[1] He became the first African American to sign a professional contract with a National Basketball Association (NBA) team when he joined the Washington Capitols on April 26, 1950.
[2] He is credited with helping the North Carolina Central men's basketball team win the 1950 Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association Tournament championship[2] and was named the most valuable player of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association tournament that year.
[2][3] Hunter coached the boys and girls basketball teams at Williston School in Wilmington, North Carolina, during the 1950–51 season.
[1] He served as athletic director and coach of the football, basketball, track and tennis teams at P. S. Jones High School in Washington, North Carolina from 1952 to 1954.
[4] Hunter became the first African American to coach the U.S. men's Olympic basketball team in 1968,[2][3] leading them during their tour of the Soviet Union and Europe.
[4] During his tenure, he encouraged his players to participate in charitable activities: In 1975, the team repainted the university's St. Michael's residence hall during summer break.,[4] and they played an exhibition game to benefit the Big Brothers of Greater New Orleans on November 8, 1975.
[2][3][4] He was survived by his wife, Jacqueline T. Hunter, a biology faculty member at Xavier University of Louisiana; daughter, Micki; and son, Harold Jr.[3][4] # denotes interim coach