Recruiting: Tindley's Eric Hunter a name to know in 2018 class
Tindley sophomore Eric Hunter broke the school scoring record with 50 points in a 104-69 win at Washington on Thursday night.
That kind of production is not a fluke for the 6-2, 155-pound Hunter. He has scored more than 30 points in a game on four previous occasions this season and is averaging 26.4 points per game for the 14-4 Tigers, one of the top teams in Class A.
“I see him improving in every aspect,” Tindley coach Bobby Wonnell said. “He’s physically stronger and bulked up a little more than last year. He competes at both ends of the court. The thing I like most is that he gets defensive rebounds for us. One of the best things that can happen for us is for him to get a rebound and lead the break. He’s an ideal leader for this team.”
Tindley is coming off the program’s first sectional title a year ago. But while the Tigers play in a Class A sectional, the regular-season schedule is bulked up with bigger programs. Hunter scored 32 points in a win over 3A Manual, 24 in a loss to 4A Franklin Central, 34 in a win over 3A Cardinal Ritter and 31 in a loss to 2A Howe.
“He’s a handful to guard,” Wonnell said.
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Hunter is considered one of the top 2018 prospects in the state. His offer list so far includes IUPUI and Kent State, but Butler, Indiana and Purdue have all shown early interest. Others with interest include Ball State, IPFW, Bradley, Monmouth, Oakland, Saint Louis, West Virginia, Western Illinois and Xavier.
“That’s all I really know,” Hunter said of the schools recruiting him. “I’d rather not know. It’s school ball season so that’s what I’m really focused on.”
Hunter visited Butler for its game against St. John’s on Jan. 16, his most-recent visit. He’s also been to two IUPUI games and before the season visited Indiana and Xavier.
“A lot of the programs recruiting me like big scoring guards so that’s what they are talking about with me,” he said. “They want point guards who can score.”
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Hunter plays in the summer with the Gary Harris Elite AAU program, sponsored by the former Hamilton Southeastern/Michigan State star and 2012 IndyStar Mr. Basketball. Hunter keeps in contact with Harris and attended Harris’ game with the Denver Nuggets at the Pacers last weekend.
“I’ve always looked up to him,” Hunter said. “He tells me to keep my motor going and to keep being a leader.”
No offense to Harris, but he’s not Hunter’s biggest basketball role model. That would be former Pacer star Reggie Miller. Though Miller retired in 2005, when Hunter was just a kindergartner, he’s familiar with his game.
“He was the best scorer when he played,” Hunter said. “I watch a lot of YouTube and NBA Hardwood Classic.”
Tindley’s team is loaded with talented underclassmen. Sophomore Hunter White (12.9 ppg, 5.8 rebounds) and freshman K.J. Coleman (9.8 ppg) are the team’s leading scorers behind Hunter.
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“Obviously our goals are to get to state and win a state championship,” Hunter said. “That’s everybody’s goal. I think we are better than we were last year. We have better chemistry. We have some guys who have been together since the second or third grade.”
Hunter looks like a player who should put up big numbers over the course of his high school career (already closing in on 900 career points). He’s also averaging 7.3 rebounds, 3.4 steals and 2.6 assists this season.
“Team-wise, I want to get some rings,” Hunter said, when asked of his goals. “Personally, I’d like to be an Indiana All-Star, a Mr. Basketball contender. All of that stuff.”