Teen star to follow hoop dreams at US university

‘‘A lot of people have helped me get to where I am today. I’m like a sponge and love to soak everything up.’’ ‘‘I was really impressed with the coaching setup, the facilities and the atmosphere around the team,’’ he said. ‘‘It will be an ideal environmen

As Kiwi schoolboy hoops sensation Kruz Perrott-Hunt wryly notes, ‘‘basketball never stops’’.

Not for him anyway, with a year of big moments on the hardwood continuing to net the high points for the 17-year-old Rosmini College standout.

Already this year, Perrott-Hunt has tucked away back-to-back national schoolboy titles with his Auckland institution, finished runner-up at the Fiba Asia Cup (and qualified for the World Cup) with the Junior Tall Blacks, landed a Breakers development spot, been named best defensive player at the Nike Asia camp in China and become the latest junior prodigy to be promoted to Paul Henare’s national senior squad.

Now, to cap it all, he has secured himself a full scholarship at NCAA division one college the University of South Dakota.

‘‘Basketball never stops for me. I love it,’’ he tells Stuff.

Perrott-Hunt, who was named earlier this week in Paul Henare’s 14-strong Tall Blacks squad to prepare for the next Fiba world cup qualifying window, announced on Friday, soon after sitting his yearend business studies exam, that he would be heading to South Dakota to play his college hoops.

Life has certainly been flowing by at a rapid clip for the shooting guard who made his visit to the campus just last weekend, and was clearly impressed with what he saw, announcing his intention to commit for 2019 in the immediate aftermath. Kruz Perrott-Hunt

The Coyotes made it clear from the outset of the recruiting process they were keen on the young New Zealander, and as soon as he saw with his own eyes what was on offer he jumped at the chance. Never mind that other schools were also showing interest.