GO CYCLONES.COM: Utah big man commits to Cyclones
This entry was posted on 10/16/2007 12:00 AM and is filed under Boys Basketball News, Boys Youth Basketball.
Below is an article reprinted from
Chris Williams:
Utah big man commits to Cyclones
The Iowa State men's basketball team threw down a tomahawk jam on Monday but it can thank Gene Chizik's football team for the assist.
Justin Hamilton, a 6-foot-10, 210-pound center out of Lone Peak High School in Alpine, Utah, took his official visit to Ames this past weekend and attended the Iowa State-Iowa football game.
"I thought it was a great town and a great environment. I just decided to commit to Iowa State," Hamilton said Monday night. "I just did it about 15 minutes ago."
Hamilton didn't start playing basketball competitively until he hit a growth spurt during his sophomore year of high school. He's now 6-10 and a very skilled offensive threat.
Combining the facts he's played basketball for only two years and ISU coach Greg McDermott will have all the time in the world to work with him, this commitment holds a hefty upside for the Cyclones.
Last weekend's visit sprung after McDermott and T.J. Otzelberger went to watch Hamilton play late last week. Hamilton, who recently narrowed down his list to ISU, Pepperdine and Weber State, chose the Cyclones for numerous reasons but one kept sticking out in his brain.
That was the passionate environment surrounding ISU athletics.
He was so impressed with the Cyclones that he canceled a planned visit to UC-Davis, which already had offered him.
"The fans and the environment around the entire town really sold me," Hamilton said. "I really felt like the team has their support. I felt that the coaching staff was a really good fit for me and that I fit in with the team."
McDermott's coaching reputation also was a major reason behind Hamilton's commitment.
"He is a really good coach," Hamilton said. "He knows what he's doing, and I really want to play under him. I know that he can help me develop and make me the best possible player."
Hamilton caught the Cyclone coaches' attention after performing well in spring and summer AAU ball for the Salt Lake Metro, and in summer camps.
Now that he's committed to ISU, Hamilton is going to be changing his approach towards practicing the game of basketball. While he's used to working on his skills, now his body will become his primary focal point.
"I know that I need to get bigger and stronger," he said. That is now my focus."
Hamilton is the third commitment ISU has received in the class of 2008. He joins Wes Eikmeier (a 6-3, 170-pound guard of Fremont, Neb.) and Dominique Buckley (6-2, 185-pound guard of Romulus, Mich.).
Chris Williams writes a regular recruiting column for the Tribune. He can be reached at sports@amestrib.com |
