WS Chronicle

Photo by Timothy Ramsey

BY TIMOTHY RAMSEY

THE CHRONICLE

Mt. Tabor’s freshman JV guard Jordan Hunter has played the game this season with extreme poise and talent.  The young man has made the transition from middle school basketball to the high school level look easy. Hunter says he gained interest in basketball by watching Kobe Bryant play for the Los Angeles Lakers in the early 2000s. He said initially his first love was baseball but after watching Bryant play he sort of switched allegiances.

“I just started to fall in love with the game of basketball as I got older,” Hunter said.  “My uncle is an assistant college basketball coach so that brought me more into the game. Once I started getting into the swing of the game I was hooked.”

He says coming from middle school he had to make the adjustment of playing within a system. He says as a middle school player he had free reign to shoot as he pleased.  He said once he stepped foot on Mt. Tabor’s campus he learned quickly that is not the style of play coach Harrison implores so he made the necessary changes.

Hunter showcased his skills very well during the Lash/Chronicle tournament.  He displayed his defensive skills as he played terrific defense against Winston-Salem Prep’s Jalen Crawley, who is one of the best pure scorers on the JV level in the county.

“I like defense better because anyone can score on anybody but if you can shut somebody down, colleges look highly on that,” Hunter said.  “It’s especially good for me because I’m a two-way player, which means I can guard your best player and if he can’t guard me my level of play goes up.”

Willie Harrison, Mt. Tabor’s JV coach, says Jordan is a smart kid on and off of the basketball court. He says his work ethic is very good for a player his age.  Harrison says Jordan has matured tremendously since the beginning of the year and expects him to do well as he progresses in his career.

“The sky is the limit especially with his size, length and shooting ability,” Harrison continued. “If he puts effort and hard work into everything he does in life, he will reach the pinnacle of whatever he wants.”

Jordan’s mom says that Jordan has come such a long way as far has his attitude is concerned.  She says in years past he would let little things frustrate him and would mentally take himself out of the game.

“This year I have really seen a growth and maturity in him and he is trying to become a really good leader,” Mrs. Hunter said. “He is not as volatile as he was before.  His dad and I told him academics is first and basketball is second, so he will always be a student first.”

Mrs. Hunter says that she thinks Jordan is a better baseball player but thinks he can achieve any goal he wishes on the basketball court as long as his work ethic stays strong.

Jordan Hunter says he looks up to Lebron James, Kevin Durant and John Wall.  He says given his choice he would love to play college ball for Coach Mike Krzyzewski at Duke.

His favorite subjects in school are math and science.  He said he would like to become an engineer upon graduation.