Meet Hayden Humes
Height: 6’8”
Weight: 216
Year: Senior
Hometown: Valparaiso, Ind.
High School: Valparaiso
Prior: Toledo
Position: Forward
2012-13 Season (Junior)
-Averaged 10.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game in 33.2 minutes per contest while starting all 34 games for the Flames.
-Ranked seventh in the Horizon League in both field goal percentage and three-point field goal percentage, and 10th overall in minutes played (33.2 mpg)
-Scored a career-high 23 points on 10-of-12 shooting in the second-round of the Horizon League Men's Basketball Championship versus Green Bay.
2011-12 Season (Sophomore)
-In his first year in a Flames uniform, averaged 8.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game in 30.8 minutes per contest.
-Ranked sixth in the Horizon League in three-point field goal percentage.
-Poured in a season-high 18 points in the Flames' 79-75 win over Evansville on Nov. 23.
2010-11 Season (Freshman)
-Averaged 5.7 points and 5.1 rebounds per game in 26.1 minutes per game at Toledo.
-Named to 2K Sports Classic Sub-regional all-tournament team after averaging 9.0 points and 9.7 rebounds per game in the three-game event.
2009-10 Season (Redshirt)
-Received a medical redshirt after suffering a torn ACL in September.
The Flames finished 18-16 last season which accounts for the most wins since the 2007-08 season. What are the goals for the team this season?
Just get better every day in practice. We have really high expectations this year. A lot of people don’t think much of us right now because we don’t have a lot of people back with experience, but we have a lot of guys who put in the work this offseason.
How important is it to get to the NCAA Tournament in your final season?
It would be huge, that’s the goal every year. That’s what we want to do is make it to the Tournament. That would mean a lot.
You started at Toledo and transferred to UIC for the 2010-11 season and were granted immediate eligibility by the NCAA. Talk about the transition from Toledo to UIC.
I always say it was a blessing in disguise. It ended up being a place [Toledo] I didn’t really want to be at. It’s been easy transition, this is where I was meant to be, I feel like, so the transition was really easy.
You had the opportunity this offseason to go on an eight-day European trip and participate in the Global Sport’s Academy’s 2013 Goodwill Tour. Talk about how you were selected and what the experience was like?
I went on the tour with another coach, Coach DK [Donnie Kirksey], and it was a fun trip. I don’t think I would have ever been to Europe if it wasn’t for this trip so it was fun to see another country and their way of life and culture. Overall I think the trip will make me more cultured.
Your averaged 10.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game last season. What are you expectations personally, for the upcoming seasons?
First and foremost, be a leader on the court and I think that kind of takes care of itself. The best thing about this team this year is we’re going to play as a team, and personally I think it’ll all take care of itself.
Being from Valparaiso, Ind., is the yearly trip to the Athletic-Recreation Center (this year's game is Jan. 2) a game you circle on your calendar?
No, not at all. I played them [Valparaiso] when I was at Toledo and I’ve played them at UIC. To focus on one game is not something we do in this program.
You play two Big Ten teams this season in Northwestern and Illinois. How do games like this prepare for you for the Horizon League season?
I think they definitely prepare us, those teams have guys that are a little more athletic and bigger. Last year we played at Northwestern and the sets they run, the Princeton offense, they run good stuff. But just playing those team really prepares us.
There will be five newcomers on the court this year. Have any of these five newcomers stuck out to you in practice thus far?
They have all stuck out. Obviously the two seniors Kelsey Barlow [transfer from Purdue] and Jordan Harks [transfer from Central Arkansas] will be a big, big part of our team as leaders. There have been some freshman that have done well and will play a role on this team.
Your father played football at Western Michigan and your mother was on the swim team at Michigan. How did you become a basketball player?
Valpo is a big basketball town. Growing up they run camps when you’re in fourth grade. I did do a little bit of everything growing up but I think I played basketball because of my height.
This is your last year of eligibility, what are your plans for the future?
That’s a good question. I’m getting my Masters in Instructional Leadership. But I try not to think about the future too much right now. I’m kind of putting all my cards in this one season, I have a good work ethic and principles that have been instilled in me so I think it’ll all take care of itself.
