Hatsushi to convey wisdom

Barry Faulkner

Concordia University senior Nancy Hatsushi will graduate with a

degree in exercise & sports science in May. But she is already a

professor of point guard.

A basketball star at Costa Mesa High and Orange Coast College,

Hatsushi took her polished backcourt game to Concordia in Irvine two

seasons ago.

The Eagles, competing in the NAIA’s Golden State Athletic

Conference, are 7-7, 1-5 in conference heading into Tuesday’s home

game against Cal Baptist.

But Concordia Coach Todd Corman, in his first season at the

school, cringes at the thought of having to compete in the rugged

GSAC -- with four schools ranked among the top 14 in the nation,

including No. 2 Vanguard and No. 6 The Master’s -- without Hatsushi

handling the ball for much of her team-leading 35.1 minutes per game.

“To be honest, I don’t know where we would be without her,” said

Corman, who points out the 5-foot-4 floor leader is No. 8 in the

nation in assist-to-turnover ratio.

Hatsushi, an All-CIF Southern Section performer at Costa Mesa and

the team MVP on OCC’s state championship squad in 2002-03, is

averaging 6.1 assists this season. She has just 32 turnovers in 492

minutes, an average of 2.3 per contest.

“She’s just a very solid player and definitely the leader on this

team,” Corman said.

Hatsushi is averaging 5.2 points per game, a number Corman

attributes more to her pass-first unselfishness than her lack of

offensive acumen.

“I’m always trying to get her to shoot more,” Corman said.

The same was true at Costa Mesa and OCC, though coaches have also

viewed Hatsushi’s willingness to put the scoring opportunities of her

teammates above her own as part of her importance to any team.

“Honestly, I don’t care if I score,” Hatsushi said. “It’s nice to

score, but I’ve never been one of those players who need to score. I

want to do whatever is needed to help our team win. I’m content with

that.”

Hatsushi is content with her decision to play at Concordia, to

which she committed before the one and only Division I school began

to show interest after her tenure at OCC.

Hatsushi said the level of play in the NAIA has been an ample

upgrade from her time in the community college ranks, just as OCC was

from her distinguished four-year varsity tenure at Costa Mesa.

“From high school to Coast, I feel my shooting got a lot better,”

Hatsushi said. “And from Coast to Concordia, I think I have a better

understanding of the game and what is needed to win.”

Hatsushi’s court vision, ball-handling skills and an atypical

grasp of fundamentals, is obvious to those who watch her play for any

length of time.

She said she has played point guard ever since she began playing

organized basketball and her love for the game has grown along with

her abilities.

That passion, enhanced by her belief that the competitive lessons

on the court can mold values important to success off it, has helped

convince her to pursue a future in coaching.

“I don’t ever want to leave the game,” she said. “After I

graduate, I’m going to start work toward my teaching credential.”

Hatsushi said her initial plan was to coach and teach at the high

school level. But, lately, she has been considering coaching at the

collegiate level. She said her fascination with the intricacies of

the game, more so than basic skill development that is often the

foremost priority for prep coaches, would create greater satisfaction

as a coach in the college game.

“Coaching in college has more to do with refining players and

making adjustments to competitive situations,” she said. “I like to

see how teams develop and strive for things even they don’t think

they can achieve.”