Hammond is 2014 All-Area boys player of the year

[Huskerpapa]

http://www.duncanbanner.com/sports/x493449770/Hammond-dominates-area-scene

 

In many ways, as he enters his first season with Nebraska, Hammond’s experience will be similar. As the highest rated recruit in school history, expectations for the six-foot 10-inch center will be high. Compound that with Nebraska having the sour taste of making it to the NCAA tournament, but losing in the first round. Add in the program’s recent transition to the Big Ten, which sent six teams to March Madness this season, and it makes for a lot of pressure to win right away. He should feel right at home.

“This is in a lot of ways the same scenario,” Hammond said. “Hopefully come in there, and try to get us back to the tournament. Hopefully further than the first round. But it’s definitely helping a lot, because it’s going to be the same way when I go up there.”

Hammond has already started his preparation for Big Ten basketball. He knows it will be a big step up in competition but is anxious to get there.

“It’s nerve-wracking,” Hammond said. “Every day counts as far as getting in the gym, lifting weights, putting up a bunch of shots. I can’t wait. The competition and the level of play is going to be great.”
 

[Cookie Belcher]

We lost in the second round.

[Norm Peterson]

"As the highest ranked recruit in Nebraska men’s basketball history playing in Oklahoma’s Class 3A, Hammond was the most disliked player in every road gym."

 

Wut?

 

Andre Woolridge, Erick Strickland, Jaron Boone, Dapreis Owens and a few others say, "Au contraire, mon frère."

[49r]

Yeah, I kind of bristle at that "highest ranked recruit in Nebraska basketball history" thing too, Norm.

 

Tyronn Lue?

[AuroranHusker]

That's because the "Rivals Top 150" rankings weren't around in the early 90's... glad to have Mr. Hammond repping the 'real' Big Red!

[Norm Peterson]

Oh, and, by the way, congrats to Mr. Hammond on such a fine season and we can't wait to have the highest ranked recruit since Rivals began their rankings wearing a Husker uniform next fall (and probably this summer as well.)

[HB]

Yeah, I kind of bristle at that "highest ranked recruit in Nebraska basketball history" thing too, Norm.

 

Tyronn Lue?

Chester Surles?

[49r]

Bill Jackman?

[Norm Peterson]

Wow.  We're really having to search our brains for a list of potentially better recruits.  In a way, that feels pretty sad.  I'm hoping that's all changing.

 

Jamar Johnson was pretty highly rated.  So was Venson Hamilton, coming out of Oak Hill Academy.  Louis Truscott was also pretty highly rated. 

 

As far as "top 150" I'm not sure they ranked them that way back then.  I just remember Street and Smith having regional bests, next bests and best of the rest.  The whole list was probably something less than 150 players.  The best would have been the top 10 from the north, south, east and west.  Next best would have been the next 10 from each region.  And best of the rest would have probably been about 10-30 (depending how deep a region was with talent and some were always deeper than others) of the best players otherwise.  So, the total list might have included maybe 150 total players.  And all those guys I've named above would have made those lists.

 

Danny brought in some good players, no doubt about it.

[Huskerpapa]

Appears we are focusing on the wrong thing...how about congratulations Jacob and we welcome and look forward to your talents meshing with team...and leading us to the promised land!

[Norm Peterson]

Appears we are focusing on the wrong thing...how about congratulations Jacob and we welcome and look forward to your talents meshing with team...and leading us to the promised land!

FWIW, I agree:

 

Oh, and, by the way, congrats to Mr. Hammond on such a fine season and we can't wait to have the highest ranked recruit since Rivals began their rankings wearing a Husker uniform next fall (and probably this summer as well.)

[dskurz]

"As the highest ranked recruit in Nebraska men’s basketball history playing in Oklahoma’s Class 3A, Hammond was the most disliked player in every road gym."

 

Wut?

 

Andre Woolridge, Erick Strickland, Jaron Boone, Dapreis Owens and a few others say, "Au contraire, mon frère."

 

Did all those players play in Oklahoma's Class 3A as well?

[Norm Peterson]

 

"As the highest ranked recruit in Nebraska men’s basketball history playing in Oklahoma’s Class 3A, Hammond was the most disliked player in every road gym."

 

Wut?

 

Andre Woolridge, Erick Strickland, Jaron Boone, Dapreis Owens and a few others say, "Au contraire, mon frère."

 

Did they all those players play in Oklahoma's Class 3A as well?

 

Oops, nope.  My bad.

 

(One comma, more or less, can make a lot of difference, huh?)

[Silverbacked1]

Just ask grandma:

Let's eat, grandma or

Let's eat grandma.

Commas, commas, commas

[HuskerCager]

I think it's good to refute the "highest rated recruit" label.  It's silly and inaccurate.  I agree with Aurora's assessment that the writer based that on the recent Rivals 150 database, which only goes back 15 years I suppose.

The last thing this kid needs is overblown expectations put on him as a freshman.  The "what's wrong with Webster" talk got a little old this spring.

[Huskerpapa]

If I am a player, I want my fans to have high performance expectations...I then would want and personally expect, to meet or exceed those expectations.  My worst fear is that someone would set low expectations and then simply be satisfied with meeting those expectations.  Crap, we better have recruits/players come to Nebraska that we fully expect will imrove our team...otherwise we will never, ever win a game in the NCAA tournament.