See all posts in the Kirk’s Captain Corner series
(Kirk’s Captain Corner is a regular feature that will allow Carver County residents to get to know the student-leaders of the various teams in our high schools. Today, we feature senior captain Evan Atkinson of the Chaska boys basketball team.)
How long have you been playing basketball?
I have been playing basketball for as long as I can remember. My mom always said that when I got home from watching my older brothers’ games, I would dribble and dunk on the plastic little kid hoop in my house.
When did you know that basketball was going to be “your sport?”
I knew it was my sport early on because one time my brother kept track of my stats in second grade and I had a 35-point triple-double. I wish it was that easy now. My family always encouraged me because they saw it came naturally to me.
What does the typical pre-game look like for your team? Who is the designated hype man (the guy that gets everyone fired up)?
For home games, we get there to watch JV, and at halftime we head back to the locker room to get ready mentally and physically. For away games, there’s a lot of sitting around and we watch the end of B-squad and first half of JV. Once we’re in the locker room, we listen to music while getting ready. I don’t think we have any designated hype man, but we all hype each other up.
What has been your favorite memory playing in the Chaska program?
My favorite memory is our win streak — currently 19 straight wins — and a conference championship. My other favorite memory is just spending time with the team and having fun together.
Congrats on the conference championship! What are the team’s goals this year for both conference and section play?
We have a really good team this year and our goals were to win conference, and now to win sections. We believe we have a good chance to do so.
What are your plans for next year?
I plan to study business next year, and I am deciding between UW Madison, U of M, or Hamline University, where I would play basketball.
What does it mean to you to be a team captain?
It means a lot because I have been watching Chaska basketball my whole life. To be a captain is a huge honor and something I don’t take lightly. Being a captain for this team is easy because it’s filled with a lot of great guys.
The Chaska Hawks Boys Basketball team opens Section 2AAAA play with a home game on Wednesday, March 4.
