De’Andre Hunter has game of his life in National Championship to boost NBA Draft stock

Critics wanted lottery pick DeAndre Hunter, and they got lottery pick De’Andre Hunter when it mattered most.

De’Andre Hunter saved the best game of his college career for what is likely his last game and will be rising up NBA Draft boards as a result.

Hunter was catching a little bit of heat prior to the start of the Final Four. Some of it was definitely warranted because he hadn’t been playing like a lottery pick up until the Final Four, but he made it happen when it mattered most.

In the title game against Texas Tech, he finished with 27 points, 22 coming in the second half and overtime, including the game-tying three-pointer to send it to overtime.

He was dominant on the offensive end and he was super glued to Texas Tech’s Jarrett Culver holding him to 15 points on 5-of-22 from the floor. Hunter was a lottery pick before this game regardless due to his measurables. His size with a 7-foot-4 wingspan is something you just can’t teach, and he’s only going to get better.

If you aren’t a college basketball fanatic and weren’t convinced he was a lottery pick before this game that’s fine. But if you watched this game, and you watched Hunter down the stretch you have to be convinced now. He was the reason Virginia won this game.

Tony Bennett told his team last season after losing to UMBC to own it and it was a part of their legacy. People forget Hunter didn’t play in that loss to UMBC last season due to a broken wrist, and he was a lottery pick last season.

Hunter’s game has to remind you a little bit of Kawhi Leonard. He has super long arms and is a lockdown defender. Some team is going to desperately want to turn him into a three-and-D kind of guy at the next level but he’s so much more than that. Given time he can turn into a really great player on both ends of the floor.

Virginia had a chance at the ultimate redemption and everyone had their moment to shine. Mamadi Diakite saved them against Purdue, Kyle Guy saved them against Auburn and Hunter willed them to victory against Texas Tech, and with that performance on the games biggest stage Hunter better clear out his driveway so the Brinks truck can back in.