You may have seen him on the basketball courts, curly hair bouncing as he dribbles to a seamless victory and slams a dunk as the student body roars with cheers. Although this hoop-hustling hero may seem too good to be true, he’s real and has a name that might be familiar to you: Hunter Schenck.
On November 10th, Schenck, a senior, signed his letter of intent to play college basketball for Utah Tech University in St. George, Utah, one of only a handful of student-athletes at Weber who have committed to play college sports. This achievement is particularly remarkable considering that Utah Tech’s college team, the Trailblazers, play in the Western Athletic Conference, facing off against colleges in Seattle, Texas, and California, in addition to Utah schools UVU and SUU. “It’s the coaching staff and the relationships I had with certain coaches on the staff,” Schenck said, addressing what Utah Tech brings to the table over other Utah colleges. “It’s like a brotherhood down there, and that’s something that I love. And c’mon, the weather down there. It’s the perfect place to be, so it was a no-brainer for me.”
Although Schenck has committed to a higher echelon of athletic achievement, he is still very grounded with his Weber High goals to close out 2024 strong. “[One resolution I have] is to win region and make a run at state,” he said. “Just be a better person overall.” Regarding what he wants to take with him from high school sports, Schenck said, “The relationships I’ve built with my teammates this year, and how close we’ve gotten. The chemistry we’ve built.”
As far as what he plans on contributing when the freshman semester does start, he’s thought that through, too. “I’m kind of the dude that will do whatever [Utah Tech] needs. If they need a shooter, I’ll be the shooter. If they need a guy to bring up the ball, I’ll be that guy, if they need a guy to pass, I’ll be that guy. Whatever they need me to bring to the table, I’ll play that role.”
Although it may sound ambitious to be a “jack of all trades,” Schenck has proved his ability time and time again, playing varsity since his sophomore year. Last year, Schenck averaged 22.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game, while shooting 44% from the field, 76% at the foul line, and 34% on 3-pointers. This season, Schenck has led Weber to a 9-2 pre-season record. At the time of publication, Weber has two more non-region games before starting region play on Jan. 12. Currently, Schenck averages 21 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game.
“Basketball is just something I’ve loved my whole life,” he said, grinning sheepishly. “My brothers play it, my dad’s played it, so I’ve been around it forever, and it’s just kind of a love I’ve gained and something that will always be part of me.”
Although Schenck remains undetermined in his major for the upcoming year, his love for the game and positive relationships will be a surefire predictor of college success. Watch out, Utah Tech — a new standout basketball star is coming your way.