What happened to the Hamby scoring machine?

[FortWaynePurdueBoiler]

I admit I haven't followed PUWBB that close. I do recall than Hamby was a scoring machine...especially from 3 point range in high school.

She's now a Junior....why hasn't she stepped into more of a dominate scorer....or at least a good sharp shooter when given the chance?

 

[destewart]

People who apparently know say she was not a prolific 3 point shooter in high school and accumulated lots of her points inside against small school competition in Alabama.

 

[KODK]

Hamby scored a ton in high school, but most of it was driving to the basket and that just hasn't translated to Purdue. She had to develop more of a three-point shot while here, and she's capable of hitting it, but it's a misnomer that the long ball is her forte.

Here's a quote from her when she committed a few years ago.

"I like to take the ball to the hole, do that first, but I'll shoot a jumper or a three. Whatever I have to do."

 

[Larry77]

As a Senior in high school, made 81 three pointers at a 56.6% rate. Not too bad. Check her stats at Purdue Sports

 

[KODK]

But she averaged like 35 points per game, so a majority of her points still came on drives or at the line.

 

[illiniboiler]

Clearly as a junior she has not developed into a consistent scorer and I think, this late, it is unlikely to happen. She is not really quick and has trouble getting open or driving. She, at times, has been an effective role player and that is what I think she will be in her career here. Clearly though works very hard and seems to know what she is doing.

 

[GemstateBoiler]

I think some kids, who are stars at smaller high school programs, can end up being good college players but more do not. I was also surprised that such an enormous high school scorer doesn't have some of the same bite and scorer mentality in college ball. I really figured she would come in and force a lot of shots but have trouble with defense. That really hasn't been the case. She gives us decent minutes sometimes as the role player and seems to be a good kid. Sometimes that's the way it is. The way it is, is most likely hard for her since her role is completely different in college ball than smaller school high school.
This post was edited on 1/6 10:21 AM by GemstateBoiler

 

[boilerluv]

I have never been impressed with Hamby. She was a big deal in high school, but it was a very small high school in a small league. She apparently works hard in practice, but I don't think she will ever be more than a role player in college. She does not have the length, the athleticism, the speed, or the shot.

 

[illiniboiler]

Reminds me of Indiana's Buss, an Illinois player,who set every record imaginable. She is good and producing more than Hamby, but Buss is on a lesser team. She has not at all, however, become the super star she was projected to be. Small school competition is just way different.

 

[Bigohh]

Re: Exception to your rule might be...

a young lady who played for Seeger Memorial (West Lebanon, IN) about 15 years ago. She turned out a pretty good player.

 

[smalltownIL]

Steph was so much more than a scorer, though. She had some of the best court vision/sense that I've seen. Sure, she scored a lot (especially in HS) but an extremely complete ballplayer. Not knocking Hamby, as I never saw her in HS and the college viewing has been very limited, but it sounds like she was much more of just a scorer.

 

[TC4THREE]

Steph also played in the non-class basketball era which means she competed against bigger schools in the tournament. IIRC she lost to Lake Central in her last game? I'm sure the regular season was mostly against smaller schools but there were opportunities to see her step up and play bigger and better competition too.

 

[pufan73]

Steph was also one of the very best of either gender at drawing fouls. Her court sense and game knowledge was beyond her years.

 

[boilerluv]

Really. Comparing Hamby to Stephanie White is like apples and oranges. No, more like apples and watercress, maybe. Filet mignon and tofu? Oh well, you know what I mean.

 

[koopmeister]

I know the SW and Hamby comps are TIC...but that they both played for small schools, not unlike Moses who also played for a small high school and finished her career 1st all BIG.

She scored a ton of point in high school. Sure she probably made her share of layups, but she also made 81 3's her senior year shooting at a 56.5% clip which is tremendous. What that tells me is that while she might not be able to create her own shot, she more than has the ability to take any and every open look. If she lacks confidence, create opportunities on the floor where she is most likely to succeed.

 

[destewart]

Good coaches crested screens and plays to exploit great shooters who have trouble creating their shot without help. If you don't do test then you made a recruiting mistake.