Matt Borelli
When Trevon Hamlet learned his head coach was leaving Post University to pursue a head coaching job at another school, he had an important decision to make.
“It was easy for me to follow him because he is a great coach,” said Hamlet. “I love his coaching, style of play, and he is a winner just like me.”
Hamlet is a 6’6” sophomore forward from Brooklyn, NY, where he grew up and learned the game of basketball. Now he is leading the Southern basketball program to one of its best years in recent memory.
“Going into this year I felt we were going to have a successful team. We have a lot of young talent and good senior leadership,” said Hamlet, a business major. “We have worked hard in the off-season.”
Hamlet knew in eighth grade that he had a special talent in basketball in Brooklyn, where the talent is rich.
“I started playing AAU ball and getting looks from high schools,” said Hamlet. “I was invited to a few all-star games, too.”
At 10-8 overall and 7-7 in the Northeast-10 conference, Hamlet and the cast have tallied the most wins for the program since 2002 and amassed the total from the last two seasons (four wins) in the first four games this season. The team also brought a realm of excitement back to the university campus in regards to the basketball program. They always like to stay loose, as the team always has smiles on their faces off the court.
“The locker room is all jokes, that is our time,” said Hamlet.
Hamlet prepares for a game in a very simple way, getting hyped.
“Pre-game I usually just put my iPod on and wild out,” said Hamlet. “I can’t be too serious before a game, sometimes I just put my headphones in and relax and listen.”
Hamlet has shown up amongst the nation’s best in a few statistical categories, including being ranked fourteenth in Division-II averaging 2.5 blocked shots per game. Hamlet also led the team in scoring in eight games this season and scored in double digits in all but two games so far. Hamlet has also earned Northeast-10 Weekly Honor Roll for his play on the court. He has reached the 20-point plateau five times this season. All of these feats have been reached as a sophomore.
“Being on the Honor Roll for a few weeks is an honor for me because it shows my hard work is being paid off, and that I am one of the best players in the Northeast-10,” said Hamlet.
Hamlet played high school basketball at Bishop Laughlin in Brooklyn, and Coach Mike Donnelly, who recruited him while at Post, didn’t really start looking into him until late in his senior season.
“He was just starting to scratch the surface. He was a tough defender, had great touch around the basket,” said Donnelly. “He was perfect for the Division-II level.”
In his freshman year at Post, Hamlet exceeded expectations. He averaged 18 points per game along with 6.2 rebounds per game and 1.7 blocks per game. Hamlet, along with Nyheem Sanders, followed Donnelly to Southern following the news that he had accepted the head coaching position at the school. While at Southern, Donnelly has noticed significant improvements.
“Absolutely, he is stronger, can jump better and he can score away from the basket,” said Donnelly. “He is close to being a wing, he is much improved.”
Hamlet still said he feels that this team has yet to play its best basketball, especially after a recent slump in losing seven of their last 10. Eight games remain on the regular season schedule including three home games for the Owls to showcase what they think they have, a history making team.
“Expectations for the rest of the season are for us to make a playoff run and get to the NCAA tournament,” said Hamlet. “It is possible.”
