Will there ever be another Quinton Hooker for the UND men’s basketball team? – Grand Forks Herald

GRAND FORKS — There are definite highlights from the final year of Quinton Hooker’s collegiate career at UND.

Playing second-seeded Arizona in the opening round of the 2017 NCAA men’s basketball tournament in Salt Lake City is one. Senior night in front of a sold-out Betty Engelstad Sioux Center is another.

But his favorite memory is winning the Big Sky championship in Reno, Nevada, beating powerhouse Weber State to become the first Fighting Hawks team — and still the only UND men’s basketball team — to automatically advance to March Madness.

“I remember bursting into tears when the final whistle sounded and falling to the ground,” Hooker said.

The conference championship was the result of two seasons of working together with the same core group, something that doesn’t happen often in the current era of Division I basketball.

Hooker survived a losing season in his sophomore year, stayed with the club and led UND to two winning seasons, a Big Sky title and a March Madness appearance.

The way his four years in Grand Forks went begs the question: Will there be another Quinton Hooker at UND?

Mackenzie Kasper / Big Sky Conference

Hooker knows his career is an anomaly now, and he sees the struggle mid-major coaches now face to build and maintain a team. But he also understands why players leave programs early in favor of playing time at Power 5 schools.

“People still ask me, ‘Hey, why did you spend all four years at North Dakota?'” he said. “I’m grateful that I stayed at UND all four years. We did something that’s never been done before in the history of the school. And the relationships … Ultimately, I guess I’m the one speaking here now, as a 29-year-old father of two, but those relationships are really, really what it’s all about. But at the same time, it’s hard to say no to $40,000, $50,000, $100,000 as a student.

“I’m thankful that I’m not in that situation and that I don’t have to make that decision. My four years were a mid-major player’s dream. That’s what you play for. That’s what you dream about. That’s what you work for. It was hard to say no to that.”

Sometimes it can be difficult for fans, teammates and coaches to see players move on, as they question a player’s commitment to a team. What Hooker understands best, however, is why players leave in search of money in the form of NIL deals or sponsorships through collectives.

When Hooker was at UND, he and his teammates were unable to do certain jobs because they would earn too much money, according to the NCAA.

“I remember my freshman year, they couldn’t give us peanut butter and jelly because it was a meal,” he said. “They could only give us peanut butter and no jelly, or anything crazy like that. I think it’s awesome that players can use their name, use their likeness, and create their own business and their own persona. It’s awesome that they can have that money, life-changing money.”

The lack of continuity in the squad is unlike Hooker’s time at university, when transfer rules were stricter and most transfers came from junior colleges.

“I don’t know if that’s what I miss about college sports right now,” he said. “That level of dedication, that work that you put in year after year with your guys and with your coaching staff … Just having those moments is just awesome. That’s sports. That’s what you work for. That’s what you want to be a part of, those special moments. Even as a pro, that’s what we’re still looking for, to be a part of something bigger than ourselves.”

Eric Hylden / Grand Forks Herald file photo

When the final whistle blew in Salt Lake City after a 100-82 loss to Arizona, Hooker knew his basketball career wasn’t over. His goal since childhood had been to play professionally.

Hooker went undrafted in the 2017 NBA Draft, but he did sign a deal to play professionally overseas. In his seven years as a pro, Hooker played in France, Israel, Germany, Hungary and Poland.

Hooker plans to sign a deal with a new team this summer to continue his career. In mid-August, he, his wife Julia and two children will move back abroad for his eighth year.

“I still don’t quite believe it,” he said. “Six different countries, traveling to a bunch of different countries with my wife and two kids. Sometimes it’s pretty surreal to think about it. I don’t know if I ever imagined it would be like this, but it’s really something special.”