The RJ Hunter Thread

JMAC3 · Post #1 » by **JMAC3** » Mon May 11, 2015 4:40 pm

Draft Express Profile-http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/R.J.-Hunter-65208/stats/

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w8697jZPtI[/youtube]

Can Somebody please make a Sig for my *ig haha

countryboi · Post #2 » by **countryboi** » Mon May 11, 2015 4:53 pm

the kid can shoot....he reminds me a bit of austin rivers but he is better shooter but his shot selection is really bad sometimes

JMAC3 · Post #3 » by **JMAC3** » Mon May 11, 2015 5:14 pm

I have to be honest, this is my guy going into the draft as of right now. I think he could be the answer for us at SG, especially if Herzonja is not available.

To me he is the type of player who proves to be successful at the NBA level...
1. Elite Skill- shooting
2. Basketball IQ/Lineage- Dad was college coach
3. Big time scorer in college/Used to being the man- Double teamed/went against other teams best defender
4. Good size for his position- 6-5, with 6-10 wingspan
5. Got better every season

To me he is a hybrid between Klay Thompson/Steph Curry/Kevin Martin

Watching him play he has room for improvement for sure, but that is always the case for players coming out of college. He needs to add strength to his frame, but he has good height and length for his position which allows him to get his shot off along with a lightning quick release. His shooting is easily his best skill and he can pull from anywhere on the court with confidence, he has Curry type range including off the dribble and he has the tendency to take and make a lot of heat check type jumpers.

He has a great step back move going to both his right and left that create space from his defender and allow him to rise up and hit jumpers. He will have to get better at putting the ball on floor and getting all the way to the rim at the NBA level, but he will have more room to operate at the NBA level because defense will not be able to help off as much.

The biggest differences between him and Devin Booker to me is that he was the man. He had to score 20-25 points every game to give his team a chance to win where Booker was expected to hit maybe 1-3 threes a game. The next thing that is a huge difference between them is that he is constantly being face guarded, having to run off screens to get the ball, and being the pick and roll ball handler being trusted to make the right decision. Most of Booker's shots are him on catch and shoot opportunities where his defender has helped off and he is shooting on a closing out defender. You will see very very few opportunities gifted to Hunter like that, which hurts his shooting percentages. He is constantly being draped by 1-2 defenders and not getting those "gimmie looks".

Those are the type of looks he will get in the NBA that he has not been luxuried at the college level. So yes he shot a worse percentage from the field in college than some other elite shooters. Just like Curry and Martin he came from a small school where he was counted on not only to score, but to make the mediocre players around him better each and every night. Even Klay Thompson came from a weak Basketball program where he was forced to take a lot of bad shots, now that he is in the NBA he is getting open looks and when he is forced into taking those ""bad looks" he is used to taking and making them just like Curry.

Of course it is not fair to have those type of expectations for a player coming into the draft to compare him to the NBA MVP, but he has a lot of the perceived weaknesses that Curry was titled with coming into the league (not strong, needs to work on ball handling, and played against weak competition). However, he has a ton of things working for him just like Curry did at the same time (lightning quick release, tournament success, limitless range, big time college scorer, chip on his shoulder being from smaller program, high BBIQ, gym rat, grew up around game because of father, and on the court antics).

Most people will mock this pick, because as of now he is considered a late 1st round pick by many "experts", but I look at the player and how I think they will project, not just where they are on Draft Express Mock draft. Don't be surprised when he interviews well, has a good combine and is a late riser into the top 12 pick consideration.

Post #4 » by **fatlever** » Tue May 12, 2015 4:56 pm

[tweet]https://twitter.com/chadfordinsider/status/598158337373376512[/tweet]

Post #5 » by **fatlever** » Tue May 12, 2015 4:58 pm

[tweet]https://twitter.com/chadfordinsider/status/598153526389313536[/tweet]

Post #6 » by **yosemiteben** » Tue May 12, 2015 4:59 pm

I'm not going to pitch a fit if we pick him, but I don't want him.

EwingSweatsALot · Post #7 » by **EwingSweatsALot** » Tue May 12, 2015 9:12 pm

yosemiteben wrote:I'm not going to pitch a fit if we pick him, but I don't want him.

Do you not want him at 9 or at all?

Post #8 » by **yosemiteben** » Tue May 12, 2015 9:17 pm

EwingSweatsALot wrote:
yosemiteben wrote:I'm not going to pitch a fit if we pick him, but I don't want him.

Do you not want him at 9 or at all?

Oh at 9 is what I mean. Not opposed to trading back, but I'm not as sold on him as others.

BuzzCat · Post #9 » by **BuzzCat** » Wed May 13, 2015 12:11 am

Feel like at 9 he may be a reach but would definitely like him on this team. Kid is gonna be good. If we can find a suitable trade to get back a couple spots if Hezonja isn't there, do it.
(first post)

Post #10 » by **Hawk Eye** » Wed May 13, 2015 12:29 am

At #9 this kid is definitely a reach. If Charlotte is sold on Hunter they should look to trade back into the early to mid 20's because that's where I realistically think Hunter will go. I'm sure you could move Marvin or some other bad contract with #9 to clear salary and still get your guy (Hunter).

Snidely FC · Post #11 » by **Snidely FC** » Wed May 13, 2015 12:37 am

What makes me especially like this kid for CHA runs from 5:40 to 7:40 of the Draft Express video:
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36dznrmdUYI[/youtube]
He is a good passer coming off screens, on the pick and roll - which would be great for the development of Zeller, Vonleh and Biz - and drive and kicks - helpful for spacing. That's why I think he'd be a good fit alongside Kemba.

Flip Murray · Post #12 » by **Flip Murray** » Wed May 13, 2015 2:37 am

The more I stare at these names and think about how bad most of these turd burglars are the more I think this might be the kid to take.

Post #13 » by **fatlever** » Wed May 13, 2015 3:06 am

It appears to me that there really isnt a ton of difference between the value of players in the 7 to 17 range in this draft (or something like that). The team shouldnt get caught up in trying to move back to a certain spot to pick a player + an asset. If have a player on their board they really like and most people have that player projected in the mid-teens (ex Grant, Booker, Dekker, Hunter), then they should not be hesitant to pick their guy at 9. Don't get cute. If that fall in love with Hunter, take him at 9 with no regrets.

On the flip side, if they have 5 guys they like equally, then that's when you trade down.

Don't get caught up in where guys are picked relative to where mocks have them going.

Post #14 » by **JDR720** » Wed May 13, 2015 3:48 am

I think Hunter at 9 will be a big reach. he is a early-mid 20's pick IMO. PJ can do anything RJ can do.

Liver_Pooty · Post #15 » by **Liver_Pooty** » Wed May 13, 2015 4:07 am

Hunter is going to show out in workouts, and I wouldn't mind at all if we took him at 9. Anything is better than Hairston and Lance at this point.

Liver_Pooty · Post #16 » by **Liver_Pooty** » Wed May 13, 2015 4:15 am

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXeor53iMiU&app=desktop[/youtube]

Post #17 » by **JDR720** » Wed May 13, 2015 4:38 am

Hunter intrigues despite physical nature
There wasn't a better story during the NCAA Tournament than the father-son duo of Georgia State guard R.J. Hunter and his father, Ron, Georgia State's coach. Ron's tough love and his son's responses all season were recognizable by dads and sons everywhere. But R.J. Hunter's shooting is not transferable.
R.J. Hunter didn't shoot it great much of the season -- 39.5 percent from the floor, 30.5 percent on 3s -- and went just 3 of 15 in Georgia State's mind-numblingly bad 38-36 Sun Belt Tournament finals win. But when you're the focal point of every opponent's defensive scouting report, every night, and you're not playing with multiple All-Americans, it can be difficult. Despite all that, Hunter led the Sun Belt in scoring at 19.7 per game (good for 20th overall nationally).

And the two-time Sun Belt Player of the Year made the Panthers' biggest shot of the season when it counted, and sent his dad down for the count in the process. That kind of insane range is going to get R.J. Hunter a look at the next level.
Everyone in the NBA, though, believes R.J. Hunter has to get much, much stronger to have a real chance. Listed at 190 pounds, Hunter compares to a Kevin Martin -- but Martin, as one scout pointed out, has frequently gotten to the basket and to the foul line throughout his NBA career. Hunter will have to do a lot of work in the weight room to get there.
"I've known R.J. since he was a little kid," one scout said. "But he's got to get stronger. He fared well in KD's camp against all the top guys this summer. But he's going to need some strength, and that's going to be important to him."
Skinny guys have done well in the NBA -- Reggie Miller seemed to hold up. And skinny guys that can shoot as well as Hunter will get the benefit of the doubt. "He can shoot and has a high basketball IQ," one Western Conference executive texted. "...An extremely poor man's Reggie Miller."
I think R.J. is going to be a 10-year pro. I think he's got a chance to be a lot better than people think.
– One scout's thoughts on Georgia State's R.J. Hunter

Said another scout: "he's a first rounder. He has to work on his physicality and has to get stronger, but he can really shoot. Decent size. Athletically you're going to want a little more from him, but from a skill perspective he's pretty good."
Those that like Hunter really like him.
"I think R.J. is going to be a 10-year pro," a scout said. "I think he's got a chance to be a lot better than people think. I liked him a lot last year. He certainly knows the game for a young man. I think he's going to be really good. I'm not saying Steph Curry good, but he has a chance to be a really good basketball player. If he was at Kansas, he'd be like a Ben McLemore. I think he's going to be like a Bradley Beal, and worst case, McLemore."

Radu_Hornets · Post #18 » by **Radu_Hornets** » Wed May 13, 2015 9:41 am

Reminds me of Steph Curry's shooting mechanic.

BlackOutBuzz · Post #19 » by **BlackOutBuzz** » Thu May 14, 2015 2:39 am

He's definitely been underrated for awhile. I kinda like his overall skillset more than Booker. Wouldn't mind at all if we took him at 9, though our best case may be a trade down and taking him a bit later.

Snidely FC · Post #20 » by **Snidely FC** » Fri May 15, 2015 1:45 am

The Georgia State scorer measured 6'4.5 with a 6'10.5 wingspan and a slender 185-pound frame. He's a bit heftier than a young Jamal Crawford, who measured 6'4.5 without shoes with a 6'10 wingspan and a 175-pound frame way back in 2000. Hunter's length gives him quite a bit of positional flexibility and will be very attractive to NBA teams when considering his outstanding shooting stroke and ability to pass the ball.