MarchMadness_AS_0006552

Eric Hunter Jr. Season 2021-22

#2
PositionGUARD
Weight175 lbs
Height6-4
YearSenior
HometownIndianapolis, Ind.
Career Stats

2021-22

• Hunter Jr., had a strong season appearing in all 37 games with 19 starts, including the last 18 games of the year.
• Averaged 6.2 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game with 24 steals. Shot 46.2 percent from the field, 43.6 percent from long distance and 68.5 percent from the free throw line.
• Was much better in conference play, averaging 7.8 points per game while shooting 52.3 percent from the field and a Big Ten-best 53.5 percent (23-of-43) from 3-point range.
• Named to the Big Ten’s All-Defensive Team.
• Started his resurgence in a double-overtime win at Illinois (Jan. 17), scoring 11 points, going 3-of-4 from the field and 4-of-4 from the free throw line, all coming in the second half and overtime periods.
• Scored a career-high 20 points (8-of-11 FGs, 4-of-6 3Ps) in an 88-73 win over Minnesota (Feb. 2).
• Tallied 17 points in his final home game – a 69-67 win overt Indiana.
• Averaged 9.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists in his final six games against Indiana.
• Posted eight games of 10 or more points. Purdue was 8-0 in those games.

2020-21
• Appeared in 23 games with 22 starts, missing the first five games of the season with a knee injury suffered in preseason.
• Averaged 8.5 points, 2.8 assists and 2.2 rebounds per game in 30.5 minutes per contest.
• Shot 37.1 percent from the field and 80.9 percent from the free throw line. 
• Scored in double-figures in 10 games (8-2 record; 22-9 during career). 
• Scored in double-figures in five of first six games of the season, but then in just five of his last 17 games.
• Had a monster game in the Crossroads Classic against Notre Dame, scoring 18 points with eight assists, five rebounds and three steals agaisnt no turnovers. Also held Notre Dame's leading scorer, Prentiss Hubb, to zero points on 0-of-7 shooting.
• Scored 15 points in a late-season win against Michigan State. 
• Purdue is 17-5 during his career when he leads the team in assists.
• Led the team with 26 steals. 

2019-20
• Played in all 31 games, leading the team with 30 starts.
• Ranked second on the team in scoring (10.6 PPG), assists (82), steals (32) and 3-pointers made (43).
• Shot 41.5 percent from the field, 35.5 percent from long distance and 76.1 percent from the free throw line.
• His 8.4 points per game improvement from his freshman (2.2) to sophomore year (10.6) ranked fourth in the Big Ten.
• Led the team with 19 double-figure scoring games, posting a 12-7 record in those games. When Hunter Jr., failed to score 10 points, Purdue was 4-8. When he scored at least 12 points in a game, Purdue was 10-3.
• Tallied a career-high 19 points in a big road win over Iowa (March 3). Added three assists, three steals and two rebounds.
• Finished season by averaging 16.0 points per game over the last three outings (15-35 FGs; 15-20 FTs).
• Averaged 14.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game in two wins over Indiana, shooting 10 of 18 from the field.
• Scored 18 points in a road win at Ohio (6-9 FGs, 4-5 3Ps).
• Tallied 15 points and six assists in the season-opening win over Green Bay.
• Had 13 points and seven assists in a 104-68 win over Iowa (Feb. 5).
• Had two different streaks of four straight games in double-figures and ended the year with three straight double-digit efforts.
• Made a 3-pointer in 24 of 31 games, posting a 15-9 record in those games. Purdue was 1-6 when he didn’t make a 3-pointer.

2018-19
• Appeared in all 37 games, averaging 2.2 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game in 12.6 minutes per game.
• Posted an assist / turnover ratio of 1.86 (39 / 21), including an 8.00 ratio in NCAA Tournament play (8 / 1). 
• Averaged 2.3 points per game, 2.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game during NCAA Tournament play.
• Thrust into the starting spot in the NCAA Tournament after Old Dominion after a Nojel Eastern injury in pregame warmups. Hunter responded by scoring two points with four rebounds, three assists and a steal without committing a turnover in 24 minutes.
• Scored 10 points with three assists and three rebounds in his first career game, a win over Fairfield.
• Tallied a career-high 13 points with four assists in the win over Ohio.
• Dished out a career-high six assists with eight points and four rebounds in the win over Robert Morris.

HIGH SCHOOL
• Ranked as a 4-star shooting guard by Rivals, Hunter verbally committed to the Boilermakers on Sept. 25. 
• Chose Purdue over offers from Minnesota, Nebraska, Butler, Ohio State and Creighton. 
• Ended his prep career as the all-time leading scorer in Marion County and the No. 7-ranked scorer in Indiana history (2,584 points).
• Was named Indianapolis' City Player of the Year.
• Averaged 29 points, eight rebounds and three assists as a senior. 
• Named the Indy Star's Preseason City Player of the Year for 2017-18. 
• Led Tindley Prep to its first state title in school history after averaging 25.3 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game while shooting over 53 percent from 3-point range as a junior. 
• Was named the 2017 Indianapolis City Player of the Year. 
• Posted big games during his junior campaign, including a 40-point effort against eventual 3A state champion Crispus Attucks. 
• A lefty scorer, Hunter is effective on the offensive end from all over the court. 
• Has all the skills needed to be an outstanding defensive player. 
• Coach Bob Wonnell stated, "I enjoyed every bit about him -- the idea that our best player was our hardest worker from three years." 
• Chose Purdue because of the "family environment at Purdue and it's a great situation academically and athletically". 
• High school coach for his first three years was Bob Wonnell. Was coached by Marcel Bonds during his senior year.

PERSONAL 
• Majoring in selling and sales management.
• Born Jan. 23, 1999, in Indianapolis.
• Son of Eric Sr. and Bridgett Hunter. 
• Enjoys drawing and painting portraits. 

_2_Hunter_Jr_Eric

Sophomore
2018-19

GUARD
6-3 / 170 lbs
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Sophomore
2019-20

GUARD
6-4 / 175 lbs
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Junior
2020-21

GUARD
6-4 / 170 lbs