Graham Hunter

Last updated April 04, 2019

Graham Ian Hunter (born 17 May 1982 in Rutherglen) is a professional basketball player from Glasgow.

Rutherglen is a town in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. Having existed as a Lanarkshire burgh in its own right for more than 800 years, in 1975 it lost its own local council and administratively became a component of the City of Glasgow District Council within the Strathclyde region. In 1996 Rutherglen was reallocated to the South Lanarkshire council area.

Glasgow is the most populous city in Scotland, and the third most populous city in the United Kingdom, as of the 2017 estimated city population of 621,020. Historically part of Lanarkshire, the city now forms the Glasgow City council area, one of the 32 council areas of Scotland; the local authority is Glasgow City Council. Glasgow is situated on the River Clyde in the country's West Central Lowlands. Inhabitants of the city are referred to as "Glaswegians" or "Weegies". It is the fourth most visited city in the UK. Glasgow is also known for the Glasgow patter, a distinct dialect of the Scots language that is noted for being difficult to understand by those from outside the city.

Early career

Hunter has been a basketball traveller from an early age netting a chance at just 16 to play and study in the United States for Ukiah High School, Oregon in 1998. Immediately taking charge of his team becoming an instant starter and captain of the Ukiah Cougars, Hunter was named the team's Most Valuable Player for the season. The Cougars did not have a great side, however Hunter was able to generate interest from the University of Portland (NCAA 1), Oregon State University (NCAA 1) and a number of junior colleges. Hunter was also selected to represent Oregon in the 1999 USA Junior Nationals which was held in Columbus, Ohio. It was at Ukiah that Hunter started making real progress, reported in the Sunday Mail:

The United States of America (USA), commonly known as the United States or America, is a country composed of 50 states, a federal district, five major self-governing territories, and various possessions. At 3.8 million square miles, the United States is the world's third or fourth largest country by total area and is slightly smaller than the entire continent of Europe's 3.9 million square miles. With a population of over 327 million people, the U.S. is the third most populous country. The capital is Washington, D.C., and the largest city by population is New York City. Forty-eight states and the capital's federal district are contiguous in North America between Canada and Mexico. The State of Alaska is in the northwest corner of North America, bordered by Canada to the east and across the Bering Strait from Russia to the west. The State of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific Ocean. The U.S. territories are scattered about the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, stretching across nine official time zones. The extremely diverse geography, climate, and wildlife of the United States make it one of the world's 17 megadiverse countries.

Ukiah High School is a public school in Ukiah, California.

Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region on the West Coast of the United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of its eastern boundary with Idaho. The parallel 42° north delineates the southern boundary with California and Nevada. Oregon is one of only four states of the continental United States to have a coastline on the Pacific Ocean.

I'd get up at 5am and shoot for two hours then go to class. That's where I developed my shot.^[1]

Returning to Blantyre in 1999 to finish high school, Hunter played for the Troon Tornadoes under 18s, under 21s, and senior men. A notable player to the club contributing to a very successful season for the Tornadoes in which they won the Scottish under 21s Cup, and at under 18s level winning the Scottish Cup, Scottish Men's National League, Strathclyde League, and was also selected to represent Scotland national basketball team.

Blantyre is a town and civil parish in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, with a population of 17,505. The name is probably originally Cumbric blaen tir "top of the land" which has been Gaelicised. It is bounded by the River Clyde to the north, the Rotten Calder to the west, the Park Burn to the east and the Rotten Burn to the south.

The Scottish national basketball team is the basketball side that represents Scotland in international competition. They are organised by basketballscotland, the sport's governing body in Scotland, which in 2005, along with England and Wales merged to form the Great Britain national basketball team. The Scotland national team used to compete in the FIBA Europe's Division C. Scotland's direct affiliation to FIBA ended on 30 September 2016. To date, Scotland's main accomplishments were two qualifications to the EuroBasket, Europe's main basketball event. Further, the team won five bronze medals at the FIBA European Championship for Small Countries.

Later career

Hunter again moved, committing to the East Durham National Basketball Academy in 2001. After two years at the sporting school Hunter returned to the United States to take on a full athletic scholarship in 2003 at the University of Maine at Augusta but left prematurely after his freshman year due to a prolonged injury and subsequent surgery.

An athletic scholarship is a form of scholarship to attend a college or university or a private high school awarded to an individual based predominantly on his or her ability to play in a sport. Athletic scholarships are common in the United States, but in many countries they are rare or non-existent.

The University of Maine at Augusta (UMA) is located in the state capital of Augusta, Maine, and is a part of the University of Maine System. UMA is a regional state university providing baccalaureate and select associate degrees for residents of Central Maine. The university has campuses in Augusta and Bangor, and courses offered online and across the state. UMA delivers programs to both recent high school graduates and returning adults.

Again globetrotting, however to Andorra this time to attend TBCA basketball summer camp 2006.^[2] Again impressing scouts and agents,^[3] Hunter sparked interest which progressed to a professional contract.

Andorra, officially the Principality of Andorra, also called the Principality of the Valleys of Andorra, is a sovereign landlocked microstate on the Iberian Peninsula, in the eastern Pyrenees, bordering France to the north and Spain to the south. Believed to have been created by Charlemagne, Andorra was ruled by the Count of Urgell until 988, when it was transferred to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Urgell, and the present principality was formed by a charter in 1278. It is known as a principality as it is a diarchy headed by two Princes: the Catholic Bishop of Urgell in Catalonia, Spain, and the President of France.

Professional career

He started his professional career upon signing with Club Baloncesto Ponfferada, Spain, in 2006. For reasons unknown Hunter transferred home to Glasgow to play for the well respected Scottish Rocks. Competing in the British Basketball League, the Rocks finished as runners-up in the BBL Trophy and BBL Cup in 2007.

After spending the summer with the Scotland senior men squad, Hunter then signed for another team in Spain, CB Puertollano, and is currently playing for St Mirren Saints Basketball Club in the Scottish Men's National League.

Scholarship

Upon Hunter's return to Glasgow, he was offered a number of opportunities across the United Kingdom, however committed to a sports scholarship combined with the first Lisa Wilson Memorial sports scholarship in 2004 to Southampton Solent University (formerly Southampton Institute). Hunter admits he struggled through injury upon arrival, however stated it was his time in Southampton that allowed him to regain his skills and confidence after snapping his fifth metatarsal in 2003. Competing in the BUSA Premier South Conference, and also in the English Basketball League, Division 1, for the Solent Stars.

Related Research Articles

The British Basketball League, often abbreviated to the BBL, is a men's professional basketball league in Great Britain, the highest level of play in the country. The BBL runs two knockout competitions alongside the BBL Championship; the BBL Cup and the BBL Trophy, as well as the post-season Play-offs.

London United is basketball team from London, England, currently competing in English Basketball League Division 2. In 2006 they were elected into the professional British Basketball League to replace the London Towers as the sole representatives for the capital city. However, after achieving a Play-off place in their first season, the franchise fell into a financial crisis and withdrew but continued to field a team in the lower leagues of the English Basketball League.

The 2006–07 season, the 20th since its establishment of the British Basketball League, started on 29 September 2006 when reigning champions Newcastle Eagles began with an 85–83 loss away to Sheffield Sharks.

The Scottish Basketball Championships and particularly Senior Men Divisions 1 and 2, is the top men's basketball league in Scotland, and forms the second and third tiers of British basketball after the professional setup of the British Basketball League, where Scotland currently has one representative in the Glasgow Rocks.

Brian McCotter is an Irish professional basketball player and currently plays for Newcastle University Knights.

The British Basketball League Trophy, often shortened to the BBL Trophy, is an annual cup competition for British basketball teams organised by the United Kingdom's top professional league, the British Basketball League. It is one of two peripheral competitions operated by the League during the regular season, with the other being the BBL Cup. The competition's structure and format vary from season to season and often includes invited clubs from the English Basketball League and the Scottish Basketball League. The final takes place in March, usually at a neutral venue.

The Glasgow Rocks, currently known as the Radisson Red Glasgow Rocks for sponsorship reasons, are a Scottish professional basketball team based in Glasgow, Scotland. Formerly known as the Edinburgh Rocks, and then the Scottish Rocks, the Rocks compete in the British Basketball League. Since 2012 the Rocks have played their home games at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow. The team are currently without a head coach as of 19 February 2019 since they parted ways with Darryl Wood. The Rocks’ traditional rivals are the Newcastle Eagles.

Sterling Davis was head coach of British Basketball League club Glasgow Rocks from 2007-2017 and is a retired basketball player.

Anthony Garbelotto is an English basketball coach who last coached the Glasgow Rocks of the British Basketball League.

The 2014–15 season was the 28th campaign of the British Basketball League since the league's establishment in 1987. The season featured 13 teams from across England and Scotland, including new entrants, Bristol Flyers and Leeds Force. The season started on 26 September 2014 and ended on 10 May 2015 with the Play-off Final at The O2 Arena.

The 1988–1989 BBL season was the second season of the British Basketball League since its establishment in 1987. The season featured a total of 11 teams, playing 20 games each. The league had suffered in the 1989 close season because Portsmouth was wound up followed by Calderdale Explorers and Birmingham Bullets both dropping out of the league. Bolton and Bury Giants became the Olympic City Giants and Kingston moved north of the border playing as Glasgow Rangers. The new season was supposed to feature 12 teams, however Oldham Celtics dropped out of the league and into the National League after just one game, due to financial difficulties.

The British Basketball League Championship, often shortened to the BBL Championship, is the top-level men's professional basketball league in the United Kingdom. Established in 1987, the competition is administered by the British Basketball League and comprises 13 teams from both England and Scotland. Each team plays a 36-game regular season, from September until April, with the team that finishes in first place being crowned as League champions. Following the end of the regular season, the top eight-placed teams advance to the post-season Play-off tournament to decide the winner of the BBL Championship.

The 2013–14 season is the 45th campaign of the Scottish Men's National League. The season featured 10 teams from across Scotland.

The 2015–16 season is the 47th campaign of the Scottish Men's National League, which was rebranded as part of the Scottish Basketball Championships. The 18 teams were split into Division 1, featuring 10 teams, and Division 2, featuring 8 teams.

The 2012–13 season is the 44th campaign of the Scottish Men's National League. The season featured 10 teams from across Scotland.

Neil Watson is an American professional basketball player for the Plymouth Raiders of the British Basketball League. He competed in college basketball for the University of Southern Mississippi.

The 2016–17 British Basketball League season was the 30th campaign of the British Basketball League since the league's establishment in 1987. The season featured 12 teams from across England and Scotland. The season started on September 23, 2016 and ended on May 14, 2017.

The 2011–12 season is the 43rd campaign of the Scottish Men's National League. The season featured 10 basketball teams from across Scotland.

The 2017–18 BBL Trophy was the 30th edition of the BBL Trophy, an annual cup competition for British basketball teams, organised by the British Basketball League (BBL). Besides BBL clubs, clubs from the National Basketball League (NBL) participated. The Leicester Riders won their third trophy title. The competition was played from 8 December 2017 until 4 March 2018.

The 2018–19 British Basketball League season is the 32nd campaign of the British Basketball League since the league's establishment in 1987. The season features 12 teams from across England and Scotland.

References

↑ "Basketball: HUNTER: I CAN RISE AND SHINE.(Sport) - Sunday Mail (Glasgow, Scotland) | HighBeam Research - FREE Article". Highbeam.com. 2007-02-25. Archived from the original on 2012-10-22. Retrieved 2010-10-12.
↑ "Google Translate". Translate.google.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-10-12.
↑ "Google Translate". Translate.google.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-10-12.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[1] "Basketball: HUNTER: I CAN RISE AND SHINE.(Sport) - Sunday Mail (Glasgow, Scotland) | HighBeam Research - FREE Article". Highbeam.com. 2007-02-25. Archived from the original on 2012-10-22. Retrieved 2010-10-12.

[2] "Google Translate". Translate.google.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-10-12.

[3] "Google Translate". Translate.google.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-10-12.