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Jo Jo Hunter

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Jo Jo Hunter
Personal information
Born (1957-04-15) April 15, 1957 (age 68)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight180 lb (82 kg)
Career information
High schoolMackin (Washington, D.C.)
College
NBA draft1981: 6th round, 136th overall pick
Drafted byMilwaukee Bucks
Playing career1980–1983
PositionShooting guard
Career history
1980–1982Montana Golden Nuggets
1982–1983Rochester Zeniths
Career highlights
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Anthony "Jo Jo" Hunter (born April 15, 1957) is an American former basketball player.[1] A high school phenom in Washington, D.C.,[2] he played collegiately for the Maryland Terrapins and Colorado Buffaloes.[1] Hunter was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the sixth round of the 1981 NBA draft (136th overall)[3] but was released before the regular season. He went on to play professionally in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) and overseas.[4][5] His life—including legal troubles and a later comeback—has been the focus of significant media coverage.[6]

Early life and high school career

[edit]

Hunter was born and raised in Washington, D.C., where he developed a reputation as one of the capital's most dynamic young basketball talents. He attended Mackin Catholic High School, a small but competitive private school in Northeast D.C. known for its strong basketball program. During his high school years, Hunter quickly became one of the most sought-after prospects in the country due to his explosive scoring ability and smooth guard play.[2]

As a senior at Mackin, Hunter averaged nearly 38 points per game, leading the Washington area in scoring and gaining a near-mythic status among local fans and coaches.[1] He was named to The Washington Post All-Met Basketball Team twice, affirming his dominance on the court and his status as one of the top players in the region. Hunter was also named a Second-Team Parade All-American in 1976, placing him among the top high school players in the country.[7]

His talent drew comparisons to NBA All-Star Jo Jo White, not only for their shared first name but also for their confident style of play, court vision, and scoring prowess.[2] Hunter's performances helped raise the profile of Mackin High School, which competed against larger public and Catholic school programs, and his national reputation ultimately earned him a scholarship to play for the University of Maryland under head coach Lefty Driesell.

College career

[edit]

Hunter began his collegiate career with the Maryland Terrapins under head coach Lefty Driesell during the 1976–77 season. As a freshman guard, Hunter appeared in 20 games and averaged 5.4 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game, often providing a scoring spark off the bench.[8] Despite his promise, Hunter saw limited playing time behind a veteran Maryland backcourt, leading him to seek a larger role elsewhere.

Following his freshman year, Hunter transferred to the University of Colorado, joining fellow D.C. standout James "Turk" Tillman. Per NCAA transfer regulations, Hunter sat out the 1977–78 season. Upon regaining eligibility, he became a starting guard for the Buffaloes. During the 1978–79 season, Hunter averaged 13.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game, earning All-Big Eight Conference honors and establishing himself as one of Colorado's leading scorers and playmakers.[1][2]

College career statistics

[edit]
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high
Season Team Conf. Class GP GS MP FG FGA FG% FT FTA FT% TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS
1976–77 Maryland ACC FR 27 16 – 113 227 .498 43 57 .754 37 38 24 2 – 34 269
1977–78 Maryland ACC SO 27 17 – 121 264 .458 57 66 .864 60 46 26 1 – 60 299
1978–79 Did not play
1979–80 Colorado Big 8 JR 26 22 781 155 307 .505 77 90 .856 63 62 38 1 58 48 387
1980–81 Colorado Big 8 SR 28 – 856 213 413 .516 109 129 .845 70 66 19 4 76 60 535
Career 108 – – 602 1211 .497 286 342 .836 230 212 107 8 134 202 1490

Hunter’s collegiate performance is documented via Sports-Reference.com.[9]

Professional career

[edit]

Hunter was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the sixth round (136th overall) of the 1981 NBA draft,[3] but was released before the start of the regular season and did not appear in an NBA game. He instead played professionally in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) with the Montana Golden Nuggets and Rochester Zeniths, and also spent time playing overseas.[1][2]

CBA career statistics

[edit]
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high
Regular season
Season Team GP PPG RPG APG
1980–81 Montana Golden Nuggets 28 11.8 2.2 1.9
1981–82 Montana Golden Nuggets 36 12.7 2.4 2.1
1982–83 Rochester Zeniths 10 9.3 1.6 1.2
Career 74 11.7 2.2 1.9

Hunter's CBA statistics are available via StatsCrew.com.[4]

[edit]

In the mid-1990s, Hunter was convicted on 11 felony counts related to armed jewelry-store robberies in Washington, D.C., including one during which a clerk was shot.[10] He was sentenced to 14–43 years in federal prison, serving time at FCI Cumberland.

Later life

[edit]

Hunter was paroled in 2012 after lobbying by former teammates, returning to Washington, D.C. in 2013. He rejoined the local basketball scene, participated in a senior men's league, worked at a funeral home, and became involved in youth mentorship.[6][11]

Awards and honors

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Year Honor Organization Ref.
1975 All-Met Basketball Team The Washington Post / DC Basketball [12]
1975 Parade All-American (Third Team) Parade [13]
1975 Capital Classic All-Star selection The Washington Post [14]
1979 All-Big Eight Conference Big Eight / Colorado [1]

Media coverage

[edit]
  • The Washington Post published an article titled “Washington‑Area Basketball Stars Parade Their Skills Across Nation” on January 21, 1978.[15] The article noted that Maryland had started a D.C. guard line featuring Jo Jo Hunter and Billy Bryant and discussed the prominence of several Washington‑area players in top collegiate programs nationwide.
  • The Washington Post published a game recap titled "Clemson Falls to Maryland, Free Throws" on February 13, 1977.[16] The article recapped Maryland's comeback win over Clemson and highlighted Jo Jo Hunter’s team-high 21 points and Turk Tillman’s clutch free throws to seal the victory.
  • The Washington Post published a profile on Hunter titled "Role as Bench Warmer Not in Hunter’s Plan" on August 10, 1978.[17] It covered his transfer from Maryland to Colorado, citing limited playing time and differences with coach Lefty Driesell.
  • The Washington Post published an article titled "College Recruiters Still Look to D.C." on December 2, 1981.[18] The article discussed the national attention given to D.C. basketball stars and cited Jo Jo Hunter among a long line of top local recruits.
  • The Washington Post – EX–D.C. basketball star convicted in robberies (April 12, 1997): Reports on Hunter's criminal trial and convictions.[10]
  • Washington City Paper – The Jo Jo Hunter Story: Vintage D.C. ballers try to give his tragic tale a happy ending (October 27, 2011): Examines the community campaign to lobby for his release.[11]
  • Grantland – The Comeback (January 16, 2013): A feature on Hunter's high-school career, prison years, and release.[2]
  • The Washington Post – D.C. basketball legends help JoJo Hunter get out of prison — and rebuild his life (August 3, 2013): Highlights efforts by local veterans to support Hunter's parole and his return to public life.[6]
  • The Washington Post – Pickup game: Jo Jo Hunter rebuilds his life (August 4, 2013): A filmed visit to Hunter playing in a senior men's league after his release.[19]
  • Capital of Basketball – Jo Jo and Hawkeye: a staged match up for the ages (February 5, 2016): Retrospective on Hunter's legendary high school duel with Charles “Hawkeye” Whitney.[20]

Legacy

[edit]

Jo Jo Hunter's basketball legacy is rooted in his early success as a standout player in Washington, D.C., where he was regarded as one of the most talented guards of his era.[2][1] His performances at Mackin Catholic High School placed him among a group of notable D.C. players, including Curt Smith and John Turner, and led to recruitment by top collegiate programs.

Local coaches and journalists often described Hunter as one of the most naturally gifted high school guards to come out of Washington, D.C., in his era, comparing him to the city’s all-time greats.[2]

Although he was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in the sixth round of the 1981 NBA draft, Hunter did not play in a regular-season NBA game. Instead, he played professionally in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) for the Montana Golden Nuggets and Rochester Zeniths, and also spent time playing overseas.[4]

After his playing career ended, Hunter encountered legal troubles and served over two decades in prison. Following his release, he received support from members of the D.C. basketball community who assisted in his reintegration into society.[6][5]

Hunter's story has drawn coverage from several prominent media outlets, including The Washington Post, Grantland, and the Washington City Paper, which chronicled both his basketball talent and later life challenges.[2][1][6]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h McKenna, Dave (May 31, 2013). "Jo Jo Hunter's Final Cheering Section". Washington City Paper. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Fennessey, Sean (January 16, 2013). "The Comeback". Grantland. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
  3. ^ a b The Official NBA Basketball Encyclopedia. Doubleday. 2000. p. 351. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c "Jo Jo Hunter minor league basketball statistics". StatsCrew.com. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
  5. ^ a b "Jo Jo Hunter Story". DCBasketball.com. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
  6. ^ a b c d e Babb, Kent (August 3, 2013). "D.C. basketball legends help JoJo Hunter get out of prison — and rebuild his life". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
  7. ^ "High School All-American". DC Basketball. 1976. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
  8. ^ Wilbon, Michael (February 6, 1977). "Tillman Paces Terps, 65-64". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
  9. ^ "Jo Jo Hunter NCAA Stats". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
  10. ^ a b "EX–D.C. basketball star convicted in robberies". The Washington Post. April 12, 1997. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
  11. ^ a b McKenna, Dave (October 27, 2011). "The Jo Jo Hunter Story: Vintage D.C. ballers try to give his tragic tale a happy ending". Washington City Paper. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
  12. ^ "All Met Team – All Metro Conference". DC Basketball. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  13. ^ "1975 Parade All-America". The Star Press. Muncie, Indiana. March 23, 1975. p. 26. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  14. ^ "Capital Classic Showcases Area Stars". The Washington Post. April 7, 1975. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  15. ^ Boswell & Huff (January 21, 1978). "Washington‑Area Basketball Stars Parade Their Skills Across Nation". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 11, 2025.
  16. ^ "Clemson Falls to Maryland, Free Throws". The Washington Post. February 13, 1977. Retrieved July 11, 2025.
  17. ^ Huff, Donald (August 10, 1978). "Role as Bench Warmer Not in Hunter's Plan". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 11, 2025.
  18. ^ Hill Jr., Edward (December 2, 1981). "College Recruiters Still Look to D.C." The Washington Post. Retrieved July 11, 2025.
  19. ^ Garcia, Alexandra (August 4, 2013). "Pickup game: Jo Jo Hunter rebuilds his life". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
  20. ^ Thorburn, Ryan (February 5, 2016). "Jo Jo and Hawkeye: a staged match up for the ages". Capital of Basketball. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
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