Recruiting Report: Eric Hunter (2018)
This past weekend four star guard Eric Hunter out of Indianapolis visited the University of Minnesota and had a lot of interesting things to say about the school as well as the basketball program. At 6-foot-3 and with the ability…
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Continue ReadingThis past weekend four star guard Eric Hunter out of Indianapolis visited the University of Minnesota and had a lot of interesting things to say about the school as well as the basketball program.
At 6-foot-3 and with the ability to play both guard spots Eric Hunter fits exactly what the Gopher program is hoping to bring in; a combo guard that can shoot the ball with feet set or off the bounce as well as a guy who can handle the point guard position.
“From a relationship standpoint I have a way better feel about Minnesota,” Hunter said. “I have a better feel for what they think about me and how they feel about me as we continue to go forward.”
Hunter’s unofficial visit included time spent in athletic facilities as well as time spent in academic areas.
“Definitely a memorable part of the visit was meeting a man named Niam,” Eric said. “He’s a professor in one of the business schools. Just the fact that they got things set up so I could meet with somebody in the academic area and we could talk about that aspect of school on a fairly deep level. That meant a lot.
“I also enjoyed taking that tour of the new complex their on campus that will be available in January they said.”
Hunter was able to meet not just Richard Pitino and Ben Johnson, the staff members who have been in regular contact, but also the rest of the staff in the Golden Gophers program.
“They are definitely a good group of coaches,” Eric said. “They are all on the same page, they all have the same ideas, well they have some different ideas but they all have ideas for the same goal. Getting closer to Coach Richard Pitino was really good for me.
“I definitely think I fit really well with how the Gophers play. Coach Pitino said that he likes to have playmaking guards on the court at all times and I think that’s exactly what I think I am, a playmaking guard. I can score and I can pass. The Minnesota program is moving in the right program, which is intriguing from my standpoint.
The Gophers have been involved with Hunter for nearly a year but there are other programs that have also been recruiting Eric with great effort. Teams like Nebraska, Butler, Purdue, Xavier, and others. Eric is planning a few more visits in the coming days.
“I think I will be going to meet with Coach LaVall Jordan on Wednesday (tomorrow) and I may be going to Purdue next week.”
The most recent offer for Hunter came from Ohio State who is of course now led by Chris Holtmann who recruited Eric when he was at Butler.
“In the past I have definitely thought highly of the Buckeye program,” Hunter said. “Even with Coach Thad Matta. They had been recruiting me but it was kind of hard for Coach Matta because of his health and stuff.
“That offer meant a lot because the school had been on me for awhile and I was kind of getting anxious. Coach Holtmann offering didn’t surprise me because we have such a good relationship from when he was there at Butler.”
Eric and his Indiana Pros teammates still have over three weeks before they compete in the open period in July but it’s something that Eric is excited about.
“I definitely want to prove that I am a good player. I’m a good player and I can play against anybody and do what I do. Just score the ball and keep being a leader. I also want to solidify that I am a two way player.”
Around that time Eric plans to start pairing down the schools that he is interested in as a decision is only months away.
“I may narrow things down after that first weekend in July,” Eric said. “I may do it then or when July is over, when the summer period is over. I will make a decision definitely before the school ball season starts.”