Page One

Angelita Hutton – Berkeley High 

Coming into this season, the Berkeley Lady ’Jackets knew that senior forward Robin Roberson would be the focal point of their offense. The question was: who would step up and help her? The answer for much of the season has been Angelita Hutton. 

Hutton, a junior from Oakland, has stepped into the shooting guard spot as a starter this year, and has provided a secondary threat for the Lady ’Jackets, making teams pay when they focus all their defensive effort on Roberson. 

Berkeley head coach Gene Nakamura said before the season that he expected the athletic Hutton to average double figures in scoring, and she has done that so far. But Nakamura points out that she has contributed more than points. 

“She’s helping a lot in other areas. She’s rebounding real well, and she’s probably our most consistent defender,” Nakamura says. “She’s very hard to keep a dribble against when she’s balanced.” 

Hutton realizes her game is a work in progress. 

“I didn’t score that much before, so I had to work on that,” she says. “But I also need to work on my defense, and on making better decisions on offense.” 

As a starter, Hutton is often limited to playing half of a game because Nakamura doesn’t believe in running up the score on weaker teams. In Berkeley’s league, the Alameda Contra Costa Athletic League, there are only two teams capable of giving the Lady ’Jackets much of a challenge. 

“Of course I want to play more, but everybody needs to play, because we’re all good players,” Hutton says. 

With Roberson the focus of the offense, Hutton has had to be more aggressive in taking her shots and looking for opportunities. That has been a chore for the quiet player. 

“You have to look for your own shot first, but keep the team game in mind,” she says. “I just try to stay in the game and not go wild.” 

That newfound aggressiveness has a good side and a bad side, according to her coach. Nakamura sometimes questions Hutton’s shot selection, saying she takes a lot of off-balance shots. But he also sees the need for Hutton to step into her natural role as a leader of the team. 

“She’s a junior, but she’s also a third-year varsity player,” he says. “ But if she wants to play on the next level, she’s got to be more vocal, and she’s improving in that area quite a bit. She’s assuming some leadership.” 

Hutton agrees. 

“I’ve been trying to be more vocal, to be a leader for this team,” she says. “But it’s going to take some work.