Coming from The Bronx, Kevin Punter plays with a lot of flare.
“Where I’m from, a lot of people are fancy (with the ball),” Punter said. “I try not to be too fancy – I try to keep it simple – but it can get a little hard sometimes.”
All that on-court “swag,” as senior guard Josh Richardson described it, hasn’t always been beneficial for Punter though.
One instance saw the 6-foot-4, 180-pound guard attempt – and successfully pull off – a no-look shovel pass to freshman Tariq Owens.
The pretty pass, however, didn’t go over well with Donnie Tyndall, drawing scorn from the first-year head coach.
Chalk up yet another lesson that the newcomer has to learn as he tries to adapt to playing point guard for the first time in his career.
“It’s been a challenge, but I think I’ve done a pretty good job,” said Punter on the position change. “My teammates have been great, and they’ve helped me since I got here.
“I’ve kind of made that position my own. It’s still not my natural position, but I think I’m getting a lot better with it.”
In Punter’s two years at State Fair C.C. in Sedalia, Missouri, he played primarily as a two-guard, averaging 20.3 points per game as he led the Roadrunners to the NJCAA Division I National Championship for the first time since 1976.
With that said, one of the biggest obstacles Punter has dealt with since the position change has been changing his mentality from being the go-to scorer to being the facilitator on the offensive end.
The junior’s unselfish mindset, however, has helped make that transition a little easier.
“I’m so used to catching and just going to the basket or shooting and just having more tunnel vision,” Punter said. “Now, I have to look more for the open player and set things up, but I think I’ve been doing a great job of that since the summer time.”
But even with an increased awareness on making the extra pass, Punter still has the go-ahead to do what he does best: put the ball in the hoop.
“I wouldn’t say I have the freedom,” Punter said, “but they still give me the ability to create, get on the wing, shoot the ball and do what I did in junior college.”
While Punter is far from polished at his new position, his coaches have faith he’ll be ready come November.
The reason? His tremendous work ethic and willingness to learn.
“One thing about Kevin, he’s a sponge,” Tyndall said. “He tries to absorb everything you tell him. He has a great attitude and he works extremely hard.”
The Vols are hoping that work ethic pays off, as Tyndall currently doesn’t have the same trust in the guards behind Punter, specifically freshman Ian Chiles, to be able to step up when needed.
“Ian Chiles has really struggled the last few weeks,” Tyndall said. “If we were playing a game today, I’d probably just move Josh (Richardson) to the backup point just because I think he’d at least be safe and protect the ball. Thus far, Ian has really been turnover prone.”
And although Punter is honored to get the first crack at being the Vols’ primary ball handler, he also knows a strong finish to this offseason is crucial to becoming the best he can be before the season tips off.
“I don’t want to learn the hard way,” Punter said. “I want to get it right, right now.”
