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14 CAVALIER CORNER can shoot it, he can drive. So he's a great player honestly." Bennett has said that this team, with Hunter — who he said he wants to be "more physical and aggressive" this season — Key and redshirt third-year forward Mamadi Diakite in the mix, is one of the longest, most athletic clubs he's coached. It's a chal- lenge, but one he's obviously excited to have on his hands. "Any time you have versatility with the way the game's going, it's good," Bennett said. "Sometimes teams are playing, just like in the NBA, where their five man can [shoot it]. Small ball, or their four man can go out and shoot threes and do different things. "At times last year, we'd switch ball screens with De'Andre. They're similar size wise. … Right now, I think De'Andre can go out on the perimeter and guard more, I think he's more comfortable at that. Al- though, Braxton can do that too. "They bring some versatility. I like them when they're locked in defensively and playing." That was certainly the case in Virginia's season-opening 73-42 win over Towson Nov. 6. "I like the versatility of this team," Ben- nett said after the rout. "When you can play mobile forwards or play Ty on and off the ball when Kihei [Clark is] in … I like the versatility. "Sometimes I'm playing Braxton on the perimeter offensively and then I let Dre play more of a forward offensively and then we flip it defensively. That's that versatility that's there." "It's crazy," Hunter said of playing alongside Key. "When we're able to switch screens and stuff — because he can guard inside and out, I can do the same — I feel like it just makes it a lot easier for other guys on defense. "Having guys like Jack and Mamadi back there, I think it makes it hard to score." Early in the season, it was clear to Ben- nett that the version of No. 12 he got back this year is one that is ready to take a big step forward. "I liked his aggressiveness on the glass," Bennett said of Hunter. "I thought he was aggressive and stronger and more physical. He's a talented player. He guarded the ball pretty well. "I think there are some areas where he'll keep coming. It's not like he's rusty. You saw a little bit of shakiness at times, but he's good and he's going to make some plays. I think he's going to get more and more comfortable. "I like his length and mobility. This is a mobile team with some size and I haven't had that. That's a strength of ours." For some fans, though, watching Hunter in the early going was a shock. No, he hadn't changed numbers or wasn't dramati- cally bigger. It was the lack of his signature dreads. "Honestly, my hair was getting in my way," Hunter said with a smile in the pre- season. "It was hitting me in my face, hit- ting me in my neck and stuff. It was getting really long. So, I just had to cut it." From a wrist injury that cut his season short last year to having a very similar player added to the roster and now to a new look, there's a lot for Hunter to be excited about in 2018-19. But the last year has taught the soft-spo- ken Keystone State native a very valuable lesson and that's in part why he has a very clear mission. "Just continue to do what I did last year," Hunter said simply. "Just continue playing my game and good things will happen." Hunter was one of 20 players nationally named to the preseason watch list for the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award. PHOTO COURTESY UVA