has the two-way
versatility to slide over to the 4 if John Beilein decides to go small.
Cleveland’s new head coach comes into the summer trying to build a positive
culture for the Cavaliers renaissance. Beginning that with a total team player
like Hunter would be an excellent start.
Media Content:
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Story Link:
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