BOWIE, Md. - Every week, Bowie State University Department of Athletics will spotlight one student-athlete or administrator in wake of COVID-19 pandemic that forced CIAA to suspend fall competition until the spring of 2021. This week's spotlight will feature Talanya Hutton—a standout basketball player—from Seat Pleasant, Maryland.

What Hutton loves most about playing basketball is that everything goes away when she steps on the court. Her only focus shifts to playing, getting wins, points, rebounds, and whatever else Head Coach Shadae Swan asks of her to do. But that's why she loves basketball so much. It's her way to escape from reality.

Hutton—who is known as a versatile offensive threat—averaged a career-high 11.7 points last season to help Bowie State record 25 regular season wins and finish one victory short from becoming CIAA champions for the first time in two decades. The chance to compete in the NCAA II playoffs also evaporated due to the global coronavirus outbreak, which forced President Council's and Commissioners to cancel tournaments across the country.

"It was really weird how it all happened, to be honest," Hutton said. "We were literally walking to the shoot around because we had a game the next day, and they said we couldn't shoot around because they were going to cancel everything. It was really weird how it happened. I wish we could have played. I definitely wish we could've played in that tournament, because I feel like as a team, we could have gone far.

I can't even really explain how it made me feel. I was upset because I really wanted to play. I wanted to work towards the championship game in the national tournament, just how we worked towards the championship game in the CIAA tournament."

Since then, Hutton was unsure if she would have a senior season or not. However, that uncertainty changed on October 2 when the CIAA announced that "All winter sports seasons, which include men's and women's basketball, will begin their seasons on January 9, 2021."

During a phone interview, Hutton discussed the moment she heard the news, how she prepared for a season that was not guaranteed to happen, and more.

How did you feel when you heard the news about basketball?
I was very excited but also nervous because it's just a lot going on. A lot can happen this season because of the uncertainty.

How have you stayed in shape and everything?
Well, our coach has made sure that we stayed in shape. Since the summer we've been held accountable to go and do our own running, bike riding, and any type of cardio workout. And we used an app to track that, so everybody knew what everybody was doing. We also tried to make it pretty competitive since we couldn't be around each other, just to keep the competitive spirit around.

Tell me how this crazy year has been for you?
Well, so far, it's just been, I can say a lot. That's how I would describe it. We still really don't understand how the full season is going to go. And at the same time, it's not an entire season anyway. It's going to be kind of tricky, and it's going to be interesting.

How long have you played basketball?
I've been playing basketball since I was about eight or 10. My brother got a basketball court on either his 10th or 12th birthday—and that's when I started playing. I would play pickup games with him and his friends. Then as I got older, I wanted to take it more seriously. My parents also tried to put me through different sports—to see which one I would like. So, actually, my first sport was not basketball. My first sport was soccer, which was kind of fun.

What made you pick basketball as the sport to take seriously?
I liked and enjoyed it more than the other sports I played. That made me want to go further with it.

Tell me about your journey. Where did you play next?
I played basketball for a rec league team. Then after that, I went to middle school about a few years later and that's where I started to play school ball. I went to two different middle schools. At my first middle school, I couldn't play in the sixth grade because they didn't have insurance or something like that. And when I went to my next middle school and played for them—I noticed a different type of atmosphere over there.

The players just had different mentalities, and I think that's when my mentality started to change with basketball. Then I went to DuVal High School for two years. That was probably my best time playing basketball— that I can remember— because it was really genuine. Then I moved and transferred to Charles Herbert Flowers. Flowers were great from the atmosphere, coaches, everything.

Did you play two years of JV and Varsity?
No, I didn't play any years of JV. I went straight on to Varsity. I played one scrimmage of JV, and then the coach brought me up to Varsity. The only reason I wasn't on Varsity earlier was because; my dad didn't think that I was ready— when really, I knew that I was. I had to prove myself, and I did.

What did he say when he found out?
He was kind of upset. Another reason he didn't want me to play Varsity was because; they practiced later than JV, and he wanted me home earlier than I thought I would be—when I was on Varsity. He was a little upset. But he was pretty good after the first week of practice. And he was still cheering and everything at the games.

That's dope. Why did you pick Bowie for college basketball?
It was nowhere else I wanted to go. Bowie seemed like the best fit for me. And it wasn't even because it was close to home. It was because I felt like I could grow here at Bowie State, and obviously, I have, if I say so myself. I felt like Bowie was the right choice. My parents could come to the games without any hesitation or complications or anything, too.

Tell me about your time at Bowie State. How have you grown?
I've grown in every aspect since I have been at Bowie. I've gotten better on-and-off the basketball court.

Tell me what are you looking to do after you graduate? Are you trying to play professionally?
Professionally is the first option. And if basketball is the way to go, then that's where I'm going to go. WNBA, overseas, whoever's willing to take me. It really doesn't matter. I'm just going to play and give it my all. But I do have a strong desire for culinary, which is my plan B if basketball doesn't work out.

What makes you so interest in Culinary?
It's really weird how it happened, but growing up, my grandma, my mom, aunts, my whole family—they all just cooked. And the food was always good. When I had transferred to Flowers, they had a culinary program that I didn't really know much about. But I'm glad that I got into it. The culinary program was pretty much a catering company.

We catered to a lot of the events on campus, and it really gave me a whole different aspect of cooking. And, not to mention, I love cooking. Anything that has anything to do with cooking; I'm with it and ready to do it. That culinary program gave me a new aspect of the cooking part and how to maneuver in the culinary industry and make money while you do it. That's always great.

What are your favorite things to cook and eat?
My favorite thing to eat is anything seafood. My favorite thing to cook is probably some pasta, like Alfredo pasta. I love cooking Alfredo—from scratch, though. I should say that.

How excited are you to graduate?
Oh, I'm really excited. I'm ready to graduate. Give me my degree right now. I'm really excited for this next chapter in my life. It's a little bit scary, just because you don't really know what's going to happen. But I'm excited, though.

Do you want to accomplish anything before you graduate?
Win a championship. That's definitely number one on the list. I want to win a championship. That's what I want.

What do you want your legacy at Bowie State to be?
My legacy? I would say, to be known for what I did on the court and who I was as a person.