VYPE 411 presented by CertaPro Painters: Cypress Creek's Kyndall Hunter talks season, recruiting, piano-playing skills
Cypress Creek was the best women's basketball team in the city of Houston when it came to public schools in 2019-2020. No doubt about it.
The Lady Cougars went 41-1 and were led by VYPE 2020 Player of the Year Kyndall Hunter. The junior is among the country's top women's basketball prospects, being ranked No. 32 for the Class of 2021 by ESPN.
VYPE Media's Joshua Koch caught up with Hunter for an interview where they talked the season, recruiting process, what she's watching on TV during the Coronavirus outbreak and even found out her secret talent - playing the piano.
VYPE: What are your thoughts on the whole season, which ended with you all going 41-1?
Hunter: "I think that our season was amazing. We made history. I couldn't be more proud of it. I know next year, we're going to strive to do better and be 42-0."
VYPE: Coach Alexander said you took more of a leadership role this year, talk about that.
Hunter: "When I was an underclassmen, there was always other people older than me showing me how everything worked. But this year, I'm an upperclassman now, so I knew I'd have people younger than me looking up to me. Being able to communicate with Coach [Alexander] and having her telling me what I should do or tell my teammates. My teammates had trust in and me and it really came into its own. The seniors before me groomed me very well to know what to do and how to conduct myself."
VYPE: On the court it looked like you could hit a shot from any part of it, how do you feel about your game this year?
Hunter: "That's really just from me training. I train almost every day, usually around six or seven days a week. Just seeing the ball go in a lot and knowing that there is a shot I can't miss. I work on it."
VYPE: You're still one of the most highly touted uncommited players in Houston. What's the recruiting process like for you right now?
Hunter: "The recruiting process is going really well for me. Sometimes it's a little overwhelming. But I feel like it's a blessing to be overwhelmed because there are some people that want to be overwhelmed with colleges and they aren't. But it's going pretty smooth, just building relationships with coaches to know what I like and don't like."
VYPE: Do you have a list of top schools or visits you're planning in next months?
Hunter: "I haven't really narrowed it down. I had home visits scheduled, so right now I'm doing virtual visits. I'm just trying to figure it out and see how many I will have."
VYPE: Have you thought about when you plan to try and make a verbal commitment?
Hunter: "I'll probably be committed by September."
VYPE: Heading into your senior year, what's the biggest goal for you and this team?
Hunter: "I want to win a state championship so, so bad. That's probably my No. 1 priority going into my senior year. So, I have to make sure this offseason I work to perfect everything that I might not be as strong at. That way, we will be able to win a state championship."
VYPE: With a lot of people staying home right now, what are you watching on TV?
Hunter: "My TV is mostly on ESPN. [On Tuesday], I watched an old game from 2008. It was Tennessee vs Stanford women's basketball. I've just been watching that or watching highlights on YouTube. I just want to watch basketball. Sometimes I watch Netflix. I watch All-American, I've been into those lately."
VYPE: Is there a secret talent that you have that we don't know about?
Hunter: "I used to take piano lessons. So, I can play the piano a little bit."
VYPE: If you were to go sit down at a piano right now, what would be your go-to song? Also, what song do you want to learn?
Hunter: "It would be 'I'm Not the Only One' by Sam Smith. I like that one. I recently learned it last year. And I want to learn a Beyoncé song. Any song. I just feel like if you know how to play Beyoncé on the piano, then you've officially made it. So, when I learn that I'll be satisfied."
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