Vernon Hamilton facts for kids
| Point guard | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 28, 1984 Richmond, Virginia |
| Nationality | American |
| High school | Benedictine (Richmond, Virginia) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Listed weight | 195 lb (88 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Clemson (2003–2007) |
| NBA Draft | 2007 / Undrafted |
| Pro career | 2007–2013 |
| Career history | |
| 2007 | Darüşşafaka |
| 2008 | Liepājas Lauvas |
| 2008 | Fort Wayne Mad Ants |
| 2009 | Colorado 14ers |
| 2009 | SAM Massagno Basket |
| 2010 | MBC Mykolaiv |
| 2010 | Austin Toros |
| 2010–2011 | Dakota Wizards |
| 2011 | Tianjin Ronggang |
| 2011–2012 | Hoops Club |
| 2012 | Iowa Energy |
| 2012–2013 | ENAD |
| 2013 | Waikato Pistons |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
Vernon Hamilton (born December 28, 1984) is an American who used to play professional basketball. He was a talented point guard who played for many teams. Today, he works with the Dallas Mavericks to help players improve their skills.
Vernon also played college basketball at Clemson University. He earned both his first degree and a master's degree there. When he wasn't playing basketball, Vernon spent a lot of time helping his community. He worked with the 100 Black Men of America group in Atlanta, Georgia.
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High School Basketball Achievements
Vernon Hamilton was a top high school basketball player. In his final year, he was ranked as the 83rd best high school prospect in the country. He was amazing at scoring, averaging 24 points per game.
He also helped his team, Benedictine High School, win their first-ever state private school title. Vernon was great at passing, getting 7.7 assists per game. He also grabbed 6.2 rebounds and made 3 steals per game. Besides basketball, Vernon was also a talented football player. He received offers to play college football as a defensive back and wide receiver.
College Basketball Journey
After high school, Vernon Hamilton joined the Clemson Tigers basketball team. He was a starting player for all four years he was there. In 2004, he was recognized as an honorable mention for the All-ACC Freshman team.
Vernon was known for his strong defense. He was named to the All-ACC Defensive team in both 2006 and 2007. In 2007, he was invited to play in the NABC All-Star Game. This was a special honor, as he was the first Clemson player since 1998 to receive such an invitation. Vernon finished his college career holding several records for Clemson. He had the most steals in a single season (83) and the highest average steals per game in a season (2.68). He also holds the record for the most career steals at Clemson (271).
College Game Statistics
Here's a look at Vernon Hamilton's average statistics during his college years at Clemson:
| Season | Team | G | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | FG% | 3P% | FT% | MIN | TO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003–04 | Clemson Tigers | 28 | 7.3 | 3.7 | 3.25 | 1.79 | 0 | .385 | .333 | .524 | 26.9 | 3.1 |
| 2004–05 | Clemson Tigers | 32 | 6.8 | 2.6 | 2.88 | 2.13 | .03 | .425 | .244 | .602 | 25.5 | 2.62 |
| 2005–06 | Clemson Tigers | 31 | 12.0 | 3.2 | 3.03 | 2.68 | .13 | .447 | .355 | .551 | 30.2 | 2.68 |
| 2006–07 | Clemson Tigers | 36 | 12.3 | 3.1 | 3.39 | 1.95 | .08 | .468 | .306 | .490 | 31.5 | 2.64 |
| Totals: | 127 | 9.7 | 3.1 | 3.14 | 2.13 | .06 | .440 | .315 | .541 | 28.6 | 2.74 | |
Professional Basketball Career
Vernon Hamilton played professional basketball for several years. He played in both the NBA's development league (D-League) and for teams in other countries.
Playing in the NBA D-League
In 2008, Vernon signed a contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He played in some pre-season games and received praise from coach Mike Brown. Coach Brown said that Vernon had a "terrific game."
Later, in 2010, Vernon signed with the Detroit Pistons. He played in five pre-season games for them. He also had tryouts with other NBA teams like the Dallas Mavericks and Washington Wizards. In 2009, he won an NBA D-League championship with the Colorado 14ers.
Playing Around the World
Vernon also played basketball internationally. In 2013, he played 17 games for ENAD in Cyprus. He averaged 8.5 points, 5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 2.3 steals per game there.
From 2010 to 2011, Vernon played for the Tianjin Ronggang Golden Lions in China. He had impressive stats, averaging 26.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 5.0 steals per game.
Coaching Career
After his playing career, Vernon Hamilton returned to Clemson. He became a Graduate Assistant coach under Brad Brownell, helping to train the next generation of basketball players.
