DePaul Basketball: Tommy Hamilton IV departs from Chicago

DePaul basketball will lose a valuable contributor off their 2016-17 roster.

Ever since Dave Leitao took over as head coach of the DePaul Blue Demons, the Big East’s cellar-dweller has dealt with nothing but good news.

In fact, this program’s future is clearly pointing upwards, as they build a new arena, land four-star recruits and add quality transfers to increase their talent level.

But not everything can go right, correct?

On Wednesday morning, CBS Sports released a report on Tommy Hamilton IV, who will be leaving the DePaul basketball program before this upcoming season.

Tommy Hamilton will not return to DePaul's basketball program next year, source told @CBSSports. Plans for next season are TBD.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) June 22, 2016

This is significant news for the Blue Demons as Hamilton was one of three seniors (Billy Garrett Jr. and Darrick Wood are the others) who were projected to have a major role on the team in 2016-17.

Obviously, experience and returning players matter, and in order for DePaul to be relatively competitive next year, it was important for Hamilton to take the next step as a stretch four.

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Last season, Hamilton averaged 8.6 points per game, 5.5 rebounds per game and shot 47 percent from the field. He’s not much of a rim protector (0.3 blocks per outing) and isn’t a good passer (0.8 assists per game), but did shoot 45 percent from long range.

The Chicago native is way too inconsistent though – some nights he would drop 19 points and nine boards (against Butler) and others he would play three minutes and score just two points (against Providence). His minutes fluctuated, especially in Big East play, and often seemed to be out of shape, struggling to run up-and-down the floor.

On top of the inconsistencies, Hamilton was suspended for one game for a violation of team rules back in 2014.

It isn’t exactly surprising that Hamilton is leaving, but it is interesting that he hasn’t announced that he will be transferring.

Will Hamilton take his talents overseas?

If he does transfer, does he remain at the high major level?

There are a lot of questions for a player who has great potential as a veteran stretch four (when he has the right mindset).

As far as the Blue Demons as a team, there’s no doubt this sets them back a bit for the 2016-17 season (it hurts their spacing).

But it certainly won’t impact them in the long run.

They still have Leitao, Eli Cain, Garrett’s leadership, their talented 2016 recruiting class and Ohio State/Oklahoma transfer Austin Grandstaff.

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It may be another year of disappointment for DePaul, but their time is coming, regardless of Hamilton’s departure.

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