This Quarterback’s a keeper

All eyes at Christ The King High School are on quarterback Terrell Hunt, who is turning in a promising varsity football season this year.
He is only a sophomore who is showing a great deal of potential and has a bright future ahead of him. By the time he graduates, he is sure to have the college recruiters knocking on his door in Rosedale.
In a recent game against Bishop Ford of Brooklyn, he ran 38 yards for a touchdown to open the scoring and then connected with Peter Nwajei for a 69-yard pass-run play resulting in a second touchdown that really opened the eyes of the coaching staff. Those scores came in the first half, and Hunt added a short one-yard run in the second half for a touchdown that broke a 20-20 tie and clinched a 26-20 victory, evening the Royals’ record at 2-2.
Coach Kevin Kelly is very optimistic about Hunt’s future as well as the team’s in the Catholic High School Football League.
Last fall Hunt played quarterback and helped to lead the freshmen team to the semi-finals of the Class ‘AA’ playoffs, only to lose by five points.
“He’s a great athlete,” Kelly said after the fourth game of the season at Victory Field in Woodhaven. “He’s young and only a sophomore. He does a very good job in throwing and running the ball.”
He can do both equally well.
“He is strong and athletic,” Kelly went on. “And he has a strong arm.”
During the winter, he dons a basketball uniform for Christ The King. Whether he moves up to the varsity or not is up to the coaching staff.
“I don’t have any problems with him playing two sports as long as he has the opportunity,” Kelly added. “He excels in both sports.”
Following last year’s football season, Hunt went straight to the freshman basketball team and averaged 14 points a game. During the spring and summer he practiced, had summer workouts in both sports, and played in basketball tournaments in preparation for his sophomore year.
“Prior to last year I was at junior high school,” said Hunt, who in his younger days played at I.S. 8 and in the parks learning about basketball. “I wasn’t used to going from one sport right to another but after a while I got used to it.
“Here at Christ The King, Hunt has two good options going on right now,” Kelly said. “When kids open up their options they have a better opportunity of advancing. And he is (also) a good academic student, we’re very proud of him.”
Terrell’s father, Darrell Dockery, helped him with basketball, for he once played at Newtown High School of the Public Schools Athletic League.
“My father wanted me to go to Christ The King because he knew it was a good basketball school,” the 6-3, 15-year-old two-sport athlete said. “And I wanted to go because there because they had a football team, as well. At the time, I liked to play both sports. My father wanted me to go out for basketball, but he said, it was my choice.”
If he has the choice between the two, he would lean toward basketball, for he might pursue a career in it. One is more liable to get hurt in football.
“We’re excited to have him on the varsity football team and he’ll continue to get better,” Coach Kelly added.
As a team, the Royals from Middle Village have been off to a sluggish start. They still have a chance to capture the league title.
“It will take hard work and determination,” Hunt said.
“The whole Catholic league is very tough,” Kelly continued. “We have some good athletes in the backfield and along the perimeter. We are explosive and feel good about our offense. And we have been stepping up (improving) on our defense.”