Sun Belt: Projecting the Impact of RJ Hunter Entering the NBA Draft
Despite a tournament run that included only a single victory, the unquestioned darlings of this year’s NCAA Tournament were the upstart Georgia State Panthers. During the tournament’s opening weekend, the nation specifically fell in love with the father and son duo of Coach Ron and star player R.J. Hunter. On the court, R.J. dazzled with his long (emphasis on the word long) range shooting. Off the court, Ron endeared himself to the nation with his relentless positivity and charisma.
However, in college basketball, all good things have a shelf life that often expires quicker than we would like. Just weeks after entering the general consciousness of college basketball fans, the Cinderella story coming from Atlanta has given way to the business of the game.
ESPN sources have revealed that R.J. will be forgoing his senior season to enter the NBA Draft. He is currently projected as a mid-to-late first round draft pick, and could see his stock rise considerably during pre-draft workouts. Losing R.J. will be a blow to the Georgia State program, but the ramifications of his decision trickle throughout college basketball.
More from NBA Draft News
- NBA Draft 2023: Overall takeaways and key grades from draft results
- 10 players most likely to succeed from 2023 NBA Draft
- NBA Draft 2023: 5 underrated NCAA Basketball players to watch
- NCAA Basketball: Top 50 players from 2023 NBA Draft most likely to succeed
- NCAA Basketball: Analyzing the key 6 teams for 5-star forward Jarin Stevenson
- With R.J. gone, the Panthers may not be the team to beat in next year’s Sun Belt Conference title race. With Hunter back in tow to team with Kevin Ware and Indiana transfer Jeremy Hollowell, the Panthers would have been frontrunners in the Sun Belt for the third straight year. Minus R.J., next year’s team probably takes a backseat to Louisiana-Monroe as the conference favorite. The Warhawks will return three starters from a team that is currently in the finals of the CBI.
- No more R.J. at Georgia State could possibly mean no more Ron at Georgia State. Coach Hunter’s name has been thrown into every coaching search that seems to be taking place around the country. While Greg Marshall and Shaka Smart top everyone’s list, only two schools will walk away with those prizes at the end of the process. Those who are looking to make a splash may then turn to Hunter while his name is red hot. Based on talent and results, Hunter should have been a power conference coach long ago. His work at IUPUI was very underrated, and he has done well after taking a step up to the Sun Belt. Hunter surely would not have left his son at Georgia State to take a job elsewhere, but with R.J. pursuing the NBA, Ron is now free to entertain the offers that will surely head his way.
- The potential job opening at Georgia State would immediately become one of the more intriguing mid-major positions on the carousel. The climate of the university’s athletic program has been trending upward for quite sometime, especially since adding a FBS football program that is currently playing in the Georgia Dome. The school features a massive undergraduate student body and is located in a booming metropolitan area (Atlanta). All the pieces are in place for sustained excellence at Georgia State. Having to replace Ron would be one of the administration’s most important decisions. Hopefully, the decision makers at GSU have considered this scenario and are prepared to take action. Riding high off of this season’s tournament success, this would be an ideal opportunity to lure household name to Atlanta to continue what Hunter has started to build.