Sam Cunliffe wasn’t alive when Bobby Hurley was playing at Duke, but the Rainier Beach guard knows all about the former Blue Devil.
Considering his childhood environment, how could Cunliffe not?
“I used to have Duke gear all over my house,” Cunliffe said. “My mom and everybody, it was just Duke, Duke, Duke. You have no choice but to know who he is. Watching the players like John Scheyer and those guys, you see them and Duke’s history and you have to know who (Bobby Hurley) is.”
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That Duke gear has likely been replaced by Arizona State apparel, but Hurley would be a big reason why.
Arizona State hired Hurley as its new basketball coach last April. Two months later, Hurley had a commitment from Cunliffe.
“I’m beyond excited,” Cunliffe said. “It’s kind of my dream. I had always been a Duke fan and I’ve kind of followed Bobby Hurley really closely. When I saw he got the job, I was like, ‘Oh, ok.’
“I wasn’t really looking at Arizona State before he got there. He started recruiting me and talking to me. It all fell into place.”
In Cunliffe, the Sun Devils are getting a versatile wing who can score and handle the ball.
The 6’6” senior showed off his skill-set in Thursday’s Tournament of Champions quarterfinal round, finishing with 26 points, six rebounds and three steals as the Vikings defeated four-time defending Nevada state champion Bishop Gorman, 74-71.
Rainier Beach will need another big game from Cunliffe in order to beat nationally ranked and defending T of C champion Oak Hill in Friday’s semifinal round.
Against Bishop Gorman, Cunliffe needed only 11 field goal attempts to get his 26 points, thanks to his ability to draw fouls and get to the free throw line.
“He attacks the hoop hard and he’s hard to guard,” said Rainier Beach coach Mike Bethea. “He’s the type of guy that’s going to shoot 10 to 15 free throws per game.”
Cunliffe was 16-for-19 at the line against Bishop Gorman and 2-for-4 on 3-point attempts. The 19 free throw attempts tied a tournament record, held by four other players including current Washington Wizard Bradley Beal.
The 16 made free throws were one shy of tying the tournament record, which is co-held by Beal and Christ the King's Ervin Walker.
“I usually get around 10 (free throws) a game,” Cunliffe said. “I like to attack the basket. I wish my shot would’ve been falling a little bit more, but I was able to get to the free throw line and make sure I was getting points easier.”
When asked if he models his game after any NBA players, Cunliffe mentioned Indiana Pacers all-star Paul George. In his 6th year in the league, George is currently averaging around 24 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists per game. His 6.9 free throw attempts per game rank 11th in the NBA.
“I just feel like we’re the same,” Cunliffe said. “I’m not as strong as him, but the way he shoots, handles, gets to the basket and his quickness… I like to model my game after him.
“And Kobe Bryant.”
