Change your search to Wesley’s son for a browse of “Kwinton Hinson Fairmont Basketball” and the top link leads you to the profile of a 6-foot-4, 170-pound Fairmont sophomore shooting guard with a four-star ranking by Future150 basketball recruiting rankings website.
Kwinton is Wesley’s son who recently moved from Las Vegas, Nevada, to Fairmont where his father still resides. On the hardwood, it appears the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
“He’s a good player,” Fairmont head coach Michael Baker said of the newcomer Hinson. “His daddy played for me and we won a state championship.”
Baker even remembers the elder Hinson’s MVP stat-line: 30 points, 15 rebounds. In fact, those 30 points ranks as one of the top-10 state finals scoring performances based on a NCHSAA list dating back to 1986.
Added Baker: “So he’s got good genes.”
Tuesday night, Fairmont got its first glimpse of the chip off the old block as the Golden Tornadoes hosted Fayetteville Village Christian in a 24-minute exhibition game – the two teams played three eight minute quarters. Unofficially, Fairmont beat Village Christian, 57-31.
Breaking into his new black and gold threads, Hinson scored an unofficial game-high 15 points with a 7-of-9 outing at the free throw line, showcasing a knack for scoring the ball inside the paint and out.
Finding solace on the perimeter first, the lefty — who has a smooth, quick release — drilled consecutive 3-pointers from the wing during a 54-second stretch in the first quarter.
Fairmont fans in attendance were collectively buzzing. It may be early November, the state football playoffs may still be young, and this may have been a non-scored exhibition, but the Golden Tornadoes’ faithful showed flashes of mid-season form.
And that was before Hinson nearly brought the house down with an alley-oop dunk attempt in the second quarter.
Fairmont junior Jarrod Neal, a returning all-county point guard, lofted a fast-break pass at the rim to an outstretched Hinson who finger-tip gripped the Spalding but couldn’t flush it home as it sprang off the back iron. Though Neal and Hinson’s oop came up empty, the potential of such a showstopper gave the bleachers enough reason to unleash ohhs-and-ahhs.
“It’s a good vibe,” Hinson said of playing in front of his new home crowd with his new team. “I just got to keep adjusting to the people I’m playing with.”
Fairmont appeared to be adjusting just fine to the addition of Hinson on offense, whether he was drifting alongside the arc or slashing into the lane.
Charlton Townsend, a senior all-county forward known for being a vacuum on the boards, provided the pass of the night on a 2-on-1 when he shoveled a no-look to Hinson for a high-rising layup. Minutes later, Hinson was back to the cup after crossing over his man and gliding in for three points the hard way.
“I’m trying to go inside and out and get my teammates involved,” Hinson said.
Just as his father Wesley, who unlike the southpaw Kwinton is right-handed, did for Coach Baker nearly 20 years ago.
“His daddy was the same type of player,” said Baker, quick to point out the newness of another Hinson sporting black and gold. “He’s still learning our systems. We’ve only had three practices.
“But he’ll add to the team and we’re pleased with what we got coming back.”
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