Athletes Of The Week: Vante Hutcherson

When Vante Hutcherson injured his back last season, he could have shut down and stopped working.

However, Hutcherson chose to work hard and get stronger, and despite being injured, Hutcherson supported his teammates and was involved with the basketball team as much as possible.

“My injury was tough, I gained 25-30 pounds, and I had to manage that, and I learned how to play like that,” Hutcherson said. “I had to work hard to get back on the court.”

Hutcherson managed to get on the court last season, but it ended up taking an offseason for him to recover fully.

The grueling stretch of regaining his strength and explosiveness took its toll, but he persevered and returned to the court for his senior season.

“My goal is to play my role and grab as many rebounds as I can possibly grab,” Hutcherson. “If somebody can’t do something, then I want to fill that role.

“I just want to keep playing.”

He was on last year’s team that advanced all the way to the NCISAA 2A state championship game.

This winter, after an offseason filled with a different kind of uncertainty because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hutcherson is eager to maximize one final year with the Chargers.

So far this season, Hutcherson is averaging 11.3 points and 13.3 rebounds per game. The Chargers are 6-1 and recently won the FCA Winter Classic.

Hutcherson and the Chargers are focused on winning a state title this season.

“It’s been amazing playing basketball at Wayne Country Day. We were runners up last year,” Hutcherson said. “But this year, we are trying to turn it around and go back and actually win a state title.”

Basketball is Hutcherson’s entire life, and he is not complaining about any of the rules and regulations as long as the Chargers can keep playing.

Long before Hutcherson was a double-double machine, he was a child learning to play basketball.

Hutcherson said he has been playing basketball since as soon as he could walk. He worked hard to sharpen his skills, so he could one day play high school basketball.

“Basketball is my all day everyday sport,” Hutcherson said.

He transferred from South Central High School two years ago, and Hutcherson admitted it took some time to adjust to Wayne Country Day.

But thanks to teammates and coaches, Hutcherson has found his role within the Chargers’ program, and he is working hard to play basketball in college.

“I plan on going to college, but I’m still undecided, but I do plan on majoring in sports medicine.”