The role of Hunter Hernandez on the Archbishop Mitty team last season is not quite like playing second fiddle to the world’s greatest violinist, but in the world of girls basketball the role the 5-9 combo guard, that can also play forward, assumed in the Monarchs season as Mitty’s second-best player after All-Everything Haley Jones, is somewhat similar.

Now, because of the kind of season she had Hernandez is the 2019 Prep2Prep Central Coast Section Sophomore of the Year.

“Wow, that’s awesome. Thank you so much,” was Hernandez’ response when told she was being honored.

With her selection Hernandez has now has snagged both the freshman and sophomore Prep2Prep awards

“As our second-leading scorer and rebounder Hunter kept our opponents honest as they sent multiple defenders at Haley,” said Mitty Coach Sue Phillips about how “Hundo,” as the team likes to call Hernandez, complimented Jones. “Hundo also helped to relieve the ball pressure, knocked down the timely shot, and carried a big load for us defensively by getting on the glass and applying pressure from end to end.”

“Playing with Haley for two years brought my level of competition up and my overall game because I did what I needed to do as well as compliment all of her talents to make the whole dynamic work as well as possible,” Hernandez answered about playing for two years with one of the world’s greatest girls high school basketball players.

With Jones having the ball in her hands so much the numbers Hernandez put up to go with all the intangibles Phillips described are very solid for a sophomore playing on a team that had a schedule including top-notch national level competition.

On the season Hernandez averaged 11.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.6 steals per game on a West Catholic Athletic League and Central Coast Section Open Division championship team that made it to the Northern Regional Open Division semifinals.

In the CCS Open title game Hernandez had a double-double 21 points and 12 rebounds with three assists in a 72-51 victory over Pinewood. Hundo had a season-high 28 points in a win over Carondelet, a double-double 10 points and 12 rebounds in a win over St. Joseph Notre Dame, and both of those teams were in the Northern Regional Open Division playoffs. A third double-double came at the Nike TOC when she had 11 points and 10 rebounds with three assists in a win over perennial Pennsylvania power Villa Maria Academy.

“Hunter is a physical player with a relentless motor, a competitor and as tough as any player I have coached in my 27 years at Mitty,” Phillips remarked.

“The reason Hunter has received Division I scholarship offers is because of her ability to score at all three levels and defend from end line to end line,” Phillips continued. “Her midrange jumper is textbook, and to top it off Hunter is a terrific teammate who always puts team first.”

NOTE: We would like to thank our media partners, coaches, parents, players and fans for contributing photos for our all-section features. We salute all of the players that have made this a wonderful season of CCS basketball.