FAIRMONT — Bad weather never deterred Andrew Gunnoe from working on his game.
“I remember being a little kid and bundling up so I could go out in the snow and play basketball,” he said. “It’s always been a love of mine and I’ve always prided myself on working hard to get better.”
Perhaps more than anything it was Gunnoe’s drive and relentless work ethic, coupled with a wealth of basketball potential, which prompted Fairmont State head men’s basketball coach Tim Murphy to offer the 6-6, 195-pound Summers County standout forward a chance to play for the Falcons next season at the college level.
“Andrew is a high-IQ, hard-nosed basketball player who is athletic and plays extremely hard,” said Murphy. “When we had him here for a visit he really impressed me with the way he played. He hustled every single minute he was on the floor and I couldn’t get that out of my mind. You’ve got to love kids like that.
“He’s the type of player who is only going to continue to get better because of his work habits.”
Gunnoe, an intelligent, extremely polite and well-spoken young man, says he knew he had one chance to impress on his visit to Fairmont and wanted to make the most of it.
“I was there for a reason and I knew I’d have to work hard to impress coach,” said Gunnoe. “I went in saying to myself that whether I was the best player on the court or not I was going to try my hardest and play my hardest so no one could doubt me in that area.”
No one did and anyone who knows anything about Class AA basketball in the state of West Virginia knows Gunnoe has a wealth of potential in front of him at the NCAA Division II level.
Gunnoe averaged 23.4 points and 11.3 rebounds per game this past season for Summers County which lost 70-68 to Bluefield in the Class AA Region VII title game and ended the season with a 19-6 record. Gunnoe finished with 25 points in that contest and wound up fourth in the state of West Virginia this season in scoring. He also turned in the highest single-game scoring performance in the state this season when he dropped 50 points on Liberty in a 113-47 Summers County victory.
Gunnoe was a first-team Class AA All-State selection this year and last season when he averaged 23.8 points per outing he was a second-team all-state pick. He finished his prep career with well over 1,000 points and will take part in the annual North-South All-Star Basketball Game as a member of the South All-Stars on Friday, June 20 at the South Charleston Community Center.
“I’m pretty athletic, but there’s definitely some things I really want to work on this summer to get ready for college ball,” said Gunnoe. “I plan on working hard to get stronger and I really want to improve my jump shot for college. A lot of my game is driving and creating things, but I can shoot from the outside. I just really want to be a true inside-outside threat in college.
“Fairmont plays that style of ball where they have a lot of shooters and I really like that. I saw them play a couple of times and like I said I really liked their style. I also met coach Murphy and some of the guys on the team and I immediately liked them. I’m also pretty impressed with the school and it’s close to Morgantown which is another big plus for me.”
Like most youngsters, Gunnoe had big dreams as a child. He’s a born and raised West Virginia University fan who had hopes of playing for the Mountaineers one day on the hardwood. He, however, says now FSU is not a bad second choice.
“Fairmont State is the closest school to WVU so that’s not bad,” he said with a laugh. “Seriously, though, it’s a great opportunity. To play college ball has always been my dream and I’m excited about coming to Fairmont and being part of a successful program there.”
Gunnoe has not yet decided upon a college major, but indicated that he is leaning toward something in the business field.
Duane Cochrane
FSU signs Andrew Gunnoe
- Duane Cochrane
-
-
Falling short: SLIDESHOW
For Fairmont State’s men’s basketball team, the story this season has been an all-too familiar one.
-
Lady Falcons top State, extend streak: SLIDESHOW
Kaitlin Snyder and Hailey Garrett combined for 43 points to help lead Fairmont State’s Lady Falcons to their third consecutive victory, 87-78, here Monday evening over visiting West Virginia State at the Joe Retton Arena.
-
Lady Falcons halt UPJ’s winning ways: PHOTOS
One of the hottest teams in the West Virginia Conference paid a visit to the Joe Retton Arena on Wednesday evening and received a rude welcoming from Fairmont State’s Lady Falcons.
Pitt-Johnstown, winners of three in a row and eight of its last 10, got thoroughly dominated for 32 of the game’s 40 minutes as FSU halted the Lady Mountain Cats’ winning ways with an 88-66 victory. -
UPJ wins thriller over Falcons, 92-87
It was an electric atmosphere here Wednesday evening at the Joe Retton Arena.
Unfortunately, Fairmont State University’s men’s basketball team ran out of juice in the waning minutes and fell, 92-87, to visiting Pitt-Johnstown. -
Glenville completes season sweep of Falcons
Glenville State can make a living playing Fairmont State this season in men’s basketball.
That’s because half of the lowly Pioneers’ four victories this season have come at the expense of the Falcons.
Thursday evening here at the Jesse R. Lilly Gymnasium, Glenville State completed the regular-season sweep of Fairmont State, rolling to an impressive 80-59 victory over the floundering Falcons. -
Streaking Lady Pioneers hold off late FSU rally
Glenville State, the second-place team in the West Virginia Conference, shook off a horrid shooting performance in the first half, caught fire from the field in the final 20 minutes and rolled to a 92-78 victory over visiting Fairmont State here Thursday evening at the Jesse R. Lilly Gymnasium.
-
Garrett, Lohr lead Lady Falcons past A-B: PHOTOS
Fairmont State possesses two of the more talented true freshmen in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference this season in Hailey Garrett and Emily Lohr.
Saturday afternoon at the Joe Retton Arena that duo combined for 36 points and nine rebounds to help lead FSU to 66-56 victory over visiting Alderson-Broaddus. -
Battlers top Fairmont State for 13th straight win
Despite heroic efforts from its dynamic duo of Steve Custis and Isaac Thornton, Fairmont State University’s men’s basketball team couldn’t derail red-hot Alderson-Broaddus here Saturday afternoon at the Joe Retton Arena.
The streaking Battlers posted an 81-70 victory over the Falcons for their 13th straight win. -
FSU gets much-needed win over Rams
Chris Thompson was perfect.
Steve Custis and Isaac Thornton were their usual selfs and Mike Hurd stepped up big time off the bench.
As a result, Fairmont State University’s men’s basketball team snapped a two-game losing streak and got a much-needed, 80-66, victory over visiting Shepherd University Wednesday evening here at the Joe Retton Arena. -
Lady Pioneers hold off late FSU rally: PHOTOS
Glenville State senior guard Beth Deren buried a trio of 3-point field goals in a span of less than a minute late in the second half to help the Lady Pioneers hold off a fierce Fairmont State rally and record an 88-80 victory here Saturday afternoon at the Joe Retton Arena.
- More Duane Cochrane Headlines
-
