Last Friday, with 12 points in a losing effort against UNC-Wilmington, the college basketball career for Chillicothe’s Anthony Humpty Hitchens came to a close.

Chillicothe basketball’s all-time leading scorer averaged 14.9ppg in his second season playing for the James Madison Dukes, a point behind team leader A.J. Davis.

Hitchens began his college career at the University of Akron, playing two seasons before transferring. In the summer of 2010, following the sudden death of his father Craig Hitchens, Humpty was granted a transfer by the NCAA to James Madison. When he transferred from the University of Akron, 13 credits didn’t carry over meaning he still has some class time to finish up. Graduation is scheduled for December. Hitchens is taking 18 credits this semester at JMU and has some summer classes planned.

After having a somewhat successful start with the Dukes in the Colonial Athletic Association his junior year, this past season left much to be desired. It was a 12-20 season, marred by multiple Dukes injuries. But Hitchens pushed on saying, “This is one of the most frustrating seasons I’ve been a part of… I don’t regret it at all, I actually liked that experience.”

Among the injuries suffered by the Dukes’ key performers, a shoulder injury, chipped bones, a heart condition, even coach Bradley tore an Achilles tendon. Hitchens himself was nursing a shoulder injury the last few games.

He’s been hanging around the Cavaliers this week during their preparation for Friday’s District Semi-Final game with Circleville. “I just go in there a play hard… just like it’s a college practice.” He has shared with the Cavs things that have helped him make it through a college basketball career and reminding them to give extra attention to detail.

“Just runnin’ the floor a little bit harder or when a man cuts through the lane you gotta bump him… me being little, I’m gonna touch you, I’m gonna talk to you, I’m gonna pull your shorts (all to let the opponent know you’re there)”. Hitchens adds in his eyes, he wasn’t really ready for ball on the college level , so he’s tried to share his survival tactics to help younger players get ready for such a transition.

With the Cavs on the tournament trail, four year old memories of Chillicothe’s DII state title run are still fresh in the former point guard’s mind, especially when he explains what it took to quiet the naysayers who didn’t give the Cavs a chance against Poland Seminary or Toledo Libbey in the Final Four.

“It’s just a will, a pride, a doggin’ yourself to just want it… It’s just something inside yourself, just to want it that bad. You gotta show up at big time moments. Toledo beat us by 16 the year before, we were down 16 in the (championship) game. But we never gave up. Stuart (Beverly) got that steal, it just turned the whole game around. We just kept fighting and kept fighting and came up with the win.”

Someone Hitchens carries with him every day is the memory of his father, Craig. The elder Hitchens was a former Cavalier player and assistant coach before his passing in April of 2010. When Humpty made his  move to James Madison, he took his dad with him.

 “I write on my shoes ‘Rest In Peace Pops’, ‘I was taught be strong, stay humble’… when they play the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ I talk to him. Even though my dad’s not here, I think about him every day, he’s taught me so much.”   
 

Now there are hopes of landing a spot on a roster to play professionally, if not stateside, then overseas. Hitchens has been interested in the leagues that attract American talent. While the college game may be behind him, the horizon may be filled with a pro date around the corner.

CLICK HERE TO READ HITCHENS’ BIO

CLICK HERE TO HEAR PART ONE OF THE INTERVIEW

NOTE: The second half of the interview with Hitchens will air around 6:45am Wednesday on The Gary Kellough Show.