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It Felt Like Home: Jerome Hunter Commits to Indiana

By Zach Fleer, 07/17/17, 12:30PM EDT

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Ohio's top rising senior Jerome Hunter committed to Indiana over Ohio State, Michigan and more

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Nearly a week after Ohio State nabbed a commitment out of Bloomington, Indiana, the Hoosiers have struck gold in Columbus. 

Ohio's top senior in Jerome Hunter committed to Indiana over Ohio State, Michigan, Xavier and Pitt, a source first confirmed to 270 Hoops. 

Why Indiana over the hometown Buckeyes and in-state Xavier? Comfort. Hunter felt at home as soon as he left the Bloomington campus and that was ultimately the deciding factor for the 6-foot-7 wing.

"Jerome wanted to go to a place where he felt most comfortable and Indiana was that place," Andreas James, Hunter's trainer and mentor, told 270 Hoops on Monday.

The biggest factor in Indiana's pursuit of Hunter was new head coach Archie Miller.

"Archie was one of the first head coaches to offer Jerome back when he was at Dayton," James said. "That alone was huge and made a difference because Jerome liked Dayton when Archie was there."

Blowing up in the year following Dayton's offer to Hunter last summer, Hunter become a major priority for Miller's Hoosiers and vice versa. 

"When Archie went to Indiana, [Jerome] immediately prioritized them," James said. "As soon as [Miller got the job]."

Going to a program that has a rich basketball history and thousands of passionate fans selling out Assembly Hall for every home game, Hunter is excited about the role in which Indiana plans to utilize him.

"Indiana sees Jerome as an NBA type guard," James said. "He will be able to play the 3 and 2 and in that style of play, he will be able to get the ball and push it down court. They'll put the ball in his hands and develop him like a big NBA guard."

When asked who may have finished second or third, James said that Indiana really 'stood out above all' for Hunter. 

"Jerome had a true top five and so literally down the stretch he had to look at each one and digest the pros and cons," James said. "That was the only campus that he went to, and afterwards, said it truly felt like home." 

Hunter visited every campus in his final top five of Indiana, Ohio State, Michigan, Xavier and Pitt, but the Hoosiers stuck out the most.

James has been there every step of the way in Hunter's journey, which started in middle school, when Jerome was entirely new to the game of basketball.

"Jerome is a kid that has been extremely loyal, he has trusted the process and done it the right way," James said. "Just to watch him develop as a kid, get things done in the classroom, and now have this opportunity to continue to play the game he loves and play it at a high level."

With Hunter's commitment to Indiana, the top two prospects in Central Ohio's 2018 class have committed to programs in the state immediately east of Ohio, as Dane Goodwin committed to Notre Dame earlier in July.

Hunter will now set his sights toward a senior season in which he looks to lead Pickerington North to its first ever state final four after falling a game short last season.

"He is going to be able to relax and play now," James said. "I know he wants to lead this team and he is very excited about his teammates. He's ready to lead them a step further and to a state championship."

Stay tuned to 270 Hoops for continuing coverage on Hunter's commitment to Indiana and more. 

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