#OTRHoopsReport: Player Spotlight – Jairus Hamilton – Jan 11, 2018

Jairus Hamilton of Cannon School (NC) has dominated the competition this season. Photo: Ty Freeman

One of the hottest available prospects that is still available in the 2018 class is 6’8 Cannon School (NC) combo forward Jairus Hamilton.  After a sub par summer Hamilton has found his rhythm and is having a stellar senior season.  We last laid eyes on Hamilton over the Christmas break at the Chick-Fil-A Classic where he played some of his best basketball to date.  After seeing the versatile forward on a number of occasions, I would put his holiday break performance as being the his most efficient outings to date.

In today’s brand of basketball Hamilton is the ideal forward that can split time at both the small and power forward positions.  At a chiseled 221lbs the Cannon School senior showed equal ability to score both on the block and facing the basket which included stepping out and knocking some shots down beyond the arc.  In his best game of the event versus a loaded Oak Hill squad Hamilton recorded 32 points 5 rebounds 2 assists on 10-18 from the field, 4-7 from three point range.  The next night against top 5 senior and Duke signee Cam Reddish, Hamilton recorded a double-double with 24 points and 10 rebounds.  

Another area where Hamilton has seemed to improve is playing off the dribble.  He’s not just a straight line driver anymore, and he also didn’t pound the air out of the ball.  Against a smaller Paul VI team he went away from the long ball and created opportunities off the dribble that allowed for much easier looks at the basket.  At the moment his recruitment seems to be a three school race between Boston College, Maryland, and Mississippi State, with Villanova on the outside after recently making contact right before the Christmas break.  At the rate of his recent performances he projects much higher than his current slot on a few ranking lists and don’t be surprised if others come calling the longer he holds off a commitment.  

Kerry Willis is a contributor to On the Radar Hoops


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