Richard Hamilton, UCONN

Name:	Richard Hamilton
College:	Connecticut
Height:	6'6"
Weight:	185
Class:	Junior
Position:	Small Forward
Other Position:	Shooting Guard
NBA.com profile

Stats (Provided by JazzyJ)

                  G  MIN  FG  FGA  3P 3PA  FT FTA  REB  PF AST  TO BLK STL  PTS
96-97 UConn      32  980 174  451  70 186  91 116  138  76  88  95  11  40  509
97-98 UConn      37 1203 270  614  99 245 156 185  163  71  87  83   8  54  795
98-99 UConn      34 1091 247  557  68 196 170 204  163  56  91  82   9  40  732
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TOTALS          103 3274 691 1622 237 627 417 505  464 203 266 260  28 134 2036

                  MIN   FG%   3P%   FT%  RPG  APG  TPG  BPG  SPG   PPG
96-97 UConn      30.6  38.6  37.6  78.4  4.3  2.8  3.0  0.3  1.3  15.9
97-98 UConn      32.5  44.0  40.4  84.3  4.4  2.4  2.2  0.2  1.5  21.5
98-99 UConn      32.1  44.3  34.7  83.3  4.8  2.7  2.4  0.3  1.2  21.5
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TOTALS           31.8  42.6  37.8  82.6  4.5  2.6  2.5  0.3  1.3  19.8

Scouting reports

Scout: Jeffrey Burgoyne [burgoyne@ultimate-sports.com]

The SG position is always a tough one to fill in the NBA, and Hamilton was the highest rated SG in the NCAA before last year, and his play over the past year cemented that honor. His brings a fluid offensive game into the NBA where he can score off the dribble, on the run and as a spot up shooter. How quickly he adjusts to the NBA three point line will determine how quickly he will be successful. He will need his three point shot in the pro's to open up his penetrating ability or defenders will simply lay off him on the outside. He does not have the strength to use the post effectively to open up his midrange game.
Regardless he appears likely to be the first SG chosen in draft (Cory Maggette may very well be chosen before Hamilton, however). In a draft where there seems to be 7 - 10 solid picks, Hamilton will likely go to a team with need at SG, and that could be a top 3 pick all the way down to number 10. I felt he would have been perfect in Denver, but they traded away their number 3 pick overall.

The SG position is always a tough one to fill in the NBA, and Hamilton was the highest rated SG in the NCAA before last year, and his play over the past year cemented that honor. His brings a fluid offensive game into the NBA where he can score off the dribble, on the run and as a spot up shooter. How quickly he adjusts to the NBA three point line will determine how quickly he will be successful. He will need his three point shot in the pro's to open up his penetrating ability or defenders will simply lay off him on the outside. He does not have the strength to use the post effectively to open up his midrange game.

Hamilton seems to be a cross between former UConn SG Ray Allen and former Villinova SG Kerry Kittles. His body build is more like Kittles, but his offensive game matches up well with Allen. As with Kittles, he just doesn't have the size to be an NBA SF, and he doesn't have Kittles skill to play the point. For these reasons I believe he will take a few years to properly adjust to the NBA style game.

Regardless he appears likely to be the first SG chosen in draft (Cory Maggette may very well be chosen before Hamilton, however). In a draft where there seems to be 7 - 10 solid picks, Hamilton will likely go to a team with need at SG, and that could be a top 3 pick all the way down to number 10. I felt he would have been perfect in Denver, but they traded away their number 3 pick overall.

Scout: Phil Nation

Richard Hamilton's play in the NCAA Tournament should have cleared up any doubts as to whether or not he is ready to play in the NBA. After a season in which he was named a first-team All-American, Hamilton was the tournament's Most Outstanding Pl ayer as Connecticut won the national championship.
Hamilton has great offensive skills. He is a great athlete and uses it well, as he makes a lot of athletic plays. He scores in transition as well as anyone, and shoots well going off the dribble or to the basket. His jump shot could stand improv ement as far as his shooting range is concerned. He is equally at home at shooting guard or small forward. His defense is decent, though he could have trouble guarding small forwards and some shooting guards that are stronger and try to post him up.

During the NCAA Tournament, Hamilton stepped up and led the way for Connecticut. He came to play with everything on the line and made big plays throughout the tournament.

Hamilton should be one of the first players taken in the lottery, and should have a good NBA career.ove to have. His real weakness at the PF position is the lack of any midrange game.

Scout: David Edelman [dedelman@acpub.duke.edu]

Made to be a pro off-guard. Good shooting range, can create his own shot, can break his man down one-on-one. Solid man defender. The only two knocks I can think of on him are: (1) he's a shooting guard, and shooting guard is usually considered a less important position to draft high, and (2) he's been hurt, and at a slender 6'6" 195 he may get hurt again in the NBA. If he stays healthy he's the most likely player in the entire draft to give you 12 starter-caliber seasons.