Alabama recruit Abby Duchscherer ready for next chapter of athletic career
KINDRED, N.D. (BVM) – Abby Duchscherer had a serious case of deja vu this year as she played her final season of basketball. Her senior season was the same as her seventh grade season with the Vikings. Kindred went undefeated on its way to a NDHSAA Class B state title.
“For it to happen my senior year was really special,” Duchscherer said.
Duchscherer scored 25 points in the championship game against Grafton to help Kindred win its third title in six years. Duchscherer has been a part of each of those state championship teams.
“We knew we were capable of accomplishing it and we felt like the last two years, that’s what we should’ve been receiving,” Duchscherer said. “Since we fell short, we worked really hard over the summers. It was just really awesome to see all our hard work pay off.”
It was a fitting end to a basketball career that saw Duchscherer win 2019-2020 Gatorade North Dakota Girls Basketball Player of the Year, score 2,662 career points and be named Miss Basketball for North Dakota shortly after winning state this year.
“To receive that award, I was very honored and humbled,” Duchscherer said. “I could not have received that without my coaches, teammates, my family and all the community support. I felt like it was as much their award as it was mine.”
The award was well deserved. Duchscherer averaged 19.5 points, nine rebounds, four assists and four steals this season. But now that her basketball career is over, she has had time to reflect on the last six years and knows how fortunate she has been.
“Now that it’s come to an end, it’s a little sad but I don’t think many people get the experience that I got,” Duchscherer said. “Let alone four state tournaments and win three of them, I think that’s pretty incredible and not many people get to experience that.”
It’s an experience she will always cherish but it is time for a new chapter of Duchscherer’s life to begin. Her basketball career may be done, but her softball career is about to go to the next level.
“That’s like the next chapter and I’m really excited for it …I’m very excited for that next part of my life,” Duchscherer said.
That next chapter is with the University of Alabama and its softball program. Duchscherer verbally committed to the Crimson Tide back in September of 2020 and then signed a letter of intent this past fall.
“They were crazy milestones,” Duchscherer said. “I mean at only 17 years old saying I’m gonna pick my college and move all the way down to Alabama, I mean that’s a crazy thing to say but it was very exciting.”
Duchscherer has been a high-level softball player since she was in middle school, originally getting involved in the sport as a child and playing constantly with her older brother. Getting “dragged” to the field sometimes to play with his friends, Duchscherer said she learned about adversity from that time.
“I wouldn’t be nearly the player I am today without his support and the advice he’s given me as his sister and as an athlete,” Duchscherer said.
The player she is, is one that was heavily recruited by colleges from across the country and is currently a top-50 recruit in the Class of 2022.
“Abby has been on our radar since she was in eighth grade,” Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy said about Duchscherer. “We are so excited to sign our first young lady from North Dakota. She could be the best female athlete that state has ever produced.”
Duchscherer certainly has a claim for the title of best female athlete from the state of North Dakota, but Duchscherer will be the first to talk about the pride she has in her home state. She knows the type of athletes that compete in North Dakota. She knows that not many get the chance to do what she is doing when it comes to college athletics.
“It’s very humbling and such an honor,” Duchscherer said. “I mean to get looked at by Coach Murphy, let alone get recruited to go to his school. But just understand North Dakota, we work pretty hard, other states don’t know we have a different type of definition of work hard. I definitely think that’s going to help me.”
Along with that North Dakota work ethic, Duchscherer plans to bring her voice to the Crimson Tide. She considers herself a bit of a cheerleader out on the diamond, always trying to raise everyone’s spirits.
No matter what it is, Duchscherer is ready to contribute whatever is asked of her by Alabama. She will be joining a Crimson Tide team that consistently won SEC championships and makes regular trips to the Women’s College World Series.
“I’m very excited to be a part of something so amazing,” Duchscherer said. “I know it’s going to be a challenge but I’m up for it.”
