Jennifer Hamson
| No. 5 – Los Angeles Sparks | |
|---|---|
| Position | Center |
| League | WNBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | January 23, 1992 Lindon, Utah |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Pleasant Grove (Pleasant Grove, Utah) |
| College | BYU (2010–2014) |
| WNBA draft | 2014: 2nd round, 23rd overall pick |
| Selected by the Los Angeles Sparks | |
| Playing career | 2015–present |
| Career history | |
| 2015–present | Los Angeles Sparks |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Stats at Basketball Reference | |
Jennifer Hamson (born January 23, 1992) is a professional basketball player who plays for the Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA. She is also an All-American volleyball player for the Brigham Young University Cougars.
Early career
Hamson grew up in Lindon, Utah. She attended Pleasant Grove High School, where she was an all-state basketball selection and a member of the state championship volleyball team. She also played for the Utah Elite club volleyball team.[1][2] Hamson was recruited to play volleyball by the University of Utah, Colorado State, Utah State, Long Beach State, University of Louisville and UNLV.
College
Hamson was a dual sport athlete at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and is considered by many to be the best ever female athlete at BYU.[3] She led the Cougars to a sweet sixteen appearance in the 2014 NCAA tournament, only the third #12 seed to ever make it that far. As a senior she averaged 18 points, 11 rebounds and led the nation with 147 blocked shots. She was named an Associated Press All-America Honorable Mention recipient and was the WCC Player and Defensive Player of the Year, the first time in league history that the honor has gone to the same student-athlete.[4]
WNBA career
Following her collegiate career, Hamson was selected 23rd overall (2nd round) in the 2014 WNBA Draft by the Los Angeles Sparks, despite telling teams that she would defer playing a year to complete her volleyball commitments.[3] Hamson signed with the Sparks on February 23, 2015 after sitting out the 2014 WNBA season.[5]
Volleyball career
Hamson chose to defer playing in the WNBA so she could attend the U.S. Collegiate National Volleyball Team camp during the summer of 2014. She will complete her eligibility by competing with the BYU volleyball team for the fall 2014 season.[6] Hamson was named an All American for volleyball after the Cougars run to the Sweet Sixteen in 2013.[7]
Personal life
Parents are David and Tresa Hamson. She has two brothers and two sisters.
Awards and honors
Basketball
- WCC player of the year (2014)
- WCC defensive player of the year (2014)
Volleyball
- WCC player of the Year (2013)
- All-WCC First Team (2013)
- All-Pacific Region First Team (2013)
- AVCA All-America First Team (2013)
Career statistics
Brigham Young University
| Jennifer Hamson Basketball Statistics[1] at Brigham Young University | |||||||||||||||||||
| Year | G | MIN | AVE | FG | FGA | PCT | FT | FTA | PCT | REB | AVG | A | BLK | S | PF | TO | PTS | AVG | |
| 2010–11 | 30 | 455 | 15.2 | 90 | 161 | 0.559 | 51 | 69 | 0.739 | 154 | 5.1 | 4 | 45 | 7 | 51 | 27 | 231 | 7.7 | |
| 2011–12 | 31 | 553 | 17.8 | 114 | 197 | 0.579 | 67 | 89 | 0.753 | 178 | 5.7 | 17 | 76 | 17 | 52 | 31 | 295 | 9.5 | |
| 2012–13 | 26 | 659 | 25.3 | 121 | 235 | 0.515 | 48 | 76 | 0.632 | 229 | 8.8 | 18 | 72 | 20 | 67 | 55 | 290 | 11.2 | |
| 2013–14 | 35 | 1084 | 31.0 | 224 | 396 | 0.566 | 173 | 242 | 0.715 | 404 | 11.5 | 34 | 147 | 16 | 88 | 88 | 621 | 17.7 | |
| Totals | 122 | 2751 | 22.5 | 549 | 989 | 0.555 | 339 | 476 | 0.712 | 965 | 7.9 | 73 | 340 | 60 | 258 | 201 | 1437 | 11.8 | |
References
- ^ a b "Jennifer Hamsom - Basketball Profile". BYUcougars.com. Retrieved April 15, 2014.
- ^ "Jennifer Hamson - Volleyball Profile". BYUcougars.com. Retrieved April 15, 2014.
- ^ a b Hamson, Jennifer (April 14, 2014). "Are WNBA teams willing to wait on BYU's Hamson?". Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved April 15, 2014.
- ^ Lloyd, Jared (April 14, 2014). "LLOYD: Cougar senior Jennifer Hamson picked 23rd overall in WNBA draft by LA". The Daily Herald. Retrieved April 15, 2014.
- ^ Sparks Sign 2014 Draft Pick Jennifer Hamson
- ^ "Sparks make investment in future by selecting BYU's Jennifer Hamson in second round of WNBA draft". Daily News. April 14, 2014. Retrieved April 15, 2014.
- ^ "Jennifer Hamson: Life as a 6-foot-7-inch tall BYU coed". KSL. March 21, 2013. Retrieved March 21, 2013.