DeAndre Hunter to Virginia: Cavaliers Land 4-Star SG Prospect
The Virginia Cavaliers football team may have lost in heartbreaking fashion to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Saturday, but the day wasn't a complete loss for the Cavaliers athletic program, as highly touted shooting guard DeAndre Hunter committed to Virginia's basketball team.
Hunter made the announcement on Twitter:
According to 247Sports' composite rankings, the Philadelphia native is ranked 107th nationally, and he's the 18th-best shooting guard in the country. As ESPN.com's Jeff Borzello noted, Virginia is accumulating a strong 2016 recruiting class:
Although he may be listed as a shooting guard, Hunter could easily shift over to the 3 if head coach Tony Bennett chooses to use that tactic.
"He is best on the wing as a small forward who attacks from the outside," Scout.com's Brian Snow wrote. "But he also has enough length and athleticism to defend a power forward when teams go smaller."
Hunter isn't a great shooter at this stage of his development. In 16 games for Philly Pride in the Under Armour Grassroots Circuit, he shot 40.8 percent from the field, including a 34.1 percent mark from three-point range, per CircuitStats.com.
Still, Hunter has an abundance of talent, and his defensive skills will fit right in with Bennett's system.
Bennett has already proved to be a savvy basketball mind with Virginia's on-court success over the last two years. His work on the recruiting trail—securing Hunter's commitment included—will ensure that the Cavaliers remain a power in the ACC for years to come.
