Cheyenne star hopes to get noticed at this week's Big Time Tournament

It had been a fairly uneventful first half for Cheyenne's Demetrius Hunter in his club's Big Time Tournament opener Wednesday when he picked up a loose ball near midcourt with four minutes to play.

With two defenders trailing close behind, the 6-2 guard dashed downcourt and exploded to the basket, rising to the rafters and throwing down a thunderous, windmill dunk.

In a way, the moment was a microcosm of Hunter's summer. Since the end of his junior season, the athletic 17-year-old has burst onto the national recruiting scene with a similar vengeance.

Thanks to strong showings at some of this year's top national prep all-star events, including the Run 'N Slam Classic and the recent All-American Basketball Camp, Hunter has already cemented his reputation as one of the country's top-100 prospects.

And with coaches from more than 20 Division I schools in attendance, Hunter may have improved his stock even more with a solid performance on both ends of the floor Wednesday at Cheyenne.

"His stock is rising," one Division I coach said of the player most classify as a "combo guard."

"First of all, he's a great kid," the coach continued. "He competes at a high level. He's explosive, tough, athletic. He shoots it, handles it and passes it."

Unlike most of his local peers, who are playing for Las Vegas-based teams in this week's tournament, Hunter is suiting up for Utah-based Franklin Covey Express.

On the advice of a friend who attends Utah's Dixie College, Hunter has been playing with the Express for the past month. The team has participated in several camps and tournaments together, including a Brigham Young camp and Utah coach Rick Majerus' camp.

The Franklin Covey players' familiarity with one-another paid dividends on Wednesday, when the squad rallied to defeat Central Cal Sports Express 69-66.

Hunter, who struggled with his outside shot early, looked more comfortable as the game wore on, and he ultimately sealed the victory with a late breakaway dunk and free throw.

"I just have to play within the flow," he said after scoring 20 points.

Always a gifted athlete with a variety of slashing moves near the basket, Hunter has worked hard to improve his range since the Desert Shields' loss in the 4A state quarterfinals. And according to Cheyenne coach Larry Johnson, the new dimension to his game has made a world of difference.

"He's starting to elevate his level of play," Johnson said. He's very athletic, there's no doubt about it. But he wants to get better, and this summer he's worked really hard on shooting the ball."

As for where he might end up next year, Hunter said his options are still "wide open," although Utah is rumored to be the early front-runner.

No matter what happens, though, he knows his work is far from over. And considering how far he's come this summer, the next headline-grabbing leap he makes could be to a top college program.

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