Recruiting Report: Kaleb Hunter (2017)
The first time that we saw Hunter, a 6’4” wing from Neuss Christian in North Carolina, was at an individual showcase last September in Richmond. The event was packed with high level talent from Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina, and…
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Continue ReadingThe first time that we saw Hunter, a 6’4” wing from Neuss Christian in North Carolina, was at an individual showcase last September in Richmond. The event was packed with high level talent from Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina, and remembering one player that we had never seen before seemed almost impossible, especially with him being from outside our normal coverage area.
There was something about his game however, and when he came to Big Shots Loaded with Team Loaded NC two weekends ago he immediately stood out to us again. It could have been his ridiculous length, his athleticism or the fact that he was playing with a future UNC backcourt of Jalek Felton and Rechon “Leaky” Black, but there’s something about Hunter that really intrigued us each time we saw him.
As we watched him more closely at the Hoop Group Southern JamFest this weekend, we saw a versatile prospect that can play multiple positions and is capable of hanging up points in bunches. His ability to score the basketball in so many ways is what makes him such a threat, but it didn’t come without extra work.
Kaleb Hunter is a lethal scorer that can fill it up in a number of ways.“I get up at 5:30 almost every morning and I get a lot of shots up, a lot of makes, and I get up and down with my trainer and do a lot of ball handling and drills that make me successful in the game,” Hunter said.
A bouncy wing that has a smooth stroke from deep, Hunter is a walking bucket and a nightmare for perimeter defenders tasked with guarding him. He already holds 13 offers includingODU, VCU, JMU, Murray State, Arizona State, Charlotte and Southern Miss to name a few, and still has the July live period to reel in some more.
Hunter is especially vicious in transition, where he can handle it or run the wing, and he can finish at the basket or spot up for a triple if the defense gives him it. While he’s primarily a scorer, Hunter believes his impact on the offensive end isn’t limited to just himself, but helps his teammates get easy shots too.
“I think the most underrated part of my game is passing,” Hunter said. “I think I can pass the ball at a high level but most people don’t really see that.”
With all the work he puts in, it’s easy to see why Hunter is able to score with such ease and dominate so much attention from defenders. He has great elevation on his jumper, is always looking to attack and put pressure on the defense and he’s such a good athlete he can make energy plays on both ends that swings the momentum.
While he’s looked at to score the basketball now, Hunter feels like the best thing for his game moving forward is to adjust to playing on the basketball and creating more for his teammates.
“I think my role will be a point guard at the next level. I’m a shooting guard now, but I think I’m going to have to transition to being a point guard.”
While it would behoove Hunter to become more comfortable in the lead guard position, he should find success if he continues to work on his game and use his athleticism on the defensive end too. Expect to hear more offers for him as the summer winds down.