In a game earlier this season, Hunter Myers caught an entry pass in the post, drop-stepped with one dribble and rose from the hardwood for a two-handed dunk, all in one fluid motion.
Actually, Myers more or less dropped the ball through the hoop. Two extended arms from as many defenders kept the play from being a true highlight. But it was also what made the play so impressive.
Myers converted a couple drop-step dunks at the end of last season. But those came without much resistance.
To leave his feet thinking about dunking on a defender -- or two -- demonstrates how much confidence the 6-foot-7 Douglas junior has in his game.
The potential was always there for Myers, a three-year varsity player and All-North selection last season as a sophomore. But he put in the work last summer, hoping it will get him to the next level.
Nearly every move Myers makes now is fluid and easy, and he is more assertive and confident in his ability.
"It was a lot of hard work," Myers said. "When I first started out, it was really uncomfortable for me. But the more I worked on it, the more comfortable it became.
"I'm more comfortable being in the leader position, having the ball in my hands. And just more comfortable because I am able to do more now."
Myers was quick to credit former Nevada player Garry Hill-Thomas, his coach with the Nevada CC Wolverines traveling club team.
"He helped me the whole offseason, training, working every day in the gym," Myers said. "It was a lot of ball handling and lot of jump shots. I'm feeling a lot more comfortable on the perimeter now."
The Wolverines played in top-flight summer tournaments in Oakland, San Francisco, Las Vegas and twice in Anaheim.
"I've always thought Hunter had the potential to play at the next level," said Hill-Thomas, who coached at North Valleys for one season in 2009-10. "I thought there were aspects to his game that could be worked on, and he's not a hard kid to work with. He listens and soaks up everything. It's nice he wants to give me some credit, but he really put in the work."
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Douglas is reaping the benefits, as the No. 2 Tigers visit No. 1 Hug tonight in a matchup between Myers and a few of his Wolverines teammates.
"The time he put in is very evident. He's really done as much as he could to really improve his game," Douglas coach Corey Thacker said. "He's always had a natural feel for the ball and how to use his body. But now he has a feel for how to move in space with other people around. And his shot has improved, as has his defense and lateral movement."
Myers basically rebuilt his jump shot as part of an effort to become more of an all-around player than just a post player.
"Any time a kid gets in the gym and really works on something, shoot, you're going to see the results from that," Thacker said. "It's that way with anything. If there's a kid who wants to be a better reader, and he reads more, he's going to read better. ... Any time you can put in the extra time and actually work at it, not just show up, you're going to see the benefits."
The immediate benefit is a team-high 13.7 points-per-game average, up a slight tick from a year ago while facing added defensive attention. And Myers now is on the recruiting radar of many programs.
Nevada already offered him a scholarship. Arizona State, Gonzaga, Stanford, Harvard and Yale also are showing heavy interest. With the top ranking in his class, Myers has the grades for Ivy League schools.
"They like him a lot," Hill-Thomas said of the college coaches he's spoken to about Myers. "They rave about his development and love his shooting ability. They just want to see him continue that development."
Myers, selected as a preseason third-team all-state member by ESPNHS, is taking his new-found recruiting attention in stride.
"I treat it no differently than any other day," he said. "So, I get a few phone calls, talk to some coaches for a few minutes, have a nice day and move on. I'm just taking it in and seeing what I can get. I'm not closing off any options, and I'll narrow it down later."
Myers said he does not anticipate giving a verbal commitment to any school. Instead, he is waiting until signing day in November to commit.
"I don't want to make an early decision that ends up being the wrong decision," he said. "I want to wait and make the right decision."
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