COMMIT ALERT: Santa Clara Guard Christian Hammond Picks NC State
NC State just landed a commitment from Santa Clara redshirt sophomore guard Christian Hammond, a first team All-WCC selection this season.
Hammond was on campus this weekend for an official visit.
He led Santa Clara in scoring at 15.6 points per game with efficiency, sas he finished second in the league in field goal percentage (48.4%), almost unheard of as a 6-foot-4 guard.
His efficiency metrics were terrific.
“With the efficiency it’s about getting in the gym,” Hammond told Inside Pack Sports. “Nothing gets you more prepared than getting those shots up when people don’t see. The mid-range, in high school that was a big part of my game and I really like to shoot those shots and I can get to them efficiently.
“We didn’t really shoot many mid-range shots, but they allowed me to get to my floater and extend that out. I think it’s an important shot still in basketball to keep the defense honest. If they play drop and you have the ability to hit that shot, it opens up a lot of things for you.”
What would Hammond say are his biggest strengths and weaknesses?
“Strengths are my shooting ability,” he said. “I can shoot, I have really good IQ, I play hard and have a good motor.
“I want to work on my rebounding, and the assists can go up when guys are making shots around you. I want to keep creating opportunities for my teammates. Finally, defensively, it’s a big step when you move up from a level, so I want to keep working on that and showing I can do that.”
NC State first-year head coach Justin Gainey, who played for Santa Clara head coach Herb Sendek at NC State, handled Hammond’s recruitment directly.
“It’s crazy... small world for sure,” Hammond said, laughing. “I’ve been talking with coach Gainey a lot, just getting a feel for him. He’s a great person. He’s played the position so he knows what it’s like to play point guard.
“I can already see that coach Gainey and the staff really believe in me, and it’s a special thing to not take for granted. A lot of folks can get caught up in the attention, but I’m not that type of person. I value those that care about me. He made it clear that I was one of his priorities and he really cares about me a lot.”
He is the first recruit to commit to Justin Gainey as head coach at NC State.
Inside Pack Sports will have more from him shortly on his decision so stay tuned!
