Initially known for his length and maddening 3-pointers, Indrek Sunelik spent this past season shedding the label of “shooter” and adding intriguing components to his all-around game. At 6-foot-7 and 195 pounds, Sunelik led The Nation Christian Academy with 24.5 PPG, eight boards, and three assists per game.
Though Sunelik was initially pigeonholed as a trigger man, given his NBA 3-point range, he discovered a niche for himself with his ability to guard from the 1-4 and make plays on the defensive end. Adding muscle to a once spindly frame helped him with his increased knack for knifing to the rim and his tightened handle and shot creation was a direct product of his maniacal work ethic.
While The Nation Christian was mired in controversy surrounding Mike Woodbury’s wild taped rant, a nationally covered incident in which the high strung coach threatens a player, Sunelik elected to stay at the now defunct Port St. Lucie school and remain focused.
“My improvement has really been about just forcing myself to do more than just shoot,” said Sunelik, who will play for the Estonian National Team this summer.
“I pride myself on being a playmaker. I’ve gotten very good at drawing fouls. I think I’ve shown I can create plays and utilize my vision the right way on the court.”
Sunelik said a program record with 12 3-pointers during a thorough loss to The Patrick School (N.J.) during a tournament earlier in the year. He wound up scoring a game-best 43 points, displaying the type of deep, unlimited range that only a handful of shooters flash at this level. Sunelik had 11 games of 20+ points. He first emerged on the scene with a 18-point, 11-rebound performance during a scrimmage against Superior Collegiate Academy (FL) during the All-American Jamboree in Apopka, Fla. in October of last year.
The mutli-faceted package Sunelik offers was visible during that particular game. The Estonian finished around the rim and converted a pair of steals into loud, riveting two-handed dunks during a furious-paced second half. Sunelik was able to supplement the hard-driving of Marvens Petion and Idrissa Bivens with his notable mid-range game and three-level scoring acumen.
Albany has offered the versatile guard/forward for 2020. Kent State and several Ivy League programs and UTSA have expressed interest. While Sunelik has his sights set on playing one year at Mineral Area (JUCO) and increasing his Division-I stock, he’s hoping to become a late Class of 2019 signee for a program.
Which aspects differentiate Sunelik from traditional multi-positional guys of his type? IQ and mental toughness. Sunelik can best be described as a student of the game, a guy constantly perusing game film and poring through highlights of professionals. He’s constantly looking for ways to get better and add new facets to his scoring arsenal, which has grown steadily these past six months.
