The state’s assist leader is nearing a college decision.
Silver Creek senior guard Brandon Hunter, one of the top playmakers in the class, has taken official visits to Western Kentucky, Indiana State and Belmont and will wrap up his final official visit to Miami of Ohio on Monday.
The 6-3 Hunter plans to make a decision sometime after his trip to Miami, likely in the next week or two.
“I like all three (that I’ve visited so far) and all four are great options,” Hunter said. “It’s going to be a hard decision. I definitely want to go somewhere where I’ll be able to play right away. I don’t want to go somewhere I’ll have to sit for a couple years because I want to start playing.”
Hunter has been the table setter for Silver Creek going back to his freshman season, already with 663 career assists. He averaged 10.5 assists per game last season for the Dragons, who were ranked No. 1 in Class 3A most of the year before falling to eventual state champion Cathedral 73-68 in the semistate championship.
Though his job as point guard will be similar on this year’s team, Silver Creek’s roster looks significantly different after the graduation of three of the other four top scorers in Indiana All-Star Dane Caldwell (Richmond), Kasen Daeger (Stony Brook) and Dane Sprigler. But there is still plenty of talent around Hunter, who averaged 12.0 points and 5.9 rebounds as a junior, including 6-8 senior Lucas Linderman.
“We’re missing all three of those (graduated) seniors obviously,” Hunter said. “Evan (Renn, a junior) is going to come in take a huge role in 3-point shooting as he gets used to the pace of varsity basketball. Lucas is going to come in and play a huge role. I feel like he has major upside, too. He made a huge jump from last year to this year. I think he’s going to be even better as his experience goes on. Aiden Makun (a junior) as well. He’s a young guy, but he’s figuring stuff out and he’s going to be very talented as well.”
It can be tricky to commit to a college in this transfer portal world with rosters constantly in flux. Hunter said he is looking for a program that looks like it will have stability moving forward.
“I want the coach to be there,” he said. “I don’t want any changes because once you make a decision and the coach changes, your contract gets taken and then you are in trouble in the spring.”
Hunter said his passing ability started as a younger player who was just looking to make an impact playing up with older players and opponents.
“I figured passing is something I could do because I’m not going to be the biggest, strongest, fasted kid out there,” he said. “I can get my teammates involved. It makes me look good and teammates look good as well. I care about that number (assists) more than any other number. That and rebounding. The points will come as they come.”
Hunter said he is looking to get locked into a college decision so he can focus on playing with his AAU team through July and get ready for his senior season at Silver Creek.
“I’m trying to get it over before July starts so I can play July and my high school season and not have to worry about any of that,” he said.
Though this will be a team with some inexperience, Silver Creek should again be one of the top teams in Class 3A. There are high standards for Brandon Hoffman’s program, which won 3A state titles in 2019 and 2021.
“That’s always the goal here at Silver Creek,” Hunter said. “We play to a certain standard here. It definitely stung not winning it last year because we were the favorites. We had the talent to win it but things didn’t go our way. We’re not as talented this year but the way we move the ball, the way we pass, and the way we’re together as a team makes up for all the talent we lost.”
Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649. Get IndyStar’s high school coverage sent directly to your inbox with the High School Sports newsletter. And be sure to subscribe to our new IndyStarTV: Preps YouTube channel.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: ‘Going to be hard decision.’ Silver Creek guard Brandon Hunter closes in on college pick
Reporting by Kyle Neddenriep, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Kyle Neddenriep, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
