Devin Hutchinson (196-G/F-1996, college: Radford) is a 27 year old 196cm guard from North Carolina playing his second pro season overseas and first with Delikatesas Joniskis (Lithuania-NKL). He played his first season overseas with New Bayazet (Armenia-Caucasus BL, starting five): 15 games: Score-3 (20.8ppg), 5.1rpg, 1.9apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 56.3%, 3PT: 38.1%, FT: 71.8%. He also has experience in the States playing with the High Point Lycans (ECBL), Kannapolis Lycans (ECBL), Charlotte Purple Jackets (TBL) averaging 29.8ppg, 5.3rpg, 1.5apg, 1.7spg, 2FGP: 55.7%, 3FGP: 26.9%, FT: 78.7%, and the Oklahoma Panthers (TBL) averaging 25.1ppg, 3.4rpg, 2.3apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 45.2%, FT: 70.6%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Devin for talking to germanhoopscom. Your playing your second season overseas and first with Delikatesas Joniskis (Lithuania-NKL). How blessed are you to be playing overseas after seemingly having to pay your dues for years?

Extremely blessed. I was thankful enough to have the right people around me to make sure that my focus remained the same. I was able to stay in the gym, and really fall in love with the aspect of working on my craft, and knowing that if I stayed consistent, all my work would pay off.

How big is your chip on your shoulder? You played 2 years of NCAA ball, but still couldn’t get a job overseas right away? How has the grind been for you the last 3 years? I can imagine your love for the game outweighs all adversary?

I would say it’s huge. I didn’t play high school basketball at all, so I knew that even getting into college ball wasn’t going to be easy. I believe that’s when I realized that I could defeat whatever odds were stacked against me. Coming out of college, my numbers weren’t jumping off the page like some of my other peers, but that’s where the love of the game really collided with the determination to become a pro. I wanted to live a life that revolved around basketball, because that’s what I was passionate about.

How have you experienced Lithuanian basketball? It is a small country but the people love their basketball. What has been the craziest experience that you have seen in the country?

I love Lithuanian basketball honestly. It just shows me that the game is growing in so many ways, and people around the world love the game as much as I do. It’s different of course, but the intensity, physicality and fans, is some of the things I love the most about it. Craziest experience would be the playoff games! It reminds me of college basketball and just the intensity and sense of urgency with every minute that passes by.

Your currently in a playoff battle with Palanga with game 5 on Sunday. How exciting has this playoff series been for you?

Very exciting. This is what you practice for, this is what you think about late at night. Playing the best competition available, no matter where you are, and excelling and heightening not only your level of play, but the level of focus and determination that it takes to play in these environments. We were underdogs when the series started, and they are a great and well-coached team and organization, but I just felt as though we can compete with anybody you put in front of us.

You scored 51 points in game one including a crazy 11 three’s. How historic was this performance for you? I would say more than 90% of pro players overseas will never hit 50 points overseas.

I consider to be one of the defining moments in my early career, and I plan to have more. Just the individual bullet points surrounding the series itself got my fire going. The league picking us to get beat 3-0, calling it a total mismatch across the board, I just took that really personally and I was able to use that energy in a positive way and we got a win to go along with it.

Did you know early on that you would have a great game? How quickly did you feel yourself in the zone?

The nights leading up to the game, I would have talks with myself, telling myself ‘This is what you work for, all that waiting, grinding, thinking. This is where you want to be, this what the game is all about’ It was just a different feel to the game, and you love to play against the top guys, and be the underdog, I just felt I had a lot to prove, not only to the league, but to myself, that this is something that I’m capable of doing. Coming on the court to shoot before the game, my energy just felt great, and it was one of those nights for me and my teammates kept me going.

It has been a very good season for you. But what I just noticed that out of nowhere you have become a great shot blocker at 196cm. Your averaging 3,0 blocks per game. Before this season never more than 0,3. What has happened this season for you become a dominant shot blocker?

Thank you. Just trying to be in the right position defensively, knowing that I don’t have to block every shot, but just pick my battles and I’ve been choosing them pretty well as of late.

You’re a 196cm guard. If you had to compare your gamed to a NBA player who would best fit the description?

I watch a handful of guys and try to take bits and pieces, and add them to my game, but Devin Booker is an NBA guy that I would compare my game too. Just his ability to score at all three levels, and take some point guard duties as well. I’d like to also put a little Kevin Punter in there as well, not an NBA guy but definitely one of my favorite players to watch.

You’re a explosive scorer that can fill the stat sheet at ease. What other strengths does your game have?

I feel as though I’m becoming more of a rebounder and playmaker, just trying to polish my game in all aspects. Great teammate as well. Also trying to become more disciplined defensively.

You have picked up your game as a defender. What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of defender do you still want to become?

I appreciate the compliment. As of right now, defense has become a focal point for me because of post season play. I know that defense will get us over the hump and defense will save us if our offense isn’t where it needs to be on a particular night. I want to become a player that plays defense the same all the time, not just when it’s needed or it’s a huge part of the game. I want to be one of those guys that plays both ends of the floor at a high level all the time, no matter the situation.

On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to grow as a player?

I’m working my playmaking abilities. Not only scoring, but making plays for my teammates, putting them in position to have success as well. Also, just becoming more of a student of the game, doing research, a lot of film study, just anything to get the edge and become better everyday.

After playing your rookie season in Armenia, you played last season back in the states with the Charlotte Purple Jackets (TBL) averaging 29.8ppg, 5.3rpg, 1.5apg, 1.7spg, 2FGP: 55.7%, 3FGP: 26.9%, FT: 78.7%, and with the Oklahoma Panthers (TBL) averaging 25.1ppg, 3.4rpg, 2.3apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 45.2%, FT: 70.6%. Did you not get any offers from overseas?

No I didn’t, but one of my good friends Kamarunas, he suggested I go to China, and train with him for the summer. Have a good experience in another country playing basketball, and it may land me an opportunity for next season, and thankfully, his plan worked.

How tough is this grind in the TBL where every player is playing for their stats? What does a player learn about himself during this grind?

The grind is really arduous, and you have to be mentally tough to survive it. The living conditions aren’t the best, and you have to deal with some things that are out of your control. But you learn how much you truly love the game, and if you love it enough, you’ll think big picture and know that this is only temporary. You’ll be where you want if you continue to put in the work.

You played your first season overseas with New Bayazet (Armenia-Caucasus BL) averaging 20.8ppg, 5.1rpg, 1.9apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 56.3%, 3PT: 38.1%, FT: 71.8%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

When I landed in Armenia. You’re by yourself, it’s cold, snowing. And you have to look for a guy you never seen before to pick you up. No phone service so it’s not like you can call him, you just have to hope he’s there and recognizes you.

How tough was Covid after Radford (NCAA) for you getting a job? You had your first pro experience with the High Point Lycans (ECBL). Did you ever have second thoughts about the pro journey?

Second thoughts only come from talking to people who don’t really understand your love for the game. That’s okay, but I was preparing myself for the moment that would come, any opportunity I got to showcase my work, and prove myself, I was taking it.

You began your college career at Brunswick Community College (JUCO) averaging 9.5ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 48.8%, 3PT: 36.5%, FT: 85.3% and 16.1ppg, 4.8rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 51.1%, 3PT: 41.6%, FT: 70.1%. Every Juco player that I have interviewed always says that the JUCO grind was tough, but an experience that they wouldn’t have traded in for the world. How was it for you?

Juco was an outlet for me to show the basketball world that I belonged. It was a way for me to get used to balancing being an athlete and a student, because I didn’t get that practice in high school. But I loved every bit of it. It molded me into the player and man I am today.

How vital was head coach Walter Shaw in your 2 JUCO years? How did he prepare you for the NCAA?

He was the exact coach that you want to play for. Coach Shaw just seen my raw potential early on. He believed in the scorer that I was and gave me countless opportunities to show it, while still coaching me hard, and letting me make mistakes in high pressurized situations. It ended up getting me a scholarship.

You then played 2 years at Radford University (NCAA) averaging 4.1ppg, 1.2rpg
and 4.6ppg, 1.0rpg.What memories do you have? Your senior year there was explosive scorer Carlik Jones and other scorer Travis Fields, but that was it. Were you not able to showcase your offensive game the way you might have liked?

I consider myself to be one of the best scorers that played for that team, however I had a role to play because we already had such prolific ball handlers, and we were winning a lot of games, so I accepted early that I wouldn’t have the opportunities to showcase my scoring as I did in juco. I still wanted to help the team win as much as I could, so I was willing to take less shots for the betterment of the team.

In your senior year you had some fine games against Presbyterian and Hampton. What was your most memorable game?

My most memorable game was probably that Presbyterian game. Coach Mike Jones had just been suspended for one game, and the team really rallied around each other, and I was thankful to be a huge part in the win.

How did head coach Mike Jones groom and prepare you for a professional career?

He’s a great coach and he taught me that nothing comes easy, you have to earn everything, nothing will be given, no matter the credentials or what you have done before. Only thing that matters is the work you continue to put in on a daily basis. With the help of my other coaches David Boyden, and others on that staff, he taught me how to hold myself accountable.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Devontae Holland?

ME! And if you see this bro I’m sticking this story! Haha.

Who was the toughest player that you ever played against on a court that reached the NBA?

I’d have to say Carlik Jones, and he was on my team! Just everyday at practice with him really showed me what a pro looks like, the confidence he has about himself was amazing, the way he approaches the game, the level of focus he has.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Carlik Jones (Radford)
Travis Fields (Radford)
Andre Jackson (Lycans)
Jael Scott (Lycans)
Ed Polite Jr (Radford)

Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore of past or present heads?

Kobe Bryant
Michael Jordan
Kevin Durant
Lebron James
Honorable Mention- Shaquille O’neal

Who is your GOAT?

Kobe Bryant. His obsession with the game is the most relatable. It’s always where my mind goes, it keeps me up at night, just the thought of my highest basketball goals raises my heart rate, and I love every bit of it.

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming to America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone?

I didn’t get a chance to see it, but the first Coming to America was a classic, so if it’s anything less, then yes they should have left it alone!

Thanks Devin for the chat.