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THE INTERVIEW WITH SAM HUNT
Dudley, junior, boys basketball

Sam Hunt, 16, is the starting point guard for the Panthers and is averaging 19.2 points, 5.1 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game this season. His father Calvin starred at Greensboro College in the mid 1980s. Longtime Dudley coach David Price is his godfather. Hunt said he has scholarship offers from Appalachian State, ECU, Mercer and Garner-Webb. Dudley faces Oak Hill Academy, one of the top prep basketball programs in the country, at the 10th annual MLK Classic on Monday at the Greensboro Coliseum.

Q: When did you first get into playing basketball?
A: Around the age of 3. I started going to camps and my dad was one of the coaches there. I just loved to play. It was fun. It’s something I always do. I like to work out and stay active, and it just became a life thing for me. I used to play football, but right now it’s just basketball. I liked playing receiver and cornerback.

Q: What are your expectations for yourself this season?
A: Just learn to be the best I can and get my team winning. Just being a strong point guard for my team. Individual goals are to make my team better and maybe win player of the year in the conference.

Q: How do you get prepared to compete in a big event?
A: I just remember all the things that my coaches taught us. Scouting reports, knowing an opponent’s weaknesses, and doing what I have to do for my team to win. Physically, the night before I put a lot of fluids in my body and I stay conditioned. I go hard in practice so my body stays physically ready.

Q: Do you have any superstitions or any routines that you follow?
A: I read my scripture, Isaiah 41:10, before every game and pray. It’s something my parents installed in my about two years ago. It just has an important meaning to me. … I hit my teammates on the chest before each game starts to get them focused and ready. I’m focused, we try to have fun before the games. We either clap and dance before the games, or we’re just chillin’, just to get our mind loose and have fun out there so it won’t be so intense.

Q: What does it take to compete at such a high level? What do you do to train?
A: During the summer, I come in and try to get 300 or 400 shots a day, lift weights, and just try to keep my conditioning up. And I do individual workouts like ball handling. During the summer, I bring some of my teammates in with me to work out with me too.

Q: Do you play AAU ball?
A: I play for CP3. I started with them at 15. Before that I was with the Greensboro Warriors. … It’s been great. I’ve gotten to travel all over the world and play against some of the best competition in the country.

Q: What are your college prospects? And where would you like to go?
A: I have offers from Appalachian State, ECU, Mercer and Garner-Webb. Other schools are looking at me, like Navy and Virginia. Iowa and Penn State have shown interest. Right now I have no clue. I’ll most likely decide during my senior year.

Q: Your dad played at Greensboro College and coached the JV team at Dudley, right?
A: He was real athletic. He grew up in the country, so all he did was run and play basketball. He went to Garner-Webb his freshman year, then switched up to Greensboro College. He played center, and I’m a little bit taller than him, but he got a vertical leap. He got inducted into the hall of fame there maybe two years ago. He played summer league after he graduated with Delany Rudd. Defense was probably his best thing.

Q: You think you’re better than him?
A: On the defensive end? No. But I’m getting there. I’ve heard too many stories. He tells me that if he had a chance to go against Jordan, he would have stopped him. But I don’t believe that, I don’t care what he says.

Q: Did you feel compelled to play basketball because your dad played?
A: He put it in my hands to make a choice, and once I made a choice he pushed me to make sure I was as good as I could be. But he never forced me to play basketball.

Q: What’s it like playing for coach David Price, your godfather?
A: It’s always been good. He pushes me because he knows my potential and he knows what I’ve been around.

Q: You ever get the sense that he treats you any differently from the other players?
A: Not at all. I’m just another player on the team. I just know what I’m supposed to do. Everybody on the team has a role and needs to play their role, and that’s it. The difference is I’ve been around Dudley basketball so long, so I know what’s expected. I played under my father from ages 5 till I was 14. And they’re kind of similar and talk to each other a lot. I just know what I’ve got to do and just do it. My dad coached me, we started off at the YMCA and he coached me with the Greensboro Warriors until I was 14. Then I switched to CP3 and another coach started coaching me.

Q: Do you have brothers or sisters?
A: I have a little sister and an older sister. My little sister is in the sixth grade. My older sister is about 31 or 32. She’s working right now. She’s in college, taking online classes to get her master’s degree. And she just had a baby, so now I have a nephew.

Q: Wow! Congratulations. Is that her first child? And your first nephew?
A: Yes. It was something new. It’s still something new. She’s staying with us right now, so there’s a lot of crying from the baby. But it’s been a great experience.

Q: What’s something interesting about you that most people don’t know?
A: That I like to cook. I like to be creative in the kitchen. I make the best sandwiches out of anything that’s in the kitchen. If we made chicken from last night, I’ll make a sandwich, or if we had ham and turkey, I’ll put that on bread and we’re good to go.

Q: Do you have any pets?
A: My mom would not allow that. She doesn’t want the responsibility. I don’t want the responsibility either. I think school and basketball and helping hold the household down is good enough.

Q: What bothers you more than anything else?
A: Kids failing out of school. I don’t see how you can fail out of school. Teachers give you what you need. You just need to apply yourself. Besides what’s going on at home, you need to handle that another time and just come to school and do what you need to do. That’s probably my biggest pet peeve.

Q: What do you enjoy doing in your spare time, other than playing basketball?
A: Hanging out with friends and family, going to church, and that’s mostly it. I like to play a little video games. A little (NBA) 2K12.

Q: What about your favorite movies or music?
A: My favorite movie of all time is Love & Basketball. My favorite artist right now would have to be Drake. I lot of people say I remind them of him. But I just like the way he raps and his style.