Happy dad Hunter awaits his chance to help the Rebels

Steve Addy

Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2002 | 10:18 a.m.

Every time Demetrius Hunter's daughter takes a few wobbly steps or attempts her ABCs, his reasons for transferring to UNLV are as elementary as 1-2-3.

And it gets a little easier to tolerate sitting out all season while his Rebels teammates stagger along with a 9-7 record.

After starting all 33 games at Georgetown last season and helping the Hoyas reach the round of 16 in the NCAA Tournament, the 6-foot-2 combo guard isn't accustomed to this much inactivity. And he certainly doesn't enjoy it.

Even if transfer rules didn't relegate Hunter to the sidelines this season, his availability would have been questionable because he's recovering from surgery on his right foot, but that's small consolation.

Cheering in street clothes at home games and watching road games on TV have tested the patience of the 1999 Cheyenne High product.

"I hate sitting over there. I wish I could play or find a way to help. I'm anxious to get out there," said Hunter, 21. "It hurts when you're just sitting there and we're losing to a team that we should probably beat.

"When you're not playing, you don't feel like you're part of the team. They go on road trips, and you're at home watching on TV. That's really hard."

Especially when he compares his current limbo to last season's lofty accomplishments. With Hunter averaging 9.2 points, leading the club in 3-point percentage (38.9) and playing the second-most minutes (24.8 per game), Georgetown went 25-8 and advanced to the NCAA West Regional semifinals before losing to Maryland 76-66.

Occasionally, he sees his old teammates on TV and watches with nostalgia.

"I've got a lot of friends still on that team and I want them to do well," Hunter said. "But it's gotten to the point where I hate watching college basketball on TV, because I'm not playing. I feel like I should be playing, but right now I'm more like a fan."

Practicing with the Rebels has buoyed Hunter's spirit, though his activity has been limited by a sore left foot. His presence, and that of fellow redshirt guard Jermaine Lewis, has boosted the tempo of workouts.

"You can see the energy pick up when J-Lew and I are out there -- and we're not even in shape," Hunter said. "That shows you how it helps your team to have guys who've played a couple of years. I think we could've made a big difference this year."

Coach Charlie Spoonhour hesitates to discuss Hunter because he doesn't want to shift the focus to next season. But he said recently, "I like the energy Demetrius and J-Lew have brought to practice. They bring a lot of intensity."

Mostly, though, Hunter finds pleasure and contentment in being with his 17-month-old daughter Destini and her mother Chenoa Hall, his longtime girlfriend and fellow UNLV student.

Though there was rumored friction between Hunter and Georgetown coach Craig Esherick, Hunter insists the foremost reason for transferring to his hometown school was to reunite his family. He had seen Destini infrequently since her birth on Aug. 15, 2000, shortly after his 20th birthday.

"I had to go back (to Georgetown) 10 days after she was born," Hunter said. "I didn't see her again until Christmas, and that was only for two days. I thought about it all of last season -- that I needed to be with her. It was something I felt I had to do. It wasn't a basketball decision. I had a great time at Georgetown."

Hunter transferred to UNLV as a walk-on in August and began getting acquainted -- for the first time, really -- with his daughter.

"When I first came home, I was like a stranger to her because she hadn't been seeing me," he said. "Now she really knows who I am, and it's a blessing to see her every day.

"It's amazing to think of all the things I would have missed out on. She's walking now and saying her ABCs, all kinds of stuff like that. If I was still away from home, I would have missed that. I already missed out on enough."

With Hunter and Hall carrying full class schedules, their families help to care for Destini.

"We've got a lot of family support," Hunter said. "They understand that her mother and I are trying to get through school right now, and they're willing to help out. That has been a blessing for all of us."

That freedom has allowed Hunter to concentrate on healing his feet and planning for next season, when he'll resume his career as a junior, likely in an all-Vegas backcourt with Cimarron-Memorial grad Marcus Banks.

Hunter said he's optimistic about the Rebels' future under Spoonhour.

"I think once everyone buys into the system he's putting in place, we'll be all right," he said. "I don't think everyone understands their role yet. Everyone's not going to be a 20-point scorer. We need someone to rebound, play defense and hustle -- someone who doesn't care about shooting or getting touches.

"At Georgetown, everybody who came into the game understood their role, and we had success. I've been in the (NCAA) Tournament twice and to get there two more years would be great."