Busting Brackets
Fansided

Hartford Basketball: In-depth look at Hawks senior forward Hunter Marks

By Bryan Mauro

Mar 19, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Hartford Hawks head coach John Gallagher yells out during the first half against the Baylor Bears in the first round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Hartford Hawks head coach John Gallagher yells out during the first half against the Baylor Bears in the first round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 3
Next
Hartford Basketball Hunter Marks Andrew Nelles-USA TODAY Sports
Hartford Basketball Hunter Marks Andrew Nelles-USA TODAY Sports /

The America East Conference is one of those smaller conferences that never truly get the respect they deserve. The conference has some of the biggest upsets in the NCAA tournament history when TJ Sorrentine led his Vermont Catamounts over Gerry McNamara and Hakim Warrick Syracuse Orange. That was the game that put the America East on the map and really jump-started the Vermont program.

Vermont is one of the premier mid-majors in the country and up until the last few seasons have dominated the conference. Every college basketball fan knows the story of the UMBC team who took down overall No. 1 seed Virginia in the NCAA tournament.

Outside of those two teams, the conference has a lot of individual talent and some well-put-together teams. UMass Lowell had one of the best scorers in the entire country with Obadiah Noel, New Hampshire had some of the best rebounders in the entire country, and then comes to Hartford, who had one of the best defensive teams in the country a season ago.

Hartford was finally able to finish the deal a year ago and found themselves in the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history. They were paired with the National Champion Baylor Bears in the first round and were overmatched but the Hawks were a very feel-good story last year.

The Hawks were a team who had their dreams crushed by the COVID 19 pandemic as they were ready to play Vermont for a chance to make their first NCAA Tournament before the season was canceled. Head Coach John Gallagher was able to rally his guys and run through the America East conference tournament and finally make the NCAA tournament.

Hartford has had a ton of success recruiting overseas and has built a good part of their current roster from outside of the US. Senior big man Hunter Marks is one of those players to arrive at Hartford from outside the US. The native of Australia is set to have a big season for the Hawks who are hoping they can make their last season in the Division 1 ranks a memorable one.

Home/Mid Major Conferences