Hunter and Jerome reunited in Cleveland

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Two key members of Virginia’s 2019 National Championship team — Ty Jerome and De’Andre Hunter — have been reunited with the Cleveland Cavaliers’ acquisition of Hunter in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks.

Hunter, who was arguably the MVP of the team and a Final Four run that produced UVA’s only national basketball title, averaged 15.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, shooting 55 percent from the field and 44 percent from the 3-point line.

Jerome, the feisty, New York-hardened point guard, averaged 13.6 points and 5.5 assists, making 47 percent of his field-goal attempts and 40 percent of his 3-pointers. Jerome was one of three co-captains on that team that posted a 35-3 record (16-2 ACC).

Both were juniors and skipped their senior years of eligibility to turn pro.

Jerome has been a standout with the Cavaliers all season in his best year as a pro.

Cleveland, 41-10 and in first place in the NBA’s Eastern Division, believes it can contend for the league title and was looking to add strength to its roster, making a huge trade for Hunter, who has blossomed into a star for the Hawks. Hunter, 27, is one of the top contenders for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year. The 6-foot-8 wing averages 19 points and 4 rebounds, 1.5 assists per game.

The Cavaliers like his versatility in that Hunter can play either power forward or small forward, adding length to the team’s defense at the perimeter, where he is also highly effective at shooting the 3-pointer (39 percent).

That’s why Cleveland made the trade, giving up guard Caris Levert, forward Georges Niang, three second-round picks and two draft pick swaps. Hunter gives the Cavs a sizable forward against frontcourts like the Celtics (5.5 games behind Cleveland in the standings).

One critic praised the trade by stating, “Cavs haven’t had an honest-to-god legitimate wing in a decade.”

Another said, “monster move for the Cavs. Title contender before this, major title contender after this.”

Jerome and Hunter were in the same recruiting class under former Virginia coach Tony Bennett and became close friends during their time in Charlottesville, and remain close.