Georgia State guard R.J. Hunter has been selected by the Boston Celtics with the 28th pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. Hunter became a household name in the 2015 NCAA Tournament by leading the Panthers to a come-from-behind upset victory over the No. 3-seeded Baylor Bears, capped off by a game-winning three-pointer in the final seconds.
2015 NBA Draft picks: Boston Celitcs select R.J. Hunter
He was taken No. 28 overall.
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Hunter had some offers from bigger schools coming out of high school, but he ultimately chose to go to Georgia State shortly after his father, Ron Hunter, was hired as head coach. R.J. was a big-time scorer throughout his college career, averaging 16.9 points as a freshman and then raising his scoring average in each of the next two seasons. He averaged 19.5 points in his junior season and led the Panthers to the Round of 32 before losing to Xavier.
Hunter has ideal size for a shooting guard at 6’6 with a nearly 6’11 wingspan, and he’s a solid passer and ball handler in addition to being an excellent shooter. His three-point percentage dipped under 30 percent as a junior on over seven attempts per game, but that can be explained by all the defensive attention placed on him. He needs to add some strength and isn’t the most explosive athlete, but he should be able to carve out a niche in the NBA thanks to his offensive skills.
In Hunter, the Celtics get one of the best shooters in the draft, and a player who projects to be a legitimate scorer in the NBA. Boston may already have a ton of guards on the roster, but Hunter is the best shooter and scorer of the bunch. At 6’6, he can also guard multiple positions. Of course, there is a chance that Hunter ends up being shipped off somewhereelse in a trade. Either way, he’s a great asset for the Celtics to have.
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