Trenton Taratuta has set nearly every single Hillman basketball record.

He has moved along the ranks compared to the state of Michigan, even passing the great Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson in career high school points.

Alongside the endless records, Taratuta has embodied the Hillman community, demonstrating the interconnectedness of the small village.

Taratuta’s humbleness and impenetrable work ethic have defined his personality throughout his four-year career, where he will continue to take his talents to Saginaw Valley State University and play Division II basketball.

News Photo by Steve Jakubcin Hillman coach Eric Muszynski, left, presents Trenton Taratuta during an event on Thursday where Taratuta signed to continue his basketball and academic careers at Saginaw Valley State University.

“SVSU has been a place that I have been multiple times throughout my high school career, and I have always loved their athletic facilities and campus,” Taratuta said. “Along with their great facilities, I felt that SVSU would be the best fit for me to continue to grow academically and athletically.”

After dominating the North Star League-Little Dipper for four consecutive years, Taratuta’s transition into Division II basketball will be quite the adjustment.

Although it won’t be easy, with the mindset and ability to adapt to any competitive environment, Taratuta hopes to grow into a better person on and off the court.

With this drastic change, Taratuta’s expectations have been leveled off, and ensuring the best for the team is the top priority.

“Going into this year, I expect to be an asset for the team and bring a winning mindset every day,” he said. “I’m focused on getting better daily and continuing to evolve as a player and a person in my collegiate career.”

News Photo by Steve Jakubcin Hillman’s Trenton Taratuta signs on Thursday to continue his academic and basketball careers at Saginaw Valley State University. The record-breaking player is taking his opportunity to play at a Division I school.

While athletics is a top concern, academics will be the most crucial aspect of this new change.

Taratuta was recently announced as Hillman’s Co-Valedictorian, earning a 4.359 GPA and finishing at the top of Hillman’s 2024 class.

His athletic accomplishments guided him toward wanting to pursue an exercise science degree over his four years at SVSU.

Staying in the realm of athletics is a must for Taratuta, as the continuation of sports will always be critical to his life.

Aside from his collegiate path, Taratuta wanted to take a second to recognize his community, which has had his back throughout the whole process.

From watching Mason Van Pamel dominate for the Hillman Tigers to taking the stage himself and surpassing all of his records, Taratuta’s impact on Hillman has gone far from unnoticed.

“I have been incredibly fortunate to have a great community and coaches that had great expectations for me,” Taratuta said. “This really helped me stay consistently motivated from a young age and allowed me to be successful.”

Finally, Taratuta ended his interview with a few final words dedicated to those who have set him up in this position and those who have supported him along the way. These people have been invaluable; the journey to playing for SVSU would be impossible without them.

“I’d like to thank God for giving me the ability to play this game that I love,” Taratuta said. “I am also very appreciative of my family, as they have made countless sacrifices for me, and I haven’t been able to thank them enough. I’d like to thank Coach (Eric Muszynski) for all he has done for me, whether it be helping me get recruited, getting up early to let me in the gym at 6 a.m., or teaching me valuable lessons in basketball and life. I’d also like to thank Coach Baruth, Coach Twardecki, and Saginaw Valley State University for giving me this amazing opportunity.”

Both SVSU coach Randy Baruth and Hillman coach Eric Muszynski were happy to comment on Taratuta, stating their excitement to see him at the next level.

“It has been an absolute pleasure coaching Trenton in High School!” Muszynski said in a statement. “He is an all-time great and a generational talent. I have said this before but he is what you want Hillman Basketball to be all about. His work ethic has been off the charts and he is a tremendous leader on and off the court. I look forward to sitting back and just watching him play at the collegiate level! Extremely proud of him and extremely happy for him!”

“We are very excited to add Trenton and his family to our Cardinal Men’s Basketball Program!” Baruth said in a statement. “Trenton is the kind of student-athlete we gravitate towards in the recruiting process; he is hard-nosed, competitive on the court and a high character, academically focused young man off the court. He has a great frame and skill set that will allow him to be an impact player at our level. We are looking forward to having him compete, be challenged, and grow as a player every day. The sky is the limit with his work ethic.”