UTEP Signs 6-Foot-10 Post Player

Hooper Vint, a 6-10, 220-pound center from Van Buren, Ark., has signed a national letter of intent to play basketball at UTEP beginning with the 2011-12 season.

“I’m really thrilled with our latest addition,” UTEP coach Tim Floyd said. “I definitely believe he is going to be a guy who impacts winning at some point of his career. His best basketball is in front of him but his base can carry him a long way. He catches the ball and runs the floor well. He has the ability to face up from 15-18 feet to the three-point line and shoot the ball, and he is a developing post player. I love his ability to pass the basketball. Given our situation with the players we lost, he has a great opportunity to play next year. He is a tremendous student and is accountable. He is mature beyond his 18 years, which is extremely important to any player’s future development.”

Vint averaged 18.1 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.6 blocks this season for Van Buren High School, which finished 20-8. He shot 61 percent from the field and 74 percent from the free throw line. He was chosen the 7A/6A Central Conference Player of the Year. Vint earned All-Conference and All-State honors and was an honorable mention McDonald’s All-American. He led Van Buren High to the outright conference championship with a 13-1 mark. Vint has been selected to play in the Arkansas All-Star Game on June 22 in Fayetteville.

He collected 17 ppg, 7 rpg and 4 bpg as a junior for a 19-10 squad while garnering All-Conference, All-State and All-State Tournament honors. He was a three-year member of the varsity team while playing for coach Randy Loyd.

Vint is the son of Bobby Vint, who played at the University of Arkansas from 1966-71 and later coached at Arkansas, Lamar, Texas A&M and Westark College, as well as at the high school level.

Source: UTEP Athletics