By BRIAN REED-BAIOTTO, Sports Editor Hunter Woods has a lot of things going for him. The Muir senior has his team on pace to have their best season in at least six years, and they hold a one-game lead over 13-time champion Pasadena. He’s 6-foot-6 and leads the Mustangs with 10 rebounds per game. His […]
By BRIAN REED-BAIOTTO, Sports Editor
Hunter Woods and his mom
Hunter Woods has a lot of things going for him.
The Muir senior has his team on pace to have their best season in at least six years, and they hold a one-game lead over 13-time champion Pasadena.
He’s 6-foot-6 and leads the Mustangs with 10 rebounds per game.
His versatility has been vital as his game ascends to a new level, and he’s a good shooter, averaging 20 points a night.
Woods is second on his team with 4 assists, tied for first with 3 steals and leads Muir with 2 blocked shots each time he takes the court.
His coach and teammates call him ‘the guy’ and he’s led the Mustangs’ offense in scoring in 18 of their 19 games.
Woods has had a double-double in 10 of those 19 contests thus far.
His intellect (3.4 GPA), humor, personality and character all make him a popular guy, even among his rivals at Pasadena High School.
But without question, he’s most blessed by having a very strong mother named Kimberly Green, who has raised Hunter to be the quality young man he’s become.
Hunter Woods jump shot
His uncle Michael, auntie’s Gloria, Tasha, and Stacie, as well as cousins Shantell, and Pie have all played huge roles in his life
“I want to thank them for being so supportive and always being there for me when I’m down with their unconditional love,” Woods said.
Tracy Woods, his father, also has been supportive and helped Hunter develop his game.
Back to his mom for a minute.
Green often times brings meals to the Mustangs’ players and is what coach Simaine Stewart calls a “true team mom,” and a “loving and giving person.”
Stewart also nicknamed her “the fixer” because when people are upset with one another, it’s usually Hunter’s mom who straightens out messes and gets everyone back on the same page.
“Kim has been such a great mom to Hunter and should get a lot of credit for what a quality young man he is today,” Stewart said. “She gives everything she has to her son, but she also treats every player on this team like they’re her own. She’s even done things to make my job easier and I am so thankful to her for all of that.”
For Kimberly Green, it’s just the way she was raised.
“I came from a nurturing background, where you treat people with the love you’d like to receive. I do it because I get gratification when I see the kids appreciate the things we do for them. I have a relationship with all of the boys and consider them my own. As far as Hunter goes, I am so proud of his humility and always wanting to help others. He’s become a very respectful young man.”
Back to the current season for the moment.
Woods has Muir (14-5 overall, 6-0 in league) in a position to control their own destiny, and in their attempts of winning a Pacific League title.
Heading into Friday’s enormous showdown with perennial power PHS, the Mustangs know if they’re able to walk out of the Maranatha gym as victors, they would hold a 2-game lead with 7 to play.
The significance of that?
Pasadena has a 13-year stranglehold on the Pacific League and it would be a monumental accomplishment if the Mustangs were able to not only break the PHS streak, but just as impressive if they were able to do it against the kind of talent and character the Bulldogs possess.
But make no mistake, and just ask Stewart or Woods, Pasadena won’t lie down for a second. A win or even two against the Bulldogs would take balanced and consistent efforts from Muir, as well as limiting mistakes and turnovers and hitting their free throws.
Woods is easily one of the most versatile players in the area.
He’s known best for his scoring, but his assists, rebounds, blocked shots, steals and ability to come through in the clutch make him golden for Stewart.
Woods has 105 points more than his next closest teammate (Haleem Jenkins) and when the game is on the line, the senior shoots 80% from the free-throw line.
He’s converted on 90 of 113 free-throw attempts.
Pasadena players and coaches, as well as his teammates respect and like Woods.
In fact, PHS coach Tony Brooks said Woods is one of maybe three players in the Pacific League that can make shots consistently, while having a hand in their face.
His teammate and point guard Tiyon Martin, when asked what kind of friend Hunter is to him, replied, “he’s not my friend, he’s a brother to me.”
Darius Brown II, the uber-talented PHS point guard said even when Hunter isn’t having a good shooting night, he still finds other ways of contributing to help give Muir their best shot at winning.
Woods admits this season is going even better than he envisioned, but he credits the production of all of his teammates and the coaching staff for that.
“We’re playing our best basketball and we’re much closer this year,” Woods said. “Last year, we all had our own agendas and this season, we’ve all bought into Coach Stewart’s message.”
He also said, he gets the most satisfaction out of getting other players involved and making sure they know how vital they all are to Muir’s success.
And while he doesn’t always show it outwardly, this young man loves his mom and appreciates everything she does.
“My mom is incredible and she’s always positive, even when she’s getting on me, because she expects a lot out of me,” Woods said. “I want her to know how much everything she does for me and my teammates means to me and none of it goes unnoticed. She is the reason I am who I am.”
Stewart said Woods has gotten some interest from Villanova, UC Santa Barbara, UC Irvine, UNLV, Virginia and others.
When asked what kind of program at the next level he believes Woods could thrive in, Stewart singled out Gonzaga and Utah.
“Hunter is still growing and is going to continue to get stronger and more athletic,” Stewart said. “Right now, as talented as he is, he looks like a baby giraffe running down the court. He is ‘our guy’ and ‘Muir goes as Hunter goes.’ And he’s someone you never have to question when it comes to his work ethic or character.”
Stewart can’t wait to see his star senior play college ball, and says that any program would benefit greatly from Hunter Woods’ presence.
“He is a really good basketball player, and he’s only going to get better. He’s spent time lifting and doing yoga, and is a true student of the game,” Stewart said. “But I’m proud of the kind of student and kid that Hunter is. He is a reflection of the strong family structure his mom and her family have provided for him.”
Woods is really excited as are his teammates that in less than 9 hours of when this story posts, he and his boys will take on the Bulldogs and in front of a packed crowd at Maranatha.
While he has confidence that Muir will be in a position to defeat the Bulldogs for only the second time in the last 11 meetings, he still has the utmost respect for the boys in red.
“Pasadena is a great program,” he said. “They have so many talented players and are obviously well coached. To beat them, we’ll have to play the game at our pace and be really aggressive on the board and 50-50 balls.”
As big as the first of two Pacific League showdowns are, win or lose, Woods and his buddies Tiyon Martin, Simaine Stewart Junior, Tasson Aubry, Haleem Jenkins and the entire roster know league play is just one chapter of what this 2017-18 program will eventually put in the record book, and they couldn’t be more excited or confident to see how things play themselves out.
Lastly, what does Woods hope his legacy is when people bring up his name?
“I hope they remember me as someone who never took a day off and was willing to do anything for my teammates and everything asked of me to win games,” Woods said. “I hope they all become as close with their teammates as I’ve done with mine, because we’ve made lifelong relationships here at Muir.”
Quotable:
Muir coach Simaine Stewart: “Hunter is our guy. However Hunter goes, is how Muir goes. He’s an incredibly bright kid and he responds well to being challenged. He’s a good leader, as are the other seniors and he’s going to continue to get better as he grows and bulks up a little. Someone is going to be very lucky when they add him to their team at the college level.”
Pasadena coach Tony Brooks: “His length is his biggest attribute. He has a great shot and he shoots it at a very high position and he’s hard to defend. Because of his length, he has an advantage of seeing over and shooting over an opponent. He has a great touch and a good lift on his legs. He’s one of the few players that can shoot with a hand in his face and make it consistently.”
Muir senior Tiyon Martin: “Hunter isn’t a friend to me, he’s a brother. We push each other every day. He is a competitor in anything he does, and hates losing. He’s a match up problem. Hunter is our guy, hands down.”
Pasadena senior Darius Brown II: “He’s a really likable and funny guy. He’s goofy in a fun way. From playing against him for three years and with him on a travel team, I’ve seen all the sides about him and I appreciate his game. When something might not be working for him, he finds another to contribute to his team’s success.”
Getting To Know Hunter Woods:
Favorite Athlete: Kobe Bryant
Favorite Team: Lakers
Favorite Movie: Love and Basketball
Favorite Musical Artist: Meek Mill
Musical Artist People Might Be Surprised I Like: Earth, Wind and Fire
Famous Person Alive or Dead I’d Most Want A Conversation With: Kobe Bryant
