ForumsThis edition of the VN Interview takes us to The Summit League. Coach Ron Hunter is entering his 15th season as the head man at IUPUI. The Jaguars figure to be in the thick of the conference race in ‘08-’09. Coach Hunter gained national acclaim for coaching a game in his bare feet to draw attention to Samaritan’s Feet, a charity that provides shoes to the poor in several countries. Thanks to IUPUI Sports Information Director Ed Holdaway for his invaluable help in coordinating the interview. I hope you enjoy.
1. VN-Which returning players do you expect to play key roles for you this season and how much impact do you expect your newcomers to have?
Coach Hunter-I think Gary Patterson will show that he’s one of the best shooting guards in The Summit League. He’s probably the best true shooter I’ve ever coached. Then, Jon Avery and Billy Pettiford will be counted on again this year. Billy’s versatility makes him a hard matchup and Jon is outstanding at finishing around the rim. Of this year’s recruits, I think we’ve got a really special one in Alex Young. I don’t want to compare him to George Hill, but he’s got the chance to be really, really special.
2. VN-What is the biggest challenge you face at IUPUI?
Coach Hunter-The biggest challenge I face is still recognition. We still go places where they don’t know what IUPUI stands for. It’s a lot better than it was when I first started here, but it’s not where we want to be yet. We’re still a work in progress in that regard.
3. VN-Describe the Samaritan’s Feet charity and how you became involved.
Coach Hunter-I got involved with Samaritan’s Feet through a mutual friend, Todd Melloh, who used to work with the Colts. He called me one night with the idea of coaching a game in my bare feet. To be honest, I thought he’d been drinking, before he explained to me what he was trying to do. It was a crazy idea, but I think it’s been a wonderful thing, what we’ve been able to do so far, and this is just the tip of the iceberg.
4. VN-How were your staff and players effected by what they saw on the Samaritan’s Feet trip to Peru?
Coach Hunter-Honestly, it was a life changing experience. I can’t even put into words what it meant to me and the guys that went with us. It’s something none of will ever forget. The hardest part was knowing we’d help a few hundred people a day, and knowing that there were another few hundred that we couldn’t begin to help.
5. VN-Have you been pleased by the number of your fellow coaches who have chosen to participate in Samaritan’s Feet?
Coach Hunter-I think getting the NABC to buy into it will be huge. Some guys have looked at me like I’m truly crazy when I’ve talked to them about it. I’m just happy to do my part and I think we’re gaining some steam. This deal with the NABC will be huge though.
6. VN- What is your position on the NABC’s stance on the recruitment of players prior to their entering high school?
Coach Hunter- To be honest, I don’t think it effects us that much. We’re not a program that’s offering scholarships to 7th and 8th graders and we never have been. We’re evaluating kids, but at our level, we’re not going to be getting commitments from kids that early like you see at a Kentucky or UCLA or North Carolina or Duke.
7. VN- How difficult has it been to forge an identity for IUPUI in a state where Indiana and Purdue are so established?
Coach Hunter- We’re not just competing Indiana and Purdue for an identity. We’re battling with the likes of Butler, Ball State, Valpo, and Indiana State in our own backyard. I think we’ve done a good job in carving out our own niche by recruiting Indiana and Indianapolis kids. Our state is known for playing good basketball, so we allow kids to stay in their own home state and play Division I basketball.
8. VN- What are your thoughts on some coaches calling for the elimination of the July recruiting evaluation period?
Coach Hunter- It’s almost as if we’re recruting year round now. I think if it’s eliminated, it’ll send the focus back to high school basketball and away from AAU basketball. At this point, it’s probably too big a business though. It might help me work on my golf game, but I don’t see that happening.
9. VN- How big of milestone for your program was having George Hill drafted by the Spurs?
Coach Hunter-You gotta understand, George has been the face of our program. Everyone on campus knew George, he’s never met a stranger. For him to be drafted by the Spurs is a lifelong dream. He and I talked about it when we were recruiting him and he’s always talked about playing in the NBA. More than anything, I think it validated him and it validated what out program is doing. We can produce NBA players here. He really set an example for IPS(Indianapolis Public School) and for IUPUI. I know we had a chance to be something special with him, but we’re going to be really good without him. We couldn’t be happier for him.
10. VN- Who do you envision being the top contenders in The Summit League in ‘08-’09?
Coach Hunter- Our league is going to be tough again this year. Oral Roberts will be good, Oakland is going to be good. North Dakota State has a great group coming back and could be considered the favorite. I think ORU is the team to beat, but it’s going to be even better, top to bottom.
We’ll be back soon with more VN Interviews. For more information on Samaritan’s Feet, go to www.samaritansfeet.org.
