De’Andre Hunter
A great shooter and brilliant defender with and NBA-ready frame and good size, De’Andre Hunter of Virginia was also critical to the team’s run to the national championship game.
Hunter was injured in the 2018 NCAA Tournament, which is almost certainly directly related to why Virginia was ousted in the first round by a 16-seed – the only #1 seed ever to lose in such humiliating fashion.
However, Hunter was healthy in this tournament, and it turned out well for Virginia, as his steady, mistake-free play helped to lead them to the ultimate redemption story – from bowing out versus a 16-seed to national champions.
Hunter’s three-point prowess was a key weapon for Tony Bennett’s Cavaliers and, for his career, Hunter is a 41.9 percent three-point shooter. Though the volume is not there with Hunter, his shot form is pure and easily portable to the NBA, as The Stepien’s shot chart shows that Hunter went 29 of 65 from NBA three-point range in college – good for a 44.6 percent clip.
Depending on where the Atlanta Hawks pick lands in the 2019 NBA Draft, the team might make Hunter a priority with either its own pick (between 1 and 9 overall) or, if he falls, the Mavs pick (between 9 and 13 overall).