Thursday was a typical day of open gym runs for Ohio forward Brandon Hunter, but on this day he traded his green and white gear for the gold and blue of the Golden State Warriors.
Fresh off workouts for the Atlanta Hawks, Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors and Chicago Bulls, a weary Hunter returned to Athens for a last bit of preparation before the Chicago Draft Camp at Moody Bible Institute June 4-6.
"I knew how it was going to be, traveling, I do it with the school," Hunter said. "(Between workouts) I just go downstairs to the lobby, watch basketball and talk on my phone. I'm running up my phone bill."
Hunter's game resembled former Knicks forward Clarence Weatherspoon's, said Alex English, Hawks director of player development.
"Being undersized like (Hunter) is, he's going to have to be as tenacious as he is and very physical to compensate for lack of height," English said. "I would encourage every player that comes in here to work on his whole game because the NBA is a whole different level. If you've got one good thing, you've got to just enhance it."
Hunter said he feels like he's a combination of the many undersized forwards in the NBA.
"I try to get a blend of all those guys, Corliss (Williamson) offense, Malik's (Rose) defense, Clarence's (Weatherspoon) veteran game," Hunter said.
One Western conference director of player personnel could not offer any specifics, but spoke glowingly of Hunter, claiming he will be playing somewhere as long as he keeps getting looks.
"I just want to get my foot in the door, but I'm starting to get respect." Hunter said.
After the Chicago camp Hunter has workouts with Boston, New Jersey, Orlando, Utah, the Los Angeles Clippers, Houston and Washington, he said.
"Being on the road meeting Chris Mullin, Dominique Wilkins, Jerry West, it's hitting me," Hunter said. "After those workouts, it's draft time."
The first four workouts have been a success so far both mentally and physically, Hunter said.
"I think I'm quicker and have better ball skills," he said. "I can handle the ball better than anyone that I had in a workout. I know I'm definitely one of the better ball handlers at the power forward, but because I'm 6-foot-7-inches, I've got to do that."
Despite the fact most experts do not consider Hunter a first round pick, he said he still is holding out hope a team will choose him in the late stages of the round.
English said that confidence is another positive that will help Hunter during this process.
"It's always positive when a guy feels like he can contribute to your team," English said.
Hunter will be with friends and family in Cincinnati for the June 26 NBA Draft, hoping to get his foot in the door.
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Brandon Hunter
