Julian Cunningham, a rising sophomore at St. Francis High School (Athol Springs), is on the verge of breaking out. Currently running with the Buffalo Hoop Group (school-run team), the 15-year-old, 5’11, 145 lb. point guard impressed many in his first season at the varsity level.
It’s not often that you see a freshman on a varsity roster, let alone, playing a starting role and excelling. And Cunningham did just that. Playing in the competitive Monsignor Martin Athletic Association, he averaged 10.0 points, 4.0 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game- certainly, a well-rounded stat-line.
As his numbers suggest, Julian Cunningham is quite versatile. He feels his best skill is his defense. He uses his length and quickness to get in the passing lanes and be disruptive. In an interview with the Upstate Scouting Service, he admitted that he loves being a facilitator on the other end of the court as well. He said, “If I see someone open, I’m going to get them the ball. I really like getting my teammates involved, especially the bigs.”
This off-season, Cunningham has focused on improving all aspects of his game. He’s committed himself to getting stronger and more athletic, so that he can one day live his dream of playing Division 1 basketball. At this point in time, Cunningham has not drawn interest from any collegiate programs, but he is willing to work hard to get to that point. He knows firsthand the amount of drive and determination that it’ll take. His cousin, Howard Washington, is a highly sought-after combo guard in the 2017 class.
Cunningham averages 90% in the classroom, but said that number will definitely increase this coming school year. He said, “I’m a very hardworking student. Grades come before anything else. If I do not have the grades, I will not be able to play basketball or more importantly, graduate.” This is a mature response from a fifteen-year-old.
I had the chance to ask Julian a few questions of my own:
Q: What impact do you feel you would give to a college team?
A: Defense. One thing I love to do is strip the ball from the other team or block a shot. Both bring a lot of energy to my team. Also, scoring and passing. In my opinion, I can score with the best of them. However, I like to get my teammates involved just as much. I’m not a player that looks to score first. I like to see my team score.
Q: What is your ultimate goal, with respect to the game of basketball?
A: My ultimate goal is to go to a Division 1 college and play basketball. I want to get a degree. After that, if I’m good enough for the NBA, I’ll do whatever it takes to get there. I know that I still have a lot of time before that comes, though.
Follow @thekidjuice1 Julian on Twitter
Danny Cohen-Staff writer
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