One more locked up for the Class of 2012.
The heavily sought-after Garvin Hunt, a 6-foot-10 center from the Sagemont Upper School in Weston, Fla. committed to Penn yesterday.
Originally from the Bahamas, Hunt has only been playing basketball and going to school in America for three years. He now becomes the third incoming freshman to commit to the basketball team, joining point guard Zack Rosen and swingman Rob Belcore to balance out the recruiting class. Hunt's commitment to Penn removes him from consideration at Harvard, which he said yesterday extended him an offer as well.
According to Hunt, who said he received offers from a slew of teams in the Atlantic 10 conference and other mid-majors, he had narrowed his list down to Delaware and Penn in the past few weeks. In the end, though, Penn's student body and academics drew the Bahamian to West Philadelphia.
"I like the all-around experience," he said. "The students seem pretty involved and support the team, and I like how everyone is like a family there."
One particular game draw Hunt to Penn.
"The game against North Carolina is something to motivate me right now to go to the gym every day," he said.
The Quakers will face the Tar Heels down in Chapel Hill during the 2008-09 season in the last game of a home-and-home deal.
Hunt, who has maintained a 4.0 GPA at Sagemont and is interested in business, plans to enroll in Wharton. His mother moved from the Bahamas to South Florida a few years ago to get him and his sister - who is also a student at Sagemont - a better education and a chance to play basketball.
"I've done my research as far back as 20 years, what I found out is that Garvin would be the first Bahamian to verbally commit to play basketball for the Ivy League," said Darrell Sears, who coached Hunt in the Bahamas. "That's huge for our country and says a lot about our people here because we have so much hidden talent and nobody knows about it."
Last year Sagemont coach Adam Ross told Rivals.com, a recruiting Web site, that Hunt has "a phenomenal body and is a great athlete" and "just needs more experience because he gets better every day."
Over last summer, Hunt's skills started to improve dramatically, attracting the attention of college coaches from mid-majors and high-majors.
"The best part of my game right now is my passing ability and my rebounding," Hunt said. "I'm trying to work right now on my offensive game."
On his visit to Penn a few weeks ago, Hunt attended a team workout and closely observed the drills, ultimately concluding that the Quakers' style of training could be beneficial to his development.
"It's gonna benefit me because of the different drills [all of the players take part in]," he said. "It's gonna help my game."
Last season, as a junior, Hunt averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds per game. Since he is still relatively new to the sport, there is no telling just how talented he might become.
Rosen, the guard who committed to Penn last summer, is encouraged by Hunt's potential, especially given his size.
"I've never seen him play, but he's 6-10, so that sounds good," Rosen said.
