Andre Hatchett first played organized basketball in the fourth grade. Since that point, basketball has become a vital part of his life.
“My mom put me on a traveling team called Sporting Chance, and I went from football to basketball in the fourth grade,” Hatchett said.
Hatchett continued to play the two sports through his junior year of high school before focusing on basketball as a senior. The decision to focus on basketball proved to be beneficial as he averaged 19.4 points and earned second-team all-state honors while leading Santa Rita High School to a state championship.
With several colleges after his services to play basketball, Hatchett made the decision to come to Idaho State.
“The players coming into my freshman year, like Sherrod and Amorrow [Morgan], I had a great bond with them on my visit,” Hatchett said. “I had a really good relationship with coach [Joe] O’Brien, so that’s what brought me to ISU.”
Since coming to Pocatello, Hatchett has played in 71 games, starting 38 and averaged 7.4 points-per-game as a sophomore in the 2011-12 season and is scoring 6.9 a game this season.
Hatchett and the Bengals have begun the second half of Big Sky Conference play with the goal of making it to the Big Sky Tournament March 14-16.
As the Bengal junior prepares for each game he has a routine that he follows before each contest.
“I play NBA2k and then I take a nap before the game,” Hatchett said. “I arrive to the gym two hours prior to get some shots up, say ‘Our Father’ prayer and then its game time.”
Hatchett said his favorite memory on the court since coming to ISU took place last year when Kenny McGowen hit the buzzer-beating 3-pointer to beat first-place Weber State in Holt Arena.
Off the court, Hatchett is pursuing his degree in sports management.
“If I could pick one thing to do I want to work for my mothers company, Altria, or go shadow someone in Nike. I want to be a businessman,” Hatchett said.
Hatchett also has a passion for extreme sports as he admitted he enjoys snowboarding and motocross.
He attributes his success in basketball and in life to the example his parents have set.
“My mom and my dad, especially my mom, have done everything to get me this far; from rebounding to taking me all over the United States. So I couldn’t have gotten this far without my mom or my dad,” Hatchett said.
You can see Hatchett and the rest of the Bengals play against Montana State University in Holt Arena, Thursday, Feb. 14, at 7 p.m.
