In a remarkable moment during the NCAA men’s final four event, former IndyStar sports reporter Terry Hutchens was inducted into the United States Basketball Writers Association’s Hall of Fame. This prestigious recognition was shared with three other esteemed individuals: Bob Baptist, Donna Ditota, and Chris Dortch.
Brendan Quinn, president of USBWA, praised the inductees for their unwavering dedication to covering college basketball. Through their work, they have provided readers and fans with invaluable information and perspective.
Hutchens began his sports reporting career in Indiana in 1986 with the Indianapolis News and later worked for IndyStar for nearly 28 years, covering Indiana University sports for 15 of those years. Tragically, he passed away in a car accident in 2018. Despite this unfortunate end, Hutchens’ legacy as an exceptional sportswriter lives on. He was renowned for his extensive coverage of IU athletics, having authored multiple books on the subject and taught journalism at the university. Throughout his illustrious career, he received numerous accolades, including being named Indiana Sportswriter of the Year five times.
Initially starting as a general assignment reporter, Hutchens eventually took on various roles covering different sports events such as the White River Park State Games, high school sports, racing, and the Pan Am Games. In 1991, he became the Colts beat writer before transitioning to cover IU basketball. Hutchens was celebrated for his coverage of significant events like the end of Bob Knight’s era and Terry Hoeppner’s battle with cancer.
From a young age in southern California, where he admired UCLA basketball legends John Wooden and Bill Walton, Hutchens harbored a passion for sports journalism. He pursued this dream by studying journalism at California State University Fullerton and gaining experience covering high school sports for the Fullerton Daily News Tribune before moving to Indiana at age 28 to embark on an illustrious career that would ultimately lead him to his place in the USBWA Hall of Fame.
