Vincent Hunter (born August 5, 1994) is an American professional basketball player for Russian club Zenit Saint Petersburg of the VTB United League. He played college basketball for UTEP.

Vince Hunter
Hunter in February 2020
No. 32 – BC Zenit Saint Petersburg
PositionCenter / Power forward
LeagueVTB United League
Personal information
Born (1994-08-05) August 5, 1994 (age 30)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Listed height2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)
Listed weight101 kg (223 lb)
Career information
High schoolConsortium College Prep
(Detroit, Michigan)
CollegeUTEP (2013–2015)
NBA draft2015: undrafted
Playing career2015–present
Career history
2015–2016Reno Bighorns
2016Panathinaikos
2016–2017Avtodor Saratov
2017–2018Memphis Grizzlies
2017–2018Memphis Hustle
2018–2019AEK Athens
2019–2021Virtus Bologna
2021–2022Metropolitans 92
2022–2023UNICS Kazan
2023–presentZenit Saint Petersburg
Career highlights and awards
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

High school career

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Hunter attended Consortium College Prep, in Detroit, Michigan, where he was named team MVP as a senior, after averaging 26.5 points, 14 rebounds, four blocks and four steals per game, helping the team compile a 20–4 record.[1]

College career

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After graduating high school, Hunter joined UTEP,[1] where he played 67 games, starting 58, and averaged 13.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.4 turnovers, 1.4 assists and 1.0 steals per game, over two seasons. Among several college honors, he was named to the watch list of the Julius Erving Award, in his final season with the Miners, an honor that determines the top small forward at the collegiate level.[2] In April 2015, he declared for the NBA draft, following his sophomore season at UTEP.[3]

Professional career

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Reno Bighnorns (2015–16)

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After failing to be drafted in the 2015 NBA draft, Hunter joined the Philadelphia 76ers, for the 2015 Las Vegas Summer League.[4] He later agreed to terms with Sacramento Kings,[5] signing with the team for training camp on September 9, 2015.[6][7] However, he was later waived by the Kings, on October 15, after appearing in one preseason game.[8]

On November 2, he was acquired by the Reno Bighorns, of the NBA Development League, as an affiliate player of the Kings.[9] On November 13, he made his professional debut, in a 123–121 loss to the Los Angeles D-Fenders, recording 21 points, 17 rebounds and one assist, in 40 minutes.[10] On January 29, 2016, he was named to the West All-Star team, for the 2016 NBA D-League All-Star Game.[11] Hunter played his final game for Reno on February 16. In 32 D-League games, he averaged 21.8 points, 11.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.5 blocks per game.[12]

Panathinaikos (2016)

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Three days later, he signed with Greek club Panathinaikos, for the rest of the season.[13] In 14 Greek national league games with Panathinaikos, he averaged 2.9 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.[14] He also appeared in eight EuroLeague games, averaging 4.0 points and 1.9 rebounds per game.[15]

Avtodor Saratov (2016–17)

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In July 2016, Hunter joined the Los Angeles Clippers, for the Orlando Summer League, and the Memphis Grizzlies for the Las Vegas Summer League.[16] On September 26, 2016, he signed with the Chicago Bulls,[17] but was later waived on October 4.[18]

Five days later, he signed with the Grizzlies,[19] but he was waived again on October 20, after appearing in four preseason games.[20] On November 26, he signed with the Russian club Avtodor Saratov of the VTB United League.[21]

Memphis Grizzlies (2017–18)

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On August 23, 2017, Hunter was selected by the Wisconsin Herd, in the NBA G League expansion draft.[22] However, on September 11 that same year, Hunter signed a two-way contract with the Memphis Grizzlies, meaning that he could split time during the season between the Grizzlies and their own G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle, instead of the Herd. On January 13, 2018, he was waived by the Grizzlies.[23]

AEK Athens (2018–19)

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On January 22, 2018, he moved to Greek club AEK Athens, for the rest of the season.[24] With AEK, he won both FIBA Champions League, and the Greek Cup's 2018 edition. On July 22, 2018, Hunter signed a contract extension with AEK Athens, that would keep with the Greek club for another season.

Virtus Bologna (2019–2021)

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On July 22, 2019, he signed with Virtus Bologna of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA).[25] On 7 April 2020, after more than a month of suspension, the Italian Basketball Federation officially ended the 2019–20 season, due to the coronavirus pandemic that severely hit Italy.[26] Virtus ended the season first, with 18 wins and only 2 defeats, but the title was not assigned.[27] On 5 May, the EuroCup season ended.[28]

After having knocked out 3–0 both Basket Treviso in the quarterfinals and New Basket Brindisi in the semifinals, on 11 June 2021 Virtus defeated 4–0 its historic rival Olimpia Milano in the national finals, winning its 16th national title and the first one after 20 years.[29]

Despite having signed a two-year deal with Virtus after the end of the season, on 21 July 2021, the club exited from the contract when Hunter was suspended for three months for having tested positive for the banned drug THC, thereby violating the anti-doping sports code.[30][31]

Metropolitans 92 (2021–2022)

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On August 14, 2021, Hunter signed with Metropolitans 92 of the French LNB Pro A.[32]

Personal life

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Hunter is the son of Rachel Hunter. He has two brothers and one sister. One of his brothers, Matt, played college basketball at Central Connecticut State.[1]

Career statistics

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Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

Regular season

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2017–18 Memphis 4 0 1.9 .600 .8 .3 1.5

Domestic Leagues

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Regular season

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Legend
  GP Games played  MPG  Minutes per game  FG%  Field goal percentage
 3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage  RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game  BPG  Blocks per game
 PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high     Led the league

Note: Only games in the primary domestic competitions are included. Therefore, games in cup or European competitions are left out.

Year Team League GP MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2017–18 A.E.K. GBL 12 15.4 .635 .358 .737 2.8 .3 .5 1.0 9.0
2018–19 A.E.K. GBL 26 25.0 .561 .125 .634 5.7 1.4 1.5 .7 13.3

FIBA Champions League

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[33]

Denotes seasons in which Vince Hunter won the FIBA Champions League
Year Team GP MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2017–18 A.E.K. 8 16.3 .636 .577 4.4 .1 .9 1.5 8.9
2018–19 A.E.K. 18 26.3 .663 .618 8.1 1.7 1.3 1.1 18.0

Awards and accomplishments

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Pro career

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Individual

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Vince Hunter Bio". UTEPAthletics.com. Archived from the original on May 13, 2016. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  2. ^ Dauster, Rob (February 18, 2015). "Julius Erving Award watch list for nation's top small forward". NBC Sports. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  3. ^ "Report: UTEP forward Vince Hunter to declare for NBA draft". Sports Illustrated. April 9, 2015. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  4. ^ "Sixers Announce 2015 Summer League Information". NBA.com. June 30, 2015. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  5. ^ "Sacramento Kings Sign Vince Hunter". ARoyalPain.com. August 14, 2015. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  6. ^ "2015–16 NBA Transactions". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  7. ^ "2015–2016 Sacramento Kings Transactions History". RealGM.com. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  8. ^ "Kings Waive Henderson & Hunter". NBA.com. October 15, 2015. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
  9. ^ "Bighorns Announce 2015–16 Training Camp Roster". OurSportsCentral.com. November 2, 2015. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
  10. ^ "Harris Pours in 39 as D-Fenders Win Down-to-the-Wire Season Opener Over Bighorns". NBA.com. November 13, 2015. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
  11. ^ "Sixteen NBA Veterans Headline Rosters for NBA Development League All-Star Game Presented By Kumho Tire". NBA.com. January 29, 2016. Archived from the original on February 7, 2017. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
  12. ^ "Vincent Hunter D-League Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  13. ^ "Greens add Hunter for the remainder of the season". Euroleague.net. February 19, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  14. ^ "VINCE HUNTER". baskethotel.com. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  15. ^ "HUNTER, VINCE". Euroleague.net. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  16. ^ "Grizzlies announce NBA Summer League 2016 roster". NBA.com. July 5, 2016. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  17. ^ "BULLS FINALIZE TRAINING CAMP ROSTER". NBA.com. September 26, 2016. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
  18. ^ "Bulls waive Vince Hunter". Sportando.com. October 4, 2016. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  19. ^ "Grizzlies sign Vince Hunter". NBA.com. October 9, 2016. Retrieved October 9, 2016.
  20. ^ "Grizzlies waive Chris Crawford & Vince Hunter". NBA.com. October 20, 2016. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  21. ^ "Avtodor Saratov adds Marquis Teague and Vince Hunter". Sportando.com. November 26, 2016. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
  22. ^ "2017 NBA G League Expansion Draft Results". NBA.com. August 23, 2017. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
  23. ^ "Grizzlies sign Myke Henry to two-way contract". NBA.com. January 13, 2018. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
  24. ^ "AEK signed Vince Hunter". eurohoops.net. January 22, 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  25. ^ "Virtus Bologna announces Vince Hunter". Sportando. July 22, 2019. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  26. ^ Italian Basketball Federation officially ends LBA 2019–20 season, Sportando
  27. ^ Italian Basketball president Petrucci announces that LBA title won’t be assigned, Sportando
  28. ^ Basketball’s EuroLeague cancels season because of virus, Washington Post
  29. ^ Virtus, sei magnifica! Bologna, scudetto dopo 20 anni, Milano schiacciata 4–0, Gazzetta dello Sport
  30. ^ COMUNICATO VINCENT HUNTER, Virtus Segafredo Bologna
  31. ^ "Virtus Bologna releases Vince Hunter after failed drug test". Eurohoops. July 21, 2021.
  32. ^ "Metropolitans agrees to deal with Vince Hunter". Sportando. August 14, 2021. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  33. ^ "AEK at the Basketball Champions League 2017–2018".
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