There’s going to be another Dutka playing basketball at Medicine Hat College in the 2021-22 season.
Kyler Dutka, a six-foot-six forward from Bienfait, has committed to play for the college’s Rattlers men’s basketball team. Dutka is currently in Grade 12 at the Estevan Comprehensive School.
He said familiarity played a part in his decision, as his sister Tatiana is currently in her sophomore year at the school and a member of the Rattlers women’s basketball team.
“I’ve met some of her teammates, and she’s told me lots of stories about it,” Kyler Dutka said. “I looked at a couple of schools, but I knew I always wanted Medicine Hat, and I told my parents that. I worked for that and I got there.”
He heard that there are some really good people at the school, which influenced his decision, and he has seen the campus when his family visited his sister.
“I’ve been there to drop her off when she moves back every year, or to go watch her play basketball every now and then.”
He’s looking forward to joining the basketball team, and he believes they should have a quality team next season.
“There’s going to be a lot of young players, so if we can keep a team like that together for a while, it could be really good,” said Dutka.
Dutka will be studying nursing while at Medicine Hat. He has heard it’s a strong program, and he’s confident he’ll be able to balance athletics and studies while holding a full-time course load.
He was concerned that losing his Grade 12 year at ECS would hurt his chances of getting a scholarship, since the high school basketball season has been called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I realized this was something I really wanted, so I found a place, found a gym, found whatever I needed to find, and kept working,” said Dutka.
Local basketball programs at elementary schools, the Estevan Comprehensive School and club teams have all assisted with his development.
“With the coaches that I’ve gone through, they’ve all taught me different things, because each coach is different, so from each different coach, I’ve learned different things,” said Dutka.
Dutka believes he will need to work on his academics before getting to Medicine Hat. On the court, he’ll need to focus on his strength and every part of the game.
