Hapnot Collegiate’s Will Hatherley is one of five Manitoba AAA basketball players to be named an all-star by Sport Manitoba this season.
The Grade 11 post player was nominated by AAA coaches throughout the province and finished in the top five after voting was complete.
“There is no other student athlete I can think of who deserved this honour more than Will, and we are looking forward to next season and what he has in store for us,” said Hapnot Kings coach Don Dyke. “He is one of the most coachable kids we have ever had in our program and leads through his effort in practice and on the court.”
Hatherley lived in Flin Flon earlier in his childhood but then moved around various parts of Ontario before settling back in Flin Flon for his Grade 10 year.
Basketball was not on Hatherley’s mind much, though he played in Grade 7 and again in Grade 10.
He developed his love for basketball thanks to his brother’s passion for the sport.
“The main reason I got good was because of my brother Garrett,” said Hatherley. “He played in university and college. I just trained with him kind of…and it just went from there.”
Now in his second season on the court for the Kings, Hatherley continues to improve.
“The fact that Will really only started playing basketball at a high level last year makes this award that much more amazing,” said Dyke.
No matter where Hatherley plays, Dyke says he continuously receives praise for the teen.
“We have gone to numerous tournaments in both Winnipeg and Brandon over the last couple of seasons and [Hatherley] has dominated, averaging close to 25 points and 25 rebounds a game,” said the coach. “I have numerous coaches from AAA schools at these tournaments comment on Will’s play and demeanour on the floor.”
Lessons
As his game has progressed, Hatherley has learned a lot from the sport and his coaches.
“I’ve noticed I cope better with different types of players,” he said. “Collaborating is [also] really important for basketball. A huge part of the game [is] team chemistry.”
Hatherley says he’s learned to be more patient with new players who are still learning the game.
“It’s really important to be patient and wait for others to improve,” he said. “The whole team improves together.”
Hatherley is the second Hapnot athlete to receive the all-star award in basketball. The first was Sam Kinsley in his Grade 12 year in 2013.
