Featured Athlete: Jordan Hamilton

Sport: Basketball | Grade: 12

Jordan Hamilton attempts a lay up during the state semi final against Vista Ridge. Hamilton will attending Northwestern University in the fall.

Sarah Philips

Jordan Hamilton attempts a lay up during the state semi final against Vista Ridge. Hamilton will attending Northwestern University in the fall.

Wingspan: You recently signed with Northwestern University, how did you come about making that decision?

Hamilton: “First I always ask my parents for their opinion and what they think would be best for me. Researching it I saw that is was 12th in the nation in academics and that’s what was a big part of my decision making because I wanted to be able to have a successful job after college.”

Wingspan: Northwestern is a strong academic school, how much did that play into your thought process?

Hamilton: “It was a really big part of my thought process, like I said I want to be able to have a very successful job after college, so it probably took up the majority of my decision.”

Wingspan: After making a run to state last year, do you feel like there is a target on the team’s back?

Hamilton: “In a way yes I feel that there has kinda been that target on our back from district titles and we’ve always had a successful season  but also at the same time people kinda look down on us, they don’t think that we are who our title is.”

Wingspan: It seems like you guys play a tough non-district schedule every year, how does that help when it comes time to play district games?

Hamilton: “It definitely slows down our district games, I’m not saying that it’s easy but it does help places where we we need to be, it shows us where our weaknesses are and it allows us to build on our strengths o by playing these higher level teams it causes us to be better.”

Wingspan: You guys have won the district championship several years in a row, is that a big goal for this year’s team.

Hamilton: “The goal is to always go 1-0 each game that also means winning the district championship then that is the goal.”

Wingspan: On the court, you are known to be fairly quick, how do you decide whether to attack the rim or maybe pull up for a midrange jumper?

Hamilton: “It just always depends on what my defenders doing if I have a move and it’s been working for each possession and the defender finally decides to move over I always have to counter so it’s just the position of the defender.”

Wingspan: The team seems to do a good job on defense as far as pressuring the other teamso what is your mind set on defense?

Hamilton: “Just get it done. When we’re on defense and we’re pressuring it’s normally becasue we want to get fast, easy buckets and so it’s an urgent situation and that’s when we know that we have to do whatever it takes to get the ball back.”