Just to keep a basketball presence here this time of year, we’re doing a quick little player-by-player series on Purdue’s eight returnees, leading into the off-season, which essentially begins when players return and newcomers arrive in June.
We’re calling Off-Season Agenda, because why not.
Today (and we’re going in no particular order at all): Eric Hunter
Prior Agendas: Nojel Eastern
Review: As a freshman, Hunter played a far more important role for Purdue than his numbers or otherwise-tangible impact might suggest because he logged really important minutes for Purdue at a position where it wasn’t especially flush with options. He was essentially Purdue’s No. 2 point guard. Obviously, Purdue had the ball in Carsen Edwards’ hands a lot in a ball-handling role, so the importance of point guard minutes, per se, was offset somewhat, but it was more about guard minutes, period, and Hunter, Nojel Eastern, Ryan Cline and Edwards were really Purdue’s only ball-handler types at the position, so every guy mattered.
The jump from one level of basketball to another was clearly a pronounced adjustment for Hunter, not just in the level of play, but the athleticism and size involved, but also by his own admission the transition from high school star to college role player. He was one of the young guys who helped Purdue transform mid-season by coming to an understanding regarding roles, and such, and in his case, it had a lot to do with defense.
Here’s our story on that very topic from the end of January.
https://purdue.rivals.com/news/purdue-basketball-young-players-embracing-roles
As the season wore on, Hunter seemed to settle in, appearing much more calm and comfortable at the end of the season than he was the beginning — obviously — and maybe one of the best things that could have happened for him in the long run was the Old Dominion debacle, in which Eastern suffered a mock-Achilles rupture in pre-game warmups — he was fine — and Hunter was thrown into the starting five literally moments prior to his first NCAA Tournament. He didn’t just get through it that game, he played legitimately well, perhaps, all things considered the best he played all season.
It stands to reason to suggest that give him confidence moving forward as he improves, and Purdue will want him to, because at the end of the day the numbers probably are not what it envisioned when it recruited him. Purdue recruited him to score, and though it didn’t need him to this season, he is a way better player and shooter than his 11-of-47, 3-of-23-from-three results from the Big Ten season suggest.
Upcoming Role: That depends on his improvement, but also some moving parts.
For one thing, does Purdue use him off the point more? He was recruited as a combo guard, but played primarily the point guard position last season, though from a responsibility perspective, Edwards handled much of that role, in effect. Point is, if Purdue uses him more multi-positionally, that would mean more potential opportunities for minutes, in theory at least, and with Isaiah Thompson coming in, that gives Purdue another option at the 1.
Also, does Purdue use Eastern multi-positionally more in order to leverage matchups or optimize lineups? If it does, that opens up point guard minutes for Hunter or Thompson that might not have otherwise been available.
But the most important part of it lies with Hunter and his development.
Purdue has a nice track record of players making significant jumps as sophomores, and such a thing would be an especially welcomed sight with Hunter, because he’s not just a player who can help Purdue win now, but also potentially a really important part of its future.
Off-Season Emphases: Hunter joins Trevion Williams as returnees who stayed on campus for May to get their off-seasons started, as he did a year ago when he enrolled especially early.
Obviously, Hunter is never going to be Eastern from a physical perspective, but strength and bulk have to be significant emphases, obviously.
But the reality seems to be that Hunter’s potential progress may line in becoming a more assertive, confident player than it does anything that can be achieved in the gym or weight room during a summer, though the two things may not be entirely mutually exclusive.
We’re calling Off-Season Agenda, because why not.
Today (and we’re going in no particular order at all): Eric Hunter
Prior Agendas: Nojel Eastern
Review: As a freshman, Hunter played a far more important role for Purdue than his numbers or otherwise-tangible impact might suggest because he logged really important minutes for Purdue at a position where it wasn’t especially flush with options. He was essentially Purdue’s No. 2 point guard. Obviously, Purdue had the ball in Carsen Edwards’ hands a lot in a ball-handling role, so the importance of point guard minutes, per se, was offset somewhat, but it was more about guard minutes, period, and Hunter, Nojel Eastern, Ryan Cline and Edwards were really Purdue’s only ball-handler types at the position, so every guy mattered.
The jump from one level of basketball to another was clearly a pronounced adjustment for Hunter, not just in the level of play, but the athleticism and size involved, but also by his own admission the transition from high school star to college role player. He was one of the young guys who helped Purdue transform mid-season by coming to an understanding regarding roles, and such, and in his case, it had a lot to do with defense.
Here’s our story on that very topic from the end of January.
https://purdue.rivals.com/news/purdue-basketball-young-players-embracing-roles
As the season wore on, Hunter seemed to settle in, appearing much more calm and comfortable at the end of the season than he was the beginning — obviously — and maybe one of the best things that could have happened for him in the long run was the Old Dominion debacle, in which Eastern suffered a mock-Achilles rupture in pre-game warmups — he was fine — and Hunter was thrown into the starting five literally moments prior to his first NCAA Tournament. He didn’t just get through it that game, he played legitimately well, perhaps, all things considered the best he played all season.
It stands to reason to suggest that give him confidence moving forward as he improves, and Purdue will want him to, because at the end of the day the numbers probably are not what it envisioned when it recruited him. Purdue recruited him to score, and though it didn’t need him to this season, he is a way better player and shooter than his 11-of-47, 3-of-23-from-three results from the Big Ten season suggest.
Upcoming Role: That depends on his improvement, but also some moving parts.
For one thing, does Purdue use him off the point more? He was recruited as a combo guard, but played primarily the point guard position last season, though from a responsibility perspective, Edwards handled much of that role, in effect. Point is, if Purdue uses him more multi-positionally, that would mean more potential opportunities for minutes, in theory at least, and with Isaiah Thompson coming in, that gives Purdue another option at the 1.
Also, does Purdue use Eastern multi-positionally more in order to leverage matchups or optimize lineups? If it does, that opens up point guard minutes for Hunter or Thompson that might not have otherwise been available.
But the most important part of it lies with Hunter and his development.
Purdue has a nice track record of players making significant jumps as sophomores, and such a thing would be an especially welcomed sight with Hunter, because he’s not just a player who can help Purdue win now, but also potentially a really important part of its future.
Off-Season Emphases: Hunter joins Trevion Williams as returnees who stayed on campus for May to get their off-seasons started, as he did a year ago when he enrolled especially early.
Obviously, Hunter is never going to be Eastern from a physical perspective, but strength and bulk have to be significant emphases, obviously.
But the reality seems to be that Hunter’s potential progress may line in becoming a more assertive, confident player than it does anything that can be achieved in the gym or weight room during a summer, though the two things may not be entirely mutually exclusive.
