UMaine signs St. Anthony’s swingman Hunt

Terry Hunt, a 6-foot-3 swingman out of St. Anthony’s High School in Jersey City, N.J., has become the third basketball player since Nov. 14 to sign an NCAA letter of intent to play for the University of Maine next year.

Hunt joins 6-10 center Reggie Smith of Waterstown, Wis., and 6-foot point guard Casey Arena out of Bishop Fenwick High in Peabody, Mass., as early signees at Maine.

“He’s the kind of player I think will be very good down the road,” said Maine head coach Rudy Keeling, assessing Hunt Monday. “He’s still growing and still developing. He’s a very good athlete. I think he’s a steal. We got him early.”

According to St. Anthony’s head coach Bob Hurley, who runs a nationally recognized schoolboy program, Maine is getting a player with unlimited potential.

“Maine’s catching him at the stage where he’s just getting off the launching pad,” said Hurley. “At the college level, as he gets physically stronger, he’s going to be a very fine player.”

Hurley said Hunt’s experience has been confined mostly to junior varsity to date. But he expects the senior, who has grown two inches in the past year and was 5-5 as a freshman, to be a significant contributor as a senior.

“He’s a Scottie Pippen-type player,” said Hurley. “He gets off his feet real well. He can block a shot or get a defensive rebound and he’s capable of being the middle man on the break. I don’t know if he’ll start for us, but I know he’ll play a good deal.”

Hunt, who ranks fifth academically in a class of 80, chose Maine despite also being recruited by William & Mary, Holy Cross, St. Peter’s, Fordham, and Lafayette.

“I felt most comfortable on campus there, both with the players and the students,” said the 17-year-old. “I also felt most comfortable there playing-wise with the team.”

Hunt said he believes he can play either forward or guard in college.

“I just want to contribute where I’m needed,” he said. “I think I can help at both positions.”

Keeling said Hunt’s signing would have finished his recruiting for the year had not sophomore forward Tim Dennis left the team for personal reasons last week. Now, Keeling and assistants Mike LaPlante and Scott Benzie will continue to search for a forward.