EVANSVILLE ― Alex Hemenway took a step back after this past season ended. One question required an answer.
Did he still want to play college basketball?
The Castle High School graduate has not seen the court in nearly two years because of injuries. The constant start and stop of rehab began to take a mental toll. He also had one remaining year of eligibility after applying for a medical waiver in February.
Hemenway determined he didn’t want his career to end on a down note.
His journey is coming full circle because of it.
The 6-4 guard has signed to play for University of Evansville men’s basketball. The Newburgh native is coming home.
“I want to end my career on a high note,” he said. “Coach (David) Ragland and the Aces have believed in me for a long time. I’m extremely excited to play and compete for the program.”
Long, winding journey back to Evansville
The path to this point has been anything but straightforward.
Hemenway graduated as one of the best players in Castle history ― an Indiana All-Star selection and first in program history with 1,765 career points. He spent the next four-plus years at Clemson where he was a 43% career shooter from distance. Hemenway, along with every college basketball player, received a waiver from the 2019-20 season because of COVID-19.
His career derailed after catching “the injury bug.” Hemenway battled plantar fasciitis in his foot for much of the 2022-23 season before missing most of the following year, save for five games, with a separate injury. The Castle grad transferred to Vanderbilt last season but didn’t register a single minute on the court.
“A lot of strains,” he labeled the most recent setbacks. “Calf strain, groin strain, hamstring strain. These past two years for me has been a lot of adversity.”
How is he now? Beyond surgery in the offseason to repair a ruptured ear drum, Hemenway is medically cleared to return. The subsequent steps have involved a return to playing shape and “get everything back where it needs to be.”
There were still genuine thoughts about calling his career over. This will be year seven for Hemenway, who turns 24 in June, in the grind of college basketball. Could he mentally endure it? He remains too competitive to have it not end on his terms.
“Someone who is excited to play and excited to compete,” Hemenway told the UE coaches. “I’ve been adding to my game a lot on the sidelines. Hungry to show what I’ve been doing. Be able to compete and play hard. Being on the court is what I’m excited for.”
Hemenway enters the UE program in an interesting spot. The Purple Aces went 11-21 last season but earned their most Missouri Valley Conference victories since 2016. Eight players, including most of the starting lineup, subsequently entered the transfer portal.
Evansville not only gets a high-major player with experience, but a capable shooter. His ability to spread the defense could pair well with returners Connor Turnbull and Joshua Hughes on the block. The Aces have also signed 6-9 forward A.J. Casey (Saint Louis), 6-5 guard Keishon Porter (North Carolina Central) and 6-6 guard Marlon Barnes Jr. (Pittsburgh).
Aaron Gutman, a 6-6 guard from Walton-Verona (Ky.), committed on May 9.
“We are elated to bring home Alex Hemenway,” Ragland said in a statement. “Our goal was to add an elite perimeter shooter with experience to our roster. Alex fits that description perfectly. I have known Alex and his family for a very long time and believed in his ability to positively impact any team. His impact on our team will help move us closer to the goals we have in reviving our storied program.”
Hemenway asked himself this offseason, ‘Do you still want to play?’ The answer he found not only has him rejuvenated but also delivered a purpose. Because in November when the Aces open the season at Purdue, Hemenway wants to be on the floor rather than the sideline.
A moment nearly two years in the making.
“I decided I would love to give it one last go,” Hemenway said. “See if I could finish the college career off right. Thought it would be no better than to come back home. Be around family and play around people that I haven’t seen or played around in a while.”
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