Breaking Down NC State Transfer Commit Brandon Huntley-Hatfield’s Game

NC State landed a massive commitment yesterday from Louisville Transfer Forward Brandon Huntley-Hatfield. What type of player is the Wolfpack getting in Huntley-Hatfield?

This season, Huntley-Hatfield averaged 12.9 points per game and 8.4 rebounds per game. He was the Cardinals’ leading rebounder, and 2nd leading scorer. He scored 20+ points 6 times, and scored a season-high 29 against FSU. Huntley-Hatfield posted 8 double-doubles.

In conference play, Huntley-Hatfield shot 57.5%, which led the ACC.

If you watch his highlights, you might think that Huntley-Hatfield is strictly a dunker, but that would be an incorrect conclusion. First of all, he deserves a lot of credit on those dunks, not because of the degree of difficulty, but because of the high basketball IQ he possesses to put himself in the position to dunk the ball. Huntley-Hatfield, in highlight after highlight, runs the pick-and-roll to perfection, sealing off his defender, giving him a clear lane to the rim. This bodes well for the Pack with the hopeful return of Michael O’Connell, who is a magician in running the pick-and-roll.

While he might not possess the twinkle toes that DJ Burns has, his moves in the post are more nuanced than strictly dunking. He is extremely physical with his back to the basket in the low post, and possesses a soft touch with his baby hook shot. Also, he has a nice step back mini-fade-away shot in the post. In watching his highlights, I lost count of the amount of times he was fouled, and finished the and-1 play. Huntley-Hatfield is extremely strong.

With his size and physicality, he can bang in the post, but he can also catch the ball at the three-point line and take his defender off the dribble, and finish with contact. We are talking about a 6’10” guy who can take you off the dribble, and change directions by dribbling between his legs.

Huntley-Hatfield’s game is extremely well rounded, also possessing the ability to knock down a mid-range jump shot, as well as a three-pointer from time-to-time. Believe it or not, he shot 42.8% from beyond the arc this season, making 9 of 21.

Finally, Huntley-Hatfield has good court vision, dishing the ball to teammates cutting through the lane with efficiency, or finding the open three-point shooter. I’m not saying he is the passer that Burns is, but I think he instantly becomes the Wolfpack’s best passing ‘big’ in their lineup.

Kevin Keatts said earlier this week that DJ Burns has changed him as a coach. Throughout his coaching career, Keatts has very often run a 4-Guard offense, and not prioritized running offense through the post. Keatts said that due to Burns, he will recruit post players differently, and emphasize them more in his offensive scheme going forward.

Huntley-Hatfield is a dream pick-up for Keatts as he continues to evolve as a coach. I know that optimism is at an all-time high, but I think Huntley-Hatfield has the potential to be a breakout player in the ACC next season. He possesses all the elements to be a star.