Jaylin Hunter on being a rookie with Rob’s Riders, reveling in responsibility and more

The Leicester Riders have been able to rely on many incredible floor generals over the years, and rookie American guard Jaylin Hunter wants to add his name to those ranks as he embarks on his debut professional campaign.

Only two games into his tenure with Rob Paternostro’s Riders, the 6’0” playmaker has certainly started on the right foot as he leads his team in scoring (19 points per game) and assists (five dimes per contest) at this stage of the season, returning to action on Saturday night against the Surrey 89ers on the road.

We caught up with the Ohio University graduate to discuss his journey to the pro game and his aspirations for his debut Super League Basketball season.

“I was given a basketball pretty much as soon as I was born,” Hunter said.

“My dad is a college basketball coach back in the States and my mum always says that the only time I was quiet was when I was watching his games, so I guess I was hooked early and I obviously look up to my dad a lot and the players he had at the time, so I’ve had a deep love for it since a young age.

“My dad played collegiately at Duquesne and he’s been a coach at places like Georgetown, NC State, UConn, Nebraska, so I moved around a lot as a kid with him and my mum as he had all of these incredible opportunities and basketball has stuck with me through it all.

“The game definitely grounded me on and off the court as a kid and gave me incredible life experiences because I’ve connected with so many people all over America through basketball and now I’m getting to experience the game overseas as well, so I’m definitely grateful.”

Good habits start at home

Presenting as an old head on young shoulders with his level-headed nature, thus far the rookie American guard has looked unflustered by the professional game and the responsibility that comes with being the point guard for a team with the history of the Riders.

Hunter discussed where his confidence in such situations originates from, and how he’s embraced a leadership responsibility with his new roster.

“I love the responsibility that comes with this position, and that comes from my parents. My mum has always tried to teach me how to be a leader and take responsibility for things that may not always be in your control at an early age, but she taught me to have responsibility at home and built me to be that way on the court.

“It is important for me to have my teammates’ trust and for them to know I’m there to support everybody no matter what it takes, and I’m going to fight as hard as I can for them every time we step on the court.

“Playing as a point guard, it’s even more important to have that trust from my teammates because the ball is in my hands the majority of the time, but I feel like that trust has been built quickly across the board here in Leicester and it’s a part of why we’ve been pretty successful so far, that we all buy into each other without question.”

Setting sights overseas

Like every young college hooper, Hunter’s aspirations were aimed towards the NBA growing up, and his ambitions remain the same, however the 23-year-old detailed that in his latter years of NCAA basketball, aspects of the overseas game caught his attention as he pondered the next steps of his career.

“As I watched more of the overseas game in college, I felt more and more like this was something that was going to suit me. The IQ for the game, the passing, how every action is very crisp and precise is something that attracted me and suits my skillset.

“In the American game there’s a lot more emphasis on athleticism and physicality over technical detail and having that IQ, and that’s not to throw any shade because I love the NBA and the G-League, but it’s just an observation that the game over here is different and I feel like those differences suit my game more.

“I also pride myself on being a team-first guy that’s all about winning. I’d much rather have 0 points and win than 30 points and lose, and I want my teammates to feel confident and involved on the court, because it brings the best out of them as well, and I feel like we’ve hit that sweet spot from the beginning and we’re only going to get better as we continue to grow.”

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