#0 - Kevin Punter - PG/Sr - TENNESSEE Volunteers

Class: Senior

Hometown: Bronx, N.Y.

High School: Salesian HS

Last College: State Fair CC (Mo.)

Height / Weight: 6-2 / 190

Position: G

Experience: 1L

Prep School: Body of Christ (N.C.)

Follow @_KPJunior_

PERSONAL

• Full name is Kevin Xavier Punter Jr.
• Born: June 25, 1993, in Bronx, N.Y.
• Son of Sherise and Kevin Punter Sr.
• Academic major: Recreation/Sport Management
• Recipient of The JoNelda & Sidney Blalock Athletic Scholarship Endowment

CAREER HIGHS

• Points: 31 // vs. UNC Asheville, 11/13/15
• Rebounds: 7 // vs. Gardner-Webb, 11/22/15
• Assists: 7 // vs. VCU, 11/14/14
• Steals: 6 // at Georgia, 2/7/15
• Blocks: 1 (7x) // last vs. Gardner-Webb, 11/22/15
• Field Goals: 10 // vs. UNC Asheville, 11/13/15
• 3-Pointers: 5 (2x) // last vs. Gardner-Webb, 11/22/15
• Free Throws: 9 (2x) // last vs. Nebraska, 11/28/15*
• Minutes: 37 (2x) // last vs. Army, 11/24/15

* Indicates most recent high

HONORS

2015 Barclays Center Classic All-Tournament Team

2015-16 - SENIOR

• Has scored 20+ points in each of his last four games, the longest streak since Jordan McRae dropped 20+ in five straight games in 2012-13.
• Finished with 26 points and four assists against Army West Point; went 5-of-7 from the field in the second half.
• Grabbed a career-high seven rebounds, dished out six assists and led the Vols with 24 points against Gardner-Webb (11/22/15); he shot 5-for-10 from 3-point range in the victory.
• Played a career-high 37 minutes and scored 17 of his 19 points in UT's come-from-behind win over Marshall (11/19/15) in the second half; went 9-for-10 at the free-throw line.
• Exploded for a career-high 31 points on 10-of-14 shooting in Tennessee's season-opening win over UNC Asheville (11/13/15); he was 3-for-6 from 3-point range and 8-for-12 from the free-throw line vs. the Bulldogs.

2014-15 - JUNIOR

• Appeared in all 32 games and made 31 starts in his first year as a Vol.
• Ranked second on the team in steals (1.6 spg) and minutes played (31.0 mpg) while ranking third in scoring (10.3 ppg), assists (1.9 apg) and 3-point percentage (.352).
• Led the team in scoring five times, assists seven times and steals 14 times.
• Had three or more steals in seven different games.
• Scored in double figures 19 times, including 13 times in SEC play.
• In SEC play, he averaged 10.0 points, 1.9 assists and 1.8 steals per game (tied for third in the SEC in steals during league play).
• Played 31.6 minutes per game during league play.
• Totaled 13 points and two steals against Arkansas in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament (3/13/15); reeled off nine consecutive points during one stretch in the second half.
• Dished out a team-high four assists and also scored nine points in Tennessee's second-round SEC Tournament win over Vanderbilt in Nashville (3/12/15).
• Had 10 points, three rebounds and three steals in the win at LSU (3/4/15).
• Four 3-pointers highlighted his 12-point, three assist effort at Ole Miss (2/21/15).
• Scored a team-high 14 points against top-ranked Kentucky (2/17/15).
• During UT's thrilling overtime win at Vanderbilt (2/11/15), he drained an off-balance, contested 3-pointer with 11 seconds left in regulation to make it a two-point game; he later made two free throws in overtime that gave the Vols the lead for good.
• Scored 10 points and also managed a season-high six steals at Georgia (2/7/15).
• Was 3-of-4 from 3-point range while totaling 17 points, two assists and two steals as the Vols defeated Auburn (1/31/15).
• A game-high four steals highlighted his 10-point, three-rebound, two-assist effort at Arkansas (1/27/15).
• Made his first five 3-pointers (finishing 5-of-7 from long range) while scoring a game-high 17 points vs. Texas A&M (1/24/15).
• Posted 12 points and three steals in the win at Missouri (1/17/15), where he was once committed while in junior college.
• Had eight points and a season-high six rebounds in the win over 19th-ranked Arkansas (1/13/15).
• Recorded his second four-steal game of the season and also shot a perfect 4-for-4 from 3-point range during an 19-point effort in UT's home win over Tennessee State (12/27/14).
• Totaled 14 points, four rebounds, one assist and no turnovers in 34 solid minutes at NC State (12/17/14).
• Scored 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting and grabbed four rebounds in Tennessee's upset win over 15th-ranked Butler (12/14/14).
• Had four of Tennessee's 12 steals in UT's SEC/Big 12 Challenge win over Kansas State (12/6/14); also scored seven points vs. the Wildcats.
• Was one of Tennessee's top performers against 11th-ranked Kansas in the semifinals of the Orlando Classic (11/17/14), as he logged 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting to go along with two rebounds, two assists and a pair of steals.
• Shot 3-for-5 from 3-point range during a 13-point performance in UT's home-opening win over Texas Southern (11/20/14).
• Made his debut as a Vol by starting at the No. 2 spot vs. 15th-ranked VCU at the Veterans Classic (11/14/14); totaled eight points, a game-high seven assists and also had a pair of steals before fouling out after 34 minutes of action.

2013-14 - SOPHOMORE (State Fair Community College [Mo.])

• Earned his associate's degree before transferring to Tennessee.
• Selected as a first-team NJCAA All-American.
• Shot 57.1 percent from the field and 37 percent from 3-point range while averaging 20.3 points (26th nationally), 4.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.
• His 651 total points ranked tied for 13th in the country among junior-college players.
• Shot 82.7 percent from the free-throw line (43rd nationally).
• Helped the Roadrunners to a 26-7 overall record and their first trip to NJCAA Men's Division I National Championship since the 1975-1976 season.
• Was coached at State Fair Community College by Kevin Thomas.

2012-13 - FRESHMAN (State Fair Community College [Mo.])

• As a freshman for the Roadrunners in 2012-13, averaged 12.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists.

PREP SCHOOL

• Following high school, one year attending Body of Christ Christian Academy in Raleigh, N.C.
• In his lone season at Body of Christ, he averaged 24.2 points and 2.5 steals.

HIGH SCHOOL

• Graduated from Salesian (pronounced: suh-LEE-zhin) High School in New Rochelle, N.Y., in 2011.
• He was coached at Salesian by John Miressi and finished as the school's second all-time leading scorer.
• The New York State Sportswriters Association named Punter the 2011 Class B State Player of the Year and an All-State performer after he averaged 28.2 points as a senior.