The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Men’s Basketball signs Tyrese Hunter
05.27.2022 | Men's Basketball
Point guard earned Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors last season while leading Iowa State to the NCAA “Sweet 16.”
AUSTIN, Texas — Tyrese Hunter has signed an Athletic Scholarship Agreement (ASA) to play basketball next season at The University of Texas, head coach Chris Beard announced Friday. Hunter, who starred last year at Iowa State University, will join the Longhorns for the upcoming 2022-23 season.
Hunter (6-0, 178), a point guard from Racine, Wisc., is ranked as the No. 2 transfer nationally of the 2022 offseason by 247 Sports and No. 3 by ESPN and CBS Sports. He earned Big 12 Freshman of the Year accolades and was a finalist for both the Kyle Macy Award and the Lefty Driesell Award. The Kyle Macy Award is presented annually to the top freshman in Division I college basketball, while the Lefty Driesell Award is given to the nation's top defender.
During his freshman season in 2021-22, Hunter started all 35 games and led the team in assists (4.9 apg) and steals (71) and ranked second in scoring (11.0 ppg) and minutes (32.1 mpg). He paced the Cyclones to a 22-13 mark and a trip to the NCAA Tournament "Sweet 16," just one year after Iowa State posted a 2-20 overall record. Hunter set Cyclone freshman season records for assists (172), steals (71) and games started (35).
Hunter ranked third in the Big 12 Conference last year in both assists per game (4.9 apg) and steals per game (2.1 spg). His season totals of 172 assists and 71 steals ranked fifth and sixth, respectively, on the all-time Big 12 freshmen chart. Hunter's 71 steals ranked sixth on the school's single-season list, and he became the first Cyclone since Curtis Stinson in 2006 to record at least 70 steals in a year.
Hunter reached double figures in scoring in 20 games last year, including a season-high 23 points while hitting 7-of-11 from three-point range during the NCAA Tournament First Round win against LSU (March 18). His seven 3-pointers marked the second-highest total in a NCAA Tournament contest in school history. He also tallied 13 points and seven assists against Miami during the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 (March 25). Hunter registered his first collegiate double-double with 13 points and 10 boards in a win at K-State (Feb. 26). He also produced 13 assists against just three turnovers at Baylor (March 5), marking the second-highest total all-time by a Cyclone freshman in a single game.
Hunter played for coach Nick Bennett at St. Catherine's High School (Racine, Wisc.). A two-time Associated Press all-state selection, he was ranked as the No. 31 overall prospect in the class of 2021 by Rivals, No. 35 by 247 Sports Composite and No. 37 by ESPN. Hunter scored 1,589 career points at St. Catherine's and led his team to a 53-1 record during his final two seasons. As a senior, he averaged 18.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game and led St. Catherine's to a 28-1 record and the Division 3 state championship. Following his senior season, he scored 20 points and was tabbed his team's Most Valuable Player at the 2021 Allen Iverson Roundball Classic.
