A standout basketball player from Cincinnati who made it to the NBA died Tuesday, at 42, according to a report from The Enquirer.
Brandon Hunter gained basketball scout notice with impressive performances on the hardwood for Withrow University High School. His athletic ability earned him a scholarship to Ohio University.
Hunter played for the Bobcats from 1999 to 2003, where he was a letter winner each of his four years at the university.
His skills on the court landed him a spot on the All-Mid-American Conference Freshman Team in 2000 and was thrice honored on the All-MAC First Team from 2001 to 2003.
“One of the best to ever put on the green and white,” said Ohio University mens basketball Head Coach Jeff Boals in an X post. Boals called Hunter’s death a sad day for the Bobcat nation.
Upon graduation, Hunter entered the NBA after being selected 56th by the Boston Celtics during the second round of the 2003 draft.
After one season with the Celtics, he was traded to the Orlando Magic where he played during the 2004-2005 season.
Hunter showcased his talent on international courts, playing in countries such as Greece, Italy, Puerto Rico and Turkey after his contract with the Magic ended.
Upon concluding his international basketball career, Hunter returned to Cincinnati where he ventured into real estate and sports management.
In a 2017 interview with WCPO-TV, Hunter shared his perspective on this career shift:
“I initially wanted to go into coaching,” Hunter said during the WCPO interview. “But with my background and everything that I learned about the collective bargaining agreement in the NBA and the transactions I’ve seen while living abroad, the understanding of how teams recruit and how different styles are in different countries, I decided to go into management.”
“I thought it would be where I would blossom and be the best.”
Hunter was inducted into the Withrow Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017 and was honored by Ohio University’s Kermit Blosser Ohio Athletics Hall of Fame just last year.
The cause of death is not known at this time.
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