As a child, Dario Hunt read books that broadened his imagination and let his mind wander aimlessly.

The son of parents in the Air Force, he moved around seven times before settling in Colorado Springs. Hunt, a Pine Creek High School graduate, has lived in places like Turkey, Japan and all over the United States. The moves didn’t allow him to get too comfortable in one place, so he found solace in his books.

Quietly, he became immersed in English author’s Brian Jacques’ “Redwall” series — imaginative novels about animals taking human characteristics.

His quietness has carried on with him, even as a 21-year-old forward on the Nevada men’s basketball team.

During his first two years with the Wolf Pack, Hunt was a role player, asked to play and not preach.

But now he’s going to have to break away from that mold.

As a junior, he is the most-experienced athlete (60 starts) on a 16-player team that includes 10 freshmen and sophomores and opens Saturday vs. Montana in Reno.

The transition from the shadows to the forefront will be trying for Hunt, who needs 60 blocks to break Nevada’s all-time record of 192 at 6-foot-8, 230 pounds.

“The biggest thing we lack is experience,” said Hunt, who played for the Colorado Chaos, an AAU team that has seen 17 of its players make it to a Division I school since 2007. “I’m going to have to come out and be a leader because I’ve been through things other guys haven’t.”

His father says he’s ready.

“(Becoming a leader) is something (Dario) and I discussed before he went back to Reno this summer,” said Randall Hunt, who served 22 years in the Air Force. “He has the characteristics and capabilities as well as anyone does to have a leader.

“He’s not easy to get to know because he doesn’t let people in very easily so people make the mistake of saying he’s introverted, but he’s just really well thought-out. When he talks, people listen because he chooses his words carefully. He’s very exact.”

Hunt’s precise leadership has been evident in Nevada’s preseason. During practice, he directs his teammates to where they’re supposed to be, walks his younger teammates through plays and scolds one if he has to.

His teammates are noticing his vocal presence.

“Dario does a great job as a leader,” senior center Illiwa Baldwin said. “I’d say he is our best leader. He’s a quiet guy and really sets the tone. Everyone listens to him.”

Wolf Pack coach David Carter said Hunt leads by example.

“He does a great job off the court in going to class,” the second-year coach said. “On the court, he’s got to become a little more vocal. He’s been kind of quiet, but this year he’s coming out of his shell so we need him to be a more vocal leader.”

The demand placed on Hunt will be much greater this season than in the past. He’ll be counted on to take the reins of a program that has won at least 21 games in the past seven seasons and made the postseason in the past eight.

But Randall said his son is up for the task.

“He’s been waiting for (the coaches) to challenge him,” Randall Hunt said of his son, who earned all-Western Athletic Conference defensive team honors last season. “He understood the role he was in these last two years and fulfilled it. He’s always expected more of himself, so now it’s time to show everyone he’s ready to be a leader.”

Pine Creek graduate Dario Hunt needs 60 blocks to break Nevada’s all-time record of 192. Photo by COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA