Virginia Basketball: 2019 NBA Draft profile of forward De'Andre Hunter

Virginia Basketball: 2019 NBA Draft profile of Cavaliers forward De’Andre Hunter

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - MARCH 22: De'Andre Hunter #12 of the Virginia Cavaliers celebrates after a play in the second half against the Gardner Webb Runnin Bulldogs during the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Colonial Life Arena on March 22, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 08: De’Andre Hunter #12 of the Virginia Cavaliers is defended by Jarrett Culver #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the second half during the 2019 NCAA men’s Final Four National Championship game at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 08, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Strengths of Hunter

Hunter showed how vital he was to Virginia’s success with the 27-point nine rebound effort he gave them in the national championship game. Hunter has a few strengths that scouts are looking for, he is a mature forward that has a good understanding of the game, plays under control, letting the game come to him who gives maximum effort at both ends of the floor.

Hunter shows the promise to be an elite defender at the next level, at 6-7 with a 7-2 wingspan and adequate footwork, Hunter has shown the ability to switch 1-5 if necessary, which is the kind of versatility that teams are looking for in today’s NBA.

On the offensive end, the sophomore has developed a solid mid-range game and his perimeter game took a big jump this past season, having shot 43.8% from deep, up from 38% as a freshman, and that growing confidence showed taking 50 more threes than he did in his first year. Hunter has deferred to others offensively so he a team’s offense doesn’t have to run through him, but as the national title game showed, he can efficiently put up big numbers. That upside and his defensive prowess should see Hunter getting drafted very early.

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