About Last Night! What a Game!

Last night, I got a chance to attend the Whataburger High School Basketball Tournament. I rarely get many opportunities to watch high school basketball games during the early part of the season because many times I'm training younger players and getting them ready to play. But for me, last night was different. And if I had it to do all over again, I wouldn't miss it for the world. What a Game!

During the early part of the night as I walked into the gym, I noticed several current and former players getting ready to play with their high school teams. As I spoke with them and looked into several of their eyes, I noticed that we both had a look of "mutual respect" for one another in addition to high expectations.

About last night. As I sat and watched the games and ate my bag of popcorn, a parent came by to say hello. Let's call her Jane for this story. After Jane came over she took a seat and began the conversation by asking about Hoop Hunter Basketball and my family. For me, that was a healthy way to began our conversation. I began to explain to Jane that I'm seeing a record number of lives being impacted and changed by our commitment to training kids in a God pleasing way. "My recipe for reaching kids has always began by developing trust and "mutual respect" for one another". This is my purpose in life!

While speaking to Jane, our conversation moved from business and family to the word of God.

Finally, she mentioned how my personal walk with the lord has always been an inspiration to her children and her entire family. She later told me that she wants to know fully what God 's purpose is for her life. And that's the end of the story.

The next time you attend a game, social event, grocery store, shopping, personal or group workout, don't be surprised if you are being led there to be a witness to your brother or sister in Christ.

About last night. What a game!

Coaches & Teachers Bare Responsibilities To Teach!

As you know, basketball is a game of learned skills, athleticism and talent combined with discipline, creativity, respect for others, team work, healthy contagious attitudes, competitive energy,respect for authority and personal responsibility.

In order for players to compete at a competitive level, players must continue to devote quality time towards understanding the fullness of the game. Players must be able to dribble, pass, shoot, rebound, play defense, set screens, run the floor, hustle, have good practice habits, compete, play as a team, respect their coaches and how they wants them to play, respect the rules of the game, respect the differences of their teammates and last be a good person on and off the court.

The best time to invest in a player's future is when he/she is young. The bible says, "Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he won't depart from their teaching" Proverbs 2:6.

Throughout my 21 years of experience serving kids, families and communities, I continue to see kids with gifts and talents that are under developed. It's almost like growing up with a false since of identity. I believe that we owe it to the kids as well as to the Lord to make sure that they are fully educated and equipped with what they need without compromising their future.

When players are fully educated and learn to play the game, they tend to feel better about themselves, they do better in school, interact better with parents, teachers, coaches, communicate better, smile more often, attract better friends and are more self confident.

Success in the game of basketball involves a tremendous amount of teaching and learning. As coaches and teachers we must continue to provide young players with the available resources that will undoubtedly foster their learning needs and help them grow. Without the necessary tools for learning, kids fail!

In closing, as children become more interested in playing basketball, education and learning about faith, let's work together and give them the best opportunity for success that we can by fully teaching them the things that will make them complete. Let's train them while they're young and interested. As kids get older, let's encourage them to seek advanced training so that they too can someday develop to their fullest potential.

Please partner with me as an advocate for kids success in the classroom, on the field, on the court and in their walk of faith. And remember; "Success in life involves being fully trained."

"Coaches & teachers we bare a tremendous responsibility to teach the kids regardless of their learning styles and disabilites."

Deon Hunter

Hoop Hunter Travels to Santo, Texas

During the late part of the 2010 summer, Hoop Hunter Basketball trainers and coaches travelled to Santo, Texas to conduct a middle and high school girls basketball camp. "It felt good getting out of our normal routine and working with the young ladies out in Santo."

Throughout the week, the gym was filled with eager to learn, hard working, team oriented, well-disciplined players. And to top it off the hospitality that we received from the parents was "off the chain". We were treated just like family all week long. Coach Raffaele has done a tremendous job throughout the years of developing a successful girls basketball program. Although they're young, there's a lot of hard working high school girls hoping for a chance to someday make their dreams come true and hopefully get to Austin.

As a result, Hoop Hunter Basketball has adopted Santo Girls High School Basketball Program as our program of choice for upcoming 2010-2011 basketball season. We wish the city of Santo, Coach Raffaele and the girls basketball program the best of luck!

"Go Get Em"

Deon's Summer Point Guard Camp A Success

The 2010 Deon Hunter's Point Guard Camp was a total success. I was very pleased with both our middle school boys & girls camp and our high school boys and girls camp. The level of participation was really good. Players from cities all around Texas showed up and really put in a lot of work. And the talent level was very impressive as well. I'm also very proud of our coaches and players who assisted with the camp and former players who showed up to just to give words of encouragement to the players. Each of them played a huge part in assisting me in the development of the camp and making sure that everyone who participated gained sustainable knowledge and experience about how to raise their level of play while playing point guard.

"See You Down The Road"

Memories of My Father & Hero-Jimmie Lee Hunter II

About my Father:

11 years ago, I lost my father who was killed by a hit and run driver. My father was a good man. Together he and my lovely mother raised 4 boys and 1 girl. He was well respected and loved by his family, friends, neighbors, church members and co-workers. He was a wise, quiet, friendly man of integrity who had a servant-mentality. He was a diesel mechanic by trade. When he wasn't at work he enjoyed spending time with our family.

As a kid my father took us to church, played musical instruments with us, helped us with homework and listened to us tell him about our day. He was known as a gentle giant.

How My Dad Impacted My Basketball Career:


When I first started playing basketball (3rd grade), my father told me to first learn the basic fundamentals of the game. He told me to practice and use my imagination until I became good enough to play on a team. After receiving my first rubber basketball and a pair of used converse tennis shoes, I begin to bounce the ball all day and night. I took that basketball everywhere that my family went. I even took the basketball to bed with me at night. My first basketball goal was put up in our backyard on a tree with a wooden backboard. I can remember my father working on cars late at night just to get enough extra money to give us lunch money for the next day. He would always come in the backyard to tell me it was time to come inside. I remember always saying, " watch this shot or watch this move dad". He would just smile and say that's good!


"My father enjoyed cooking barbeque, helping others in need, studying for Sunday school lessons, listing to baseball games on the radio and helping out with our family musical group".


I can remember while in high school coming home and telling him that I was going to be on channel 8 during the ten o'clock news. With a genuine smile, he said, you're kidding! That was the very first time that he saw me play and it was when I was on television. After seeing the interview I think he realized that I had developed the love and passion of a serious basketball player.

I miss my father but just wanted to write about some of the things that came to mind today as I reflect on the many memories from my past. As I get older, I'm becoming more and more like him. It's kind of cool to see myself becoming so much like him.

My Fathers Words of Wisdom :

"It's not the clothes that makes the man but the man that makes the clothes or It's not the truck that makes the man but the man that makes the truck. And last, it's not the home that makes the family but the family that makes the home".

Proverbs 3:1-2

My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.

Memories of Jimmie Lee Hunter II, my father and my Hero

2010 Hoop Hunter Hustlers Spring Club Teams a Success

Putting together a team of loyal and trustworthy coaches is the first and most important thing that I could have done considering the level of play and competition in youth basketball for both girls and boys.

This off-season, our coaching staff consisted of several good Christian men and women with integrity who were passionate about training and development and mentoring youth through a team setting. Our teams consisted of 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th grade boys and girls. With two practices and a tournament every other weekend, our coaches were able to help players develop in areas that impacted their confidence and their overall game-time performances and their spirituality.

Our 2010 spring coaching staff included; Archie Myers 9th & 10th boys, Chad Nothe 9th & 10th boys, Wendell Williams 9th & 10th girls, Len Medcafe 8th boys, Reggie Seastrunk 7th boys, Roy and Jill Aaron 7th girls and Michael Eddy, director of club teams.

"What I feel makes our club teams a success is not only the players & coaches but the parents of the players". Parents can either make or break a program. That's why when we select players, we try to take into consideration the type of family we're getting. Getting a nice player is good but having a cohesive family unit is better.

I would like to thank everyone who attended our initial tryouts. Whether you made one of our teams or you chose to go elsewhere, I respect your decision and I pray that through all of your endeavours your needs were met. If not, I hope that you would not hold any grudges against anyone else for the lack of experience that you were looking for through off-season basketball.

Instead, I pray that you would forgive and ask God to continue to order your steps.

Best of luck in the upcoming school year!

Deon Hunter-President of Hoop Hunter Basketball

The Best Decision I've Ever Made

As a child, I accepted Jesus Christ as my lord and personal savior. Romans 10:9-11 says, "That if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." As the scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."

As a child, I attended church services at least 3 times a week. I played the drums, sang in the choir, ushered, taught Sunday school, led prayer service, cleaned the church on weekends, helped paint the church in the summer, attended vocational bible school and gave Easter and Christmas speeches in front of the church members each year. Proverb 22:6 say, "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." I thank my parents and grandparents for taking me to church and teaching me about Christ.

"The best decision I ever made was giving my life to Christ".