Hanlon Leads Hillers From Off the Court

Name: Barrett Hanlon

Graduating Class: 2012

Team: Hopkinton Hillers boys basketball co-captain (point guard), Hillers football (wide receiver, corner back, punt returner)

Head Coach: Tom Keane (basketball) Jim Girard (football)

Hopkinton Patch: You play both basketball and football for Hopkinton; which sport do you like better?

Barrett Hanlon: I think all in all I’m better at basketball. I’ve been playing for a while, it’s just a great game.

Patch: What got you started playing sports?

Hanlon: My dad convinced me to play, but after that first year it was a lot of fun.

Patch: Who would you say is your biggest influence?

Hanlon: My dad; he passed away last year but he was always pushing me and helping me reach my full potential.

Patch: Has your perspective on sports changed at all since his death?

Hanlon: It really put everything in a different perspective. I think differently now. It really made me appreciate the game more.

Patch: How do you make sure you stay on top of your schoolwork?

Hanlon: I have some time between school and practice so I try to get my work done then. I always make sure it’s done before I start playing if I can.

Patch: How did the football season go for you?

Hanlon: This was one of the best football seasons we’ve had in a while as a team. It was great to only have the one loss.

Patch: Why don’t you tell me about what happened to your arm?

Hanlon: I hurt it in one of the games at the end of the football season, but when I went to the hospital they said it wasn’t broken. I want to a hand specialist who said the same thing. When I got an MRI at the beginning of basketball season they saw the break and I had to start wearing the cast. I played the end of the football season with it broken.

Patch: Last season the basketball team played pretty well and made it to the state championship game, what was that like?

Hanlon: It was pretty crazy. Just knowing that a ton of NBA stars had played there was really cool. I wish we could have won the game but it was still a great experience.

Patch: How is this season going for you?

Hanlon: We started off the season with three losses because we had a couple players who were out hurt. I think we can still turn it around when everyone’s healthy and win the TVL [Tri-Valley League].

Patch: How has not being able to play affected your role as a captain?

Hanlon: It’s been tough because it’s hard to influence how the team plays in the games. I’m used to leading by example but now I need to lead vocally.

Patch: Do you know when you’ll be able to play again?

Hanlon: I’m getting the cast off before Christmas, and I think I might be able to play against Wellesley over break, but I don’t know for sure.

Patch: Who is your favorite athlete?

Hanlon: I really like Derrick Rose [Chicago Bulls point guard]. I just like the way he plays the game. I try to emulate him during games and off the court. I heard he’s a great guy.

Patch: What does it feel like to be selected as Hopkinton Patch’s Athlete of the Year?

Hanlon: It feels really good because I know there are a ton of other great athletes in town that deserve this and could have been selected.