The Oklahoman’s Super 30: Extra work has Millwood’s Rickey Hunt Jr. at top of his game
The night sky swallowed the Millwood High School football field.
The stands were absent of fans, the band wasn’t playing and there wasn’t a Millwood jersey in sight.
However, at the bottom of a hill outside of the football field, stood an 8-year-old Rickey Hunt Jr. with his cousin Kalub and uncle Denard Hunt.
Hunt Jr. was a Little League football player along with Kalub, who was the quarterback and Denard, who was the coach. Most Little League football players went home after practice to relax, play video games or watch television.
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But Hunt Jr. and his family have always been built different. After their practices, Hunt Jr. would run routes while his cousin worked on his mechanics before they finished their workout with more cardio.
“It was probably 10 o’clock,” Hunt Jr. said, remembering the nights. “We’d run the hills and then the neighborhood. We were getting it in.”
Almost a decade later, it’s that kind of work ethic that’s leading Hunt Jr. to the life he’s always wanted.
Now, Hunt Jr. is No. 16 on The Oklahoman’s Super 30 rankings of the state’s top high school recruits in the 2023 class. And not only has the 6-foot, 185-pounder become a legend at his school for all of the 80-yard touchdown runs he’s achieved, but he’s also become one of the best all-around athletes in the state. And colleges have taken notice. Hunt Jr. has offers from Iowa State, Ohio, Navy, Sam Houston State, Abilene Christian, Houston Baptist and Buffalo.
The Millwood star is expecting more to come.
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“It’s going good,” Hunt Jr. said of his recruitment. “I thank God for it everyday. Just to get the opportunity to look at me and say, ‘I’d like to give you a scholarship,’ it’s everybody’s dream so, I’m loving it.”
His introduction to football came from his grandfathers. Freddie Anderson was the first to put a football in his hand while Prentice Hunt was the first to throw it around with him. Including his grandparents, Hunt Jr. comes from a long lineage of Millwood athletes. His mother, Darise Hunt, ran track and his father, Rickey Hunt Sr., was an offensive lineman.
“I’m probably the 5th generation that’s been at Millwood,” Hunt Jr. said. “I love it.”
Hunt Jr. is known for his versatility on the field, where he plays every skill position for the Falcons. But he also excels in other sports where he’s the starting point guard on the state championship basketball team and a sprinter on the track team. Hunt Jr. rarely gets a break from his athletic duties. But when he’s away from the field, court or track, Hunt Jr. enjoys making music.
“I’m a church boy,” Hunt Jr. said. “I grew up in church so I love to listen to different types of music.”
Hunt Jr. plays the drums and sometimes the keyboard in his church choir. So, due to Hunt Jr. performing on the stage or in the middle of a sporting event surrounded by fans, he’s become accustomed to being the center of attention.
Hunt Jr. made a viral play in the Class 3A state tournament basketball game last spring. As the final seconds wound down, Hunt Jr.’s freshman teammate Chance Davis shouted, “Rickey, I’m going to hit this! Trust me!”
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Hunt Jr. made the pass and Davis made the basket at the buzzer to win the championship. The play flooded not only social media but major media outlets such as ESPN. Even around pick-up basketball games around the state, players have been known to shout ’Rickey, trust me’ before attempting the final shot of the game.
“Just trying to stay level-headed, humble,” Hunt Jr. said of his most difficult challenge. “(At Millwood) everybody praises you. Just trying to block that out and still stay humble and keep God first and stay to my word. That’s really the hardest thing I’ve had to do right now. Just make sure he gets all the praise.”
Through all of the attention and praise Hunt Jr. gets now, it’s well deserved. It all started from the bottom of the hill. Now, he’s at the top. And the life he’s always wanted is just on the other side.
The Oklahoman’s 2023 Super 30
Name: Rickey Hunt Jr.
School: Millwood
Super 30 ranking: No. 16
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 185 pounds
Position: Running back
Recruited by: Iowa State, Ohio, Navy, Sam Houston State, Abilene Christian, Houston Baptist and Buffalo.
About the series
The Oklahoman’s Super 30 feature series will spotlight each high school football player on the Super 30 recruit rankings for the 2023 class. The series continued with No. 16, Millwood’s Rickey Hunt Jr. See No. 15 on the list in Thursday's edition of The Oklahoman. Here are the last five players we’ve featured:
No. 21: Kaden Jones, DL, Mustang
No. 20: Jonathan Ashford, OL, Edmond Santa Fe
No. 19: Cal Swanson, QB, Ardmore
No. 18: Tashawn James, DB, Carl Albert
No. 17: RJ Jackson, TE, Choctaw
No. 16: Rickey Hunt Jr., RB, Millwood
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma high school football: Hunt Jr, Millwood recruiting profile
