BYU Basketball Legend Passes Away At Age 90
Dec 21, 2018, 12:04 AM
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Former BYU basketball star Mel Hutchins has passed away at the age of the 90 near his home in Encinitas, Calif.
Sad to hear of the passing of BYU’s first great basketball player Mel Hutchins! He was the 2nd pick in 1951 draft after BYU’s NIT Title. His sister Coleen was Miss America and mother to the great Kiki and Bruk Vandeweghe! pic.twitter.com/jxIvrpMvIb
— Michael Smith (@themikesmithway) December 20, 2018
Hutchins averaged 11.3 points per game at BYU and was one of the captains of the 1951 squad that brought home the NIT championship trophy.
He was one of just four former Cougars to have his jersey retired, which took place in a ceremony in 2013.
He also held the school record of rebounds with 900, a record which stood until 1973.
Following his college days, Hutchins was selected No. 2 overall in the 1952 NBA draft and enjoyed an eight-year long career.
