Hoyas’ Hunter coming to UNLV

Steve Addy

Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2001 | 10:30 a.m.

The last time Demetrius Hunter was looking for a place to play basketball, UNLV didn't have room.

The Rebels briefly considered the Cheyenne High product for their 1999 recruiting class, but were already well-stocked at point guard with Mark Dickel, Greedy Daniels and recruit Desmond Herod.

Two years later, under considerably different circumstances, the Hunter-UNLV hookup finally has been made.

After two solid seasons at Georgetown, the 6-foot-2 Hunter will transfer to UNLV this week, sit out this season as a walk-on and play his final two seasons for the Rebels, he said Monday.

Hunter averaged 9.2 points as a sophomore last season, starting all 33 games as the Hoyas went 25-8 and advanced to the NCAA West Regional semifinals. He scored a career-high 21 points Feb. 24 against Syracuse, led the team in scoring four times and had 18 double-figure games.

UNLV coaches aren't permitted to comment on Hunter until his admission is finalized, but his transfer is certain. Having obtained his Georgetown release last week, he made an unofficial visit to UNLV on Saturday and decided on the Rebels on Monday. He visited no other schools.

Phone calls to Hunter in Las Vegas went unanswered, but he told ESPN.com he's eager to return home to be near his girlfriend and 1-year-old daughter.

"This is something I've been thinking about for a while," Hunter said. "I've been on the other side of the country and only got a chance to go home once. Now I will get a chance to play in front of my family."

He will also be playing under a coach who recruited him in high school. UNLV's Charlie Spoonhour, then at Saint Louis, tried to sign Hunter in November 1998, but Hunter chose Georgetown, then honored his commitment despite the surprise resignation of coach John Thompson two months later.

"I want to be a part of the rebuilding process at UNLV," Hunter said. "Coach Spoonhour is turning the program around a bit, and I would love to be a part of that."

Hunter must sit out a full season, in keeping with NCAA transfer rules, but can practice with the team. However, he will soon undergo surgery to remove bone spurs in his foot, so he'll use the time off to heal. He was also hobbled last season by turf toe and a sore Achilles tendon.

Those injuries severely limited Hunter's mobility in the NCAA tournament. He was essentially playing on one leg in the Hoyas' 76-66 loss to Maryland in the West semis at Anaheim, Calif. He scored 11 points in 29 minutes, but shot only 3-of-9 on 3-pointers, missed a dunk and had trouble on defense.

That Sweet 16 game turned out to be Hunter's last for Georgetown. He was third on the team in points (305), second in minutes (817) and second in assists (72). As a freshman, he averaged 6.0 points while starting 12 of 34 games.

Hunter's athleticism and defensive skills should be especially handy in Spoonhour's system, which often uses two point guards. With Marcus Banks, Hunter's old high school rival from Cimarron-Memorial, joining the Rebels this season, UNLV's 2002-03 backcourt should be one of the best in the Mountain West.

Though not known as a great outside shooter, Hunter shot 43 percent last season and led the Hoyas in 3-point percentage at 38.9. He is a terrific leaper and dunker.

Hunter played the Rebels twice in his Hoyas career, going 1-1. As a freshman, he scored nine points in 16 minutes off the bench, but UNLV won 85-69 at the Thomas & Mack Center. Last season at the MCI Center, he had 11 points and five rebounds in Georgetown's 79-62 rout.