**Athlete Interviews are posted every Thursday for recruiting advice, what to look for, and more.
Gianni Hunt is a Division 1 basketball player from Long Beach, CA. He is a junior guard for the Oregon State Beavers men's basketball team. He played high school basketball at Bishop Montgomery, where he led his team to a championship title his sophomore year. He was named a 4-star recruit and number 43 point guard in the nation by ESPN. In this interview, we discuss his transition from high school basketball to the collegiate level, the recruiting process, and how to stay grounded.
What made you choose Oregon state over other schools that were recruiting you?
I always wanted to play in the PAC-12 growing up in California. West Coast. My cousin was the first person in my family to go to college and graduate. He played football here while I was in middle school. So, I used to grow up telling him “I want to go to Oregon State” because he was the person I looked up to. And, I just wanted to get away from home, but not be too far, and it just felt right. Felt like home
Related school rating: Oregon State University
Was there anything specific about the coaches, staff, or teammates that helped you choose this school?
Ethan Thompson. I played with him in high school, and he was already here with his dad. So, that connection. And, he was the first coach to talk to me, so we built a great relationship.
Jarod Lucas, my teammate. He's from California. I grew up playing against him since middle school. So, there were a lot of connections. Like I said, my cousin went here, I went to high school with Ethan, grew up playing against Jar, me and coach Thompson built a good relationship, so everything just felt right.
Related: Jarod Lucas: Highest Free Throw Percentage in the PAC-12
Did you feel a lot of pressure when you began playing for the Beavers as you were ranked the no. 43 point guard in the nation out of high school?
I wouldn't say I felt pressured because of that, but I for sure felt pressured because of the career I had in high school. I was one of the better players in California. Friends and family don't really put pressure on you, but with everyone's expectations and expectations I have on myself, it's only natural to feel a little pressure, but nothing too crazy.
What was the transition into college basketball like for you?
Honestly, it was harder than I thought it was. I thought it was going to be a lot easier because I saw the people before me go through it, and people I have played against or knew were already in college, so I felt talent-wise I was already there. Which I kind of was, but for me it was more so mentally. I had to grow up a lot on the court and off the court, being away from home and just learning how to be a college athlete. I just had to learn and grow a lot.
Related: Homesickness: The Effect on Schoolwork, Athletic Performance, and Social Life
What do you feel is the biggest difference between the high school/AAU level and the PAC 12 level?
I would say the difference between high school/AAU, for me, was in high school we were really trying to win. We cared about winning and about the team. So I sacrificed a lot of personal goals and achievements because I wanted to win. In AAU it was a lot more selfish. Everybody has their own agenda. You're just there with them for the summer, a little bit of the spring, then you go back with your high school team. It's the best time for recruiting, so it's more about self.
The biggest difference between those and college is time. Time management, what you do with your time. In high school, you have class from 8-2 and then after school practice. But, in college, you wake up and you have weights, practice, class, academic meetings. You just need to be really efficient with your time, because it's a lot of hours in a day, but you have lots of stuff to do and lots to get done.
Related: 4 Tips on Time Management for College Athletes
What advice do you have for high school athletes hoping to play college basketball?
Stay the course. Whether things are looking right or not right, stay the course. Stay level-headed. Never get too high or get too low. And remember: it's a long journey. It's really a marathon. Some days you feel up, some days you feel low, but you just gotta stay even and things will work out.
How did it feel to win a PAC 12 championship?
So far in my basketball career, that's the best feeling I've ever felt. That was a great feeling. I couldn't stop smiling, had a couple tears in my eyes. That was one of the best feelings in the world.
What keeps you motivated when you're struggling, athletically or academically?
My family. They're there to support me, right or wrong. Whether things are going good, bad, they're there for me regardless. I have a big family and they all love me, and as long as I got them behind my back and I'm still going, I want to make them proud. They're my motivation.
What's a quote you live by?
Something one of my brothers tells me: “the work that you put in is the work that you get out.”
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* Originally published on December 16, 2021, by Celeste Gutierrez
