[Moderated by Matt Jones]


Are you ready for the newest YouTube phenomenon that could one day very soon end up a UK player? Well if so, then meet 2008 point guard, Durham, NC’s Hunter McClintock. If you watch the videos below, you will see why people are calling him the “new Pistol Pete”, hyperbole yes, but the kid has skills….and it looks as if UK has noticed. I just spoke with his father who told me that Coach Gillispie invited Hunter to the UK Elite Camp on June 8th and 9th and said he was “extremely interested in what he had seen from Hunter.” According to his father Chuck, “Gillispie said they were juggling a lot of balls in the air and didnt know what the scholarship situation would be but that by the time of the camp they should know.” In recent weeks, Gonzaga, Air Force, Boston College and Virginia have called and UNC has said that they dont want him to make any decision without first contacting the school.
However dont think that even if UNC called, Hunter couldnt still end up a Cat. His father said, “Kentucky is in my mind, the #1 basketball state in the country.” He rattled off the names of UK greats that he loved from Cliff Hagan to Louie Dampier to Cotton Nash to Jamal Mashburn. He said that Hunter also loves Kentucky and is hoping to hear good news from them. Hunter has played basketball with Dwight Perry and Jared Carter (when he lived in North Carolina) and knows some of those guys well. If he doesnt receive an offer this summer, he will attend Patterson Prep High, but he is hoping to go to a school this year and it is clear that Kentucky would be a presumptive favorite. I can tell you that Bobby Perry has been raving about the kid for some time and it looks like the UK folks are getting interested. See for yourself…..
From a 39 Point game in January…..
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May 21st, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Hey Matt bozich is spreading UK hate again.
May 21st, 2008 at 2:16 pm
I’m sorry francis is spreading the hate on bozichs’ show.
May 21st, 2008 at 2:19 pm
How tall is this kid?
May 21st, 2008 at 2:22 pm
3 - 6′2″
I think this kid is going to be a player. He may not be able to jump out of the building but he has mad dribbles and a nice jumper. From the articles I have read, he seems to have a good work ethic.
May 21st, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Don’t know if this has been mentioned in a previous post or anything but I saw the rankings for the 2008 recruiting classes. Kentucky came in at 19. 5 SEC teams ahead of them in the rankings. And Tubby made an appearance at the 25 spot.
Here’s the link. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/basketball/mens/columns/stor y?columnist=williams_antonio&id=3405529
May 21st, 2008 at 2:24 pm
He seems to be moving much quicker than the rest of the people on the floor, yet completely in control. I wouldn’t care if he’s 5′8″, he looks like a great floor general. Hope he becomes a Wildcat.
May 21st, 2008 at 2:25 pm
They said in another thread 6 2.
May 21st, 2008 at 2:26 pm
What grade is this kid in?
May 21st, 2008 at 2:31 pm
he’ll be an incoming freshman if offered
May 21st, 2008 at 2:32 pm
He’s a senior;
May 21st, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Why hasn’t this kid signed with anyone yet?
May 21st, 2008 at 2:40 pm
He’s the Professor from the And1 tour.
May 21st, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Been a long time since I’ve seen ball handling skills like that in a High School kid; of course we’re seeing “highlights” in the clips..tho….
May 21st, 2008 at 2:42 pm
I am a firm believer that the difference between these kids (a dime a dozen) and the stars of the game is confidence, and this ki looks like he has confidence. You dont need to be cocky by any means, but you have to be confident. I will tell you right now that Preston Lemaster was every bit as good as Cameron Mills, and Ravi Moss, the reason why he was not as successful was b/c he never got to build his confidence. If this kid can come in and get some PT and build confidence at the collegiate level, then he will be a good player.
May 21st, 2008 at 2:43 pm
not to mention he can jostle with the best of them
May 21st, 2008 at 2:44 pm
12) Good comparison; if this kid is a 1*, then I have little faith in the recruiting sites…& I didn’t have much to begin with. The kid obviously can handle the rock and his release is lightning quick–scout & rivals probably would have labeled Pistol Pete Maravich a 1* too.
May 21st, 2008 at 2:46 pm
this kid is going to have the nickname “the King of the Crossover”
May 21st, 2008 at 2:48 pm
If he is a senior, why would he go to Patterson Prep high? Is this school for people who have graduated high school and are preparing for college?
May 21st, 2008 at 2:48 pm
“If Coach would’ve put me in the game, we would have won the State Championship! I can throw a ball over them there mountains. Watch this” Picks up steak off Kip’s plate, and throws it at Napoleon on bike, striking him in the head. “That’s what I’m talking about!” Uncle Rico
May 21st, 2008 at 2:48 pm
After watching these new videos one thing is clear, this kid is EXTREMELY court aware!
May 21st, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Yes it is….hence the “Prep”
May 21st, 2008 at 2:49 pm
All Prep schools are for players trying to improve themselves for college…. Some for grades. Some for scholarship offers. Some for maturity…. etc.
May 21st, 2008 at 2:59 pm
I bet his friends call each other brah. just a hunch.
May 21st, 2008 at 3:03 pm
23) ?????
May 21st, 2008 at 3:06 pm
the kid definately has handles and a quick shot..could be worth taking a chance on…it amazes me how talent can slip thru the cracks..for instance Chris Warren wasn’t highly regarded at all and Kennedy saw him play and offered him and he was only one of the best guards in the SEC as a freshman…I’m not saying that McClintock will turn out like this but it would be nice if he did.
May 21st, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Why weren’t we on this kid when he was in the 8th grade?
May 21st, 2008 at 3:27 pm
#26–Because Billy G was not our coach thats why.
May 21st, 2008 at 3:32 pm
26-hilarious.
I love this kid’s game.
May 21st, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Serious question: how is this guy just now being discovered? There’s got to be something negative about his game. If these YouTube vids accurately portray his game, there are A LOT of shitty scouts/recruiters out there.
May 21st, 2008 at 3:45 pm
He handles like he is 5′9 and drives like he is 6′4.
I think he could potentially cause some match up issues for
some SEC PG’s ie. Calathes/Lucas.
The good thing is he is a 4 year player and you can tell he is smart
from his pass choices. It is hard to tell all from these videos, but
he appears to see the floor very well and is patient
yet quick to get the rock to his man.
I have NEVER said this about any recruit, but I think we should offer him now
and get him signed sealed and delivered. Roy Williams is a very crafty recruiter
and he WILL land him if we take too much time.
This kid is all ball. He does not have that innate athletic propensity
so you know he has worked very hard for his skill.
That will take him all the way under BCG.
Coach will have this kid averaging 10 dishes a game in no time.
May 21st, 2008 at 3:46 pm
UNC told him to wait until Lawson decides. NC State wants him to walk-on.
People know who he is, just hasn’t had a solid offer.
May 21st, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Watching these videos is like watching the basketball scenes in Teen Wolf.
May 21st, 2008 at 3:50 pm
I can’t see the videos at work. From comments it sounds like he has offensive skills. Does he have the quickness on defense to prevent dribble penetration? That is a very key skill for SEC point guards.
May 21st, 2008 at 3:54 pm
33- He’s very quick on offense, which I would assume could easily translate to defensive quickness (under BCG) if he does not already have it.
May 21st, 2008 at 4:03 pm
I can’t wait to see these videos. If he’s the next Jason Williams, I’ll take him. If he’s the next Brandon Stockton, UNC can have him. I remember reading that Stockton was supposed to have amazing handles, then in one of the Louisville games he got ripped like 3 times before he crossed half court, after that Tubby buried him on the end of the bench.
May 21st, 2008 at 4:09 pm
I wonder if an apt comparison to McClintock would be a flashier version of Patrick Sparks: a great shooter with a quick release, good passer and ball handler who bigger schools hesitate to offer questioning whether he can keep up athletically.
Sparks proved himself to be worthy of SEC play though he did have trouble one on one against quick point guards. McClintock looks like he might have better handles and maybe even be quicker than Sparks was, though it is tough to compare from a video. I know Sparks put up some gaudy numbers in high school (30+ points per game).
I think the staff will be able to tell a lot from the UK Elite camp.
May 21st, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Liggins is retaking the ACT or SAT whichever, in June. Does anyone have a clue if this is before or after Billy’s camp in June?
May 21st, 2008 at 4:39 pm
In the last video he is sure stroking the three’s…
May 21st, 2008 at 4:45 pm
If Jasper decides to leave and Liggins doesn’t qualify, I would say grab this kid immediately. He already has a better handle than Porter, and that isn’t meant to slight Porter, it’s a compliment to McClintock.
May 21st, 2008 at 4:49 pm
By the way, his skills would be extremely valuable against pressing teams. UK can really use a one man press breaker. Without Jasper, the press killed them last season.
May 21st, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Snapping ankles and taking names.
May 21st, 2008 at 4:58 pm
I’d like to see him as a Cat. He seems to have very good point guard skills and is really quick. Some of those spin moves and crossovers were crazy. Not only can he shoot the 3, but obviously he knows how to get to the basket. However, if this guy comes to UK, so much for John Wall for next year. But, in a way might not be a bad thing. Hunter would be a 4 year player getting better and better while Wall is more than likely a one and done.
May 21st, 2008 at 5:10 pm
26) uh we had tubby smith
May 21st, 2008 at 5:25 pm
#23 KWICD, that is hilarious… and so true. His teamates are even just standing around in some of those clips, which is a little scary when thinking about him trying to actually run an offensive set. But if our offense is the same as last year it won’t matter.
May 21st, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Those videos are hilarious….He’d make a good last second recruit…who knows….
May 21st, 2008 at 5:52 pm
I’m no scout but I like what I’m seeing. Go get em’ BCG!
May 21st, 2008 at 5:56 pm
we don’t have a chance with wall anyway, imo. he’s memphis bound. i like this kid, he is crazy quick and doesn’t seem outta control at all. i like a short true point that is heady, idk if this kid is but he doesn’t look like just a shoot first kinda guard. but when he needs he can go one-on-one. i cant believe how he was breakin some of those ankles, that’s absolutly insane, and it’s not just a couple, so this must happen on a regular basis.
OFFER HIM!!!
May 21st, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Come on they are throwing triple teams on him too!
May 21st, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Looks like Travis Ford to me…
May 21st, 2008 at 6:27 pm
If I gotta choose between this guy and Porter, I’m going with this guy. God Porter sucks.
May 21st, 2008 at 6:42 pm
I think its safe to say this guy has the “handle” on the competition with Porter at PG
May 21st, 2008 at 6:50 pm
Porter plays within himself…..he can’t be asked to play 30minutes a game…but I think he can play 10 minutes with out hurting us,he might even throw in a 3. I was much more scared when Brandon Stockton used to check into the game.
May 21st, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Hard to tell about a kid by watching a youtube video, but we desperately need a true point. This kid may be worth the gambel and he looks like i nothing else he can shoot the three, which we have none of. We will be a very unorthodox team if Jasper leaves and Liggins fails to qualify. We’ll be using PPat as a point guard because he has better handles than porter.
May 21st, 2008 at 7:17 pm
There is only one way to get that good at dribbling. You have to do it ALOT! Not always a good thing.
May 21st, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Looks good to me. Sounds like his Dad likes UK. I wish Jasper would hurry up and choose what he’s doing. You’d think this guy might get an offer if Jasper doesn’t stay or Liggins doesn’t qualify.
Time will tell.
May 21st, 2008 at 9:17 pm
i agree 55 i wish Jasper would make up his damn mind, he’s been putting it off for the last 2 or 3 weeks!!! I love Jasper a lot, but, It pisses me off how he’s just holding us hostage. DJas make your mind up so we kno where we need to go from this piont!!!!!
May 21st, 2008 at 11:51 pm
Hunter is great, but that music is fabulous!
May 22nd, 2008 at 1:25 am
After watching more of the videos, it’s pretty obvious that this kid is pretty advanced for his age. He doesn’t bring the ball up the sidelines where a defender can use the sideline as an extra defender. He doesn’t stop his momentum, always heads toward the basket. Is masterful at getting defenders off balance using his agility and excellent footwork. He stays low and understands how to use his center of gravity, even going full speed. Not only does he display great skill, but he’s also been well coached. More importantly, one doesn’t develop skills like this overnight, it’s obvious that this young man has worked very hard on his game. Guys who love to work only get better and better. If Jasper leaves, I really hope UK offers this guy.