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Brandon Hunter

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Brandon Hunter
Hunter playing for Napoli in 2006
Personal information
Born (1980-11-24) November 24, 1980 (age 43)
Cincinnati, Ohio
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight260 lb (118 kg)
Career information
High schoolWithrow (Cincinnati, Ohio)
CollegeOhio (1999–2003)
NBA draft2003: 2nd round, 56th overall pick
Selected by the Boston Celtics
Playing career2003–2013
PositionPower forward
Number56, 34
Career history
2003–2004Boston Celtics
2004–2005Orlando Magic
2005Sioux Falls Skyforce
2006Panathinaikos
2006Carpisa Napoli
2006–2007TDShop.it Livorno
2007–2008Angelico Biella
2008Capitanes de Arecibo
2008–2009Premiata Montegranaro
2009–2010Hapoel Jerusalem
2010–2011Aliağa Petkim
2011Ventspils
2011–2012BBC Bayreuth
2012–2013Hapoel Gilboa Galil
2013Entente Orléanaise
2013ALM Évreux Basket
2013Club Atlético Aguada
Career highlights and awards
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Brandon Hunter (born November 24, 1980) is an American former professional basketball player.

After a collegiate career with Ohio University, leading the NCAA in rebounding in 2002–03, he was selected as a 56th pick by the Boston Celtics in the 2003 NBA draft. He made his NBA Debut: January 9, 2004 for the Boston Celtics wearing number 56. After playing one season apiece for the Celtics and the Orlando Magic in the NBA, he started a nomadic playing career, mostly in Europe.

High school career

Hunter attended Withrow High School in his hometown of Cincinnati. With the Tigers he averaged 13 points and 11 rebounds as they reached the state semifinals during his junior year. He committed to Ohio, playing in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) of the NCAA Division I, prior to his senior year.

In 2017, Brandon was inducted into the Withrow Athletic Hall of Fame with Xavier product and NBA standout Tyrone Hill, Horace Pumphrey (football), Joe Brefeld (baseball, basketball, football) and Skyler Willis (volleyball, track).[1]

College career

Hunter ranked third for scoring (11.3 ppg) and second in rebounds (6.2 rpg) during his freshman year in 1999–2000, leading to a selection to the MAC All-Freshman Team.[2]

Playing more than nearly 33 minutes per game (first for the team), he finished in the conference top five for scoring (18.1 ppg) and rebounding (9.4 rpg, 23rd in nation). Good performances in the MAC Tournament, including a record 32 free throw attempts in three games, led to a selection to the All-Tournament Team, also making the 2001 All-MAC First Team.[2]

His junior season provided similar numbers, again leading the team in minutes, scoring (17.3 ppg) and rebounding (9.1 rpg, 41st in nation), with a successive All-MAC First Team selection. He declared as an early entry candidate for the NBA Draft in May 2002 but he did not hire an agent – retaining his eligibility – and declared he would withdraw if he wasn't considered "first-round material",[3] which he did later.

He reached his college career peak as a senior, leading the whole NCAA Division I in 2002–03 with 12.6 rebounds on average. Hunter added 21.5 points, 2.6 assists, 1.2 blocks and 0.8 steals on average, also leading the nation in doubles-doubles (24). Four MAC Player of the Week nominations would lead to his third consecutive All-MAC First Team selection, on par with former Bobcat Gary Trent, he also led his team in scoring and rebounding for the third season in a row.[2]

His career 1,103 rebounds and 2,012 points allowed him to join the exclusive 2,000 point, 1,000 rebound club. As of 2015 he ranks as the best rebounder in Ohio University history, the fifth best scorer, joint ninth best shot blocker (87), also ranking first in free throws made (561 out of 923, also first).[4]

Professional career

NBA

Hunter was selected as a second round draft choice (56th overall) by the Boston Celtics in the 2003 NBA draft. He played in the Reebok Pro Summer League with the Celtics, averaging 16.3 points (fifth for the league, second for the Celtics) and leading the celtics with 8.2 rebounds per game (third overall, ahead of Udonis Haslem and LeBron James) in 32.8 minutes per game (first for the Celtics), being named to the tournament first team alongside Devin Brown of the San Antonio Spurs and Donny Marshall of the New Jersey Nets. This led to him signing a contract with the Celtics in July 2003.[5]

He played his first NBA game on 9 January 2004, wearing the number 56 as a symbolic nod to his draft position. He played 36 games for the Celtics in his rookie season, averaging 3.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game in his rookie season. He played in 3 of the 4 games of the playoff series against the Indiana Pacers, who swept the Celtics in four games.

Hunter was left unprotected by the Celtics and was selected by the Charlotte Bobcats in the 2004 NBA Expansion Draft on 22 June 2004. He didn't play a season game for the Bobcats as he was traded to the Orlando Magic for Keith Bogans on 1 November 2004.[6] In Orlando he averaged 3.1 points and 2.2 rebounds on average in 31 games.

He was signed by the Milwaukee Bucks as a free-agent in September 2005 but was waived a month later. After a stint with the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the Continental Basketball Association Hunter moved overseas.

Brandon was then signed by the Cleveland Cavaliers on 3 October 2006 joining teammates LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal, playing in the NBA Summer League before being released two weeks later.

In 2007, he returned to the US and played in the 2007 Summer League for the New Jersey Nets

International

The American joined Panathinaikos of the Greek Basket League in 2006, playing in two league games and two Euroleague games, after a hand injury in one of the latter games, he was released.[7]

He then joined Carpisa Napoli of the Italian Serie A in March 2006.[7]

Returning to the U.S. after the end of the season, he was signed by the Cleveland Cavaliers on 3 October 2006, playing in the NBA Summer League before being released two weeks later.

Hunter then returned to Italy, signing with TDShop.it Livorno where he played for the 2006–07 season as Livorno finished last.

After a 2007 Summer League participation for the New Jersey Nets yielded no contract, he joined his third Serie A team, Angelico Biella where he played the whole Serie A season.

He joined Capitanes de Arecibo of the Puerto Rican Baloncesto Superior Nacional later in 2008, leaving in May over disagreements due to him attending tryouts in the U.S.,[8] he then played in the Summer League for the New York Knicks.

Hunter returned to Italy for the fourth consecutive year, this time with Premiata Montegranaro, he finished the 2008–09 season as the league's best rebounder.

He joined Hapoel Jerusalem of the Israeli Basketball Super League for the 2009–10 season, with Hapoel reaching the Final Four, whilst they also reached Europe's second tier Eurocup quarterfinals, with Hunter contributing two week MVP performances, in January,[9] and March 2010.[10]

Hunter joined Aliağa Petkim of the Turkish Basketball League, playing part of 2010–11 there before finishing the season with Latvians BK Ventspils.

In 2011–2012 he played with German side BBC Bayreuth in the Basketball Bundesliga.

Returning to Israel, he joined Hapoel Gilboa Galil, playing there until January 2013, when he joined French team Orléans Loiret Basket in the Pro A as an injury replacement player.[11] He stayed until April 2013, again signing as an injury replacement for French team ALM Évreux Basket, of the second division Pro B.[12]

A stint with Uruguayan champion Club Atlético Aguada of the Liga Uruguaya de Basketball from August to November 2013 was his last playing experience.

Coaching career

Hunter currently coaches in the Cincinnati area with the private coaching service CoachUp.[13]

Personal life

As of June 2015, Hunter works as a Real estate broker,[14] he also works as an NBPA certified sports agent.[15]

Hunter also still holds an endorsement contract with the basketball brand And 1.

See also

References

  1. ^ https://www.wcpo.com/news/insider/where-are-they-now-catching-up-with-former-withrow-ohio-university-star-brandon-hunter
  2. ^ a b c "Prospect profile: Brandon Hunter."NBA. Retrieved on 9 June 2015.
  3. ^ "Brandon Hunter declares early intentions for NBA Draft." Archived 2015-12-10 at the Wayback MachineOhio Bobcats, 14 May 2002. Retrieved on 9 June 2015.
  4. ^ "2014-15 men's basketball - History and records."Ohio Bobcats. Retrieved on 9 June 2015.
  5. ^ "Celtics sign second-round pick Hunter."Boston Celtics, 28 July 2003. Retrieved on 9 June 2015.
  6. ^ "Small Swap Between Magic and Bobcats."Yahoo! via RealGM, 1 November 2004. Retrieved on 9 June 2015.
  7. ^ a b Caratenuto, Angelo. "Hunter, a hard man with a heart is Napoli's last buy.", la Repubblica, 17 March 2006. Retrieved on 9 June 2015.(in Italian)
  8. ^ "The Capitanes release Hunter.", Primera Hora, 28 May 2008. Retrieved on 9 June 2015.(in Spanish)
  9. ^ "Week 5 MVP: Brandon Hunter, Hapoel Jerusalem."Eurocup, 6 January 2010. Retrieved on 9 June 2015.
  10. ^ "Quarterfinals, Game 1 MVP: Brandon Hunter, Hapoel Jerusalem."Eurocup, 25 March 2010. Retrieved on 9 June 2015.
  11. ^ "Brandon Hunter.", Orléans Loiret Basket, 29 January 2013. Retrieved on 9 June 2015.(in French)
  12. ^ "Brandon Hunter replaces Wood.", ALM Évreux Basket, 8 April 2013. Retrieved on 9 June 2015.(in French)
  13. ^ www.coachup.com/coaches/brandonh-7
  14. ^ "Team profile - The Hunter and Savage Group."Coldwell Banker West Shell. Retrieved on 9 June 2015.
  15. ^ "KMG sports management executive team." Archived 2015-06-09 at the Wayback MachineKMG sports management. Retrieved on 9 June 2015.
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