Hometown boy wraps up career

It’s been a long trip to get nowhere, if you’re counting miles, but it’s not quite true in the case of Eastern Washington guard Rhett Humphrey.

The Cheney High School graduate joins Paul Butorac, Neal Zumwalt and Derek Risper for Eastern Washington’s Senior Night on Saturday.

He sat down with The Spokesman-Review this week.

S-R: How did you get from Cheney to Cheney, so to speak?

RH: It’s kind of a long story. I went to Whitworth, redshirted one year and sat on the bench the next. I transferred to Wenatchee Valley Community College and played one year. Then I walked on at Eastern.

S-R: What was behind the journey?

RH: I went to Whitworth because it seemed like a good fit and I wasn’t getting any offers from big-time schools. I wasn’t getting a whole lot of (playing) time and I had one year to use at a junior college. After that I didn’t get a whole lot of offers. I talked to coach (Mike) Burns one day and just asked if he needed a practice player. He said yes and I decided to walk on. I ended up getting a scholarship out of it.

S-R: In your hometown, how did that feel?

RH: It was a pretty good feeling. It was quite unexpected, too. That wasn’t part of the deal to begin with.

S-R: That also reunited you with your dad (Denny), your coach in high school who was a volunteer assistant for the Eagles. How was that?

RH: That was kind of weird, but in a good way. After high school when he retired I didn’t think I would ever be coached by him again.

S-R: We’ve heard your dad was pretty hard on when you were his starting point guard?

RH: It’s true. He was my biggest critic, but at same time he was my biggest fan. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I learned so much and we have a good relationship.

S-R: Although he resigned around Christmas, how was it in college?

RH: Not as hard as high school. We still have quite a few talks at dinner about basketball. We both have a pretty good idea when to leave stuff on the court and not bring it home.

S-R: What does your future hold?

RH: I have to come back for one more class in the spring, then I’ll have my marketing degree. Then I have to join the real world.