Temple basketball: Justyn Hamilton on verge of breakthrough for Owls?

Justyn Hamilton has earned limited time and responsiblity from Fran Dunphy in his first two seasons with Temple basketball, but he is beginning to show that he’s ready to take his game to the next level

Temple basketball fans didn’t exactly know what to expect from Justyn Hamilton coming into the 2018-19 season. The 6-foot-10 Hamilton played only 28 minutes his freshman season, scoring three total points in 11 games, and the Charlotte, NC product wasn’t exactly a known commodity to fans in Philadelphia coming out of Indepndence High School. He was a tall, slender big, and that, combined with any YouTube highlights that were out there, was all that was known about Hamilton to most on North Broad.

He’s a member of a huge sophomore class that had major expectations coming into this season (and Nate-Pierre Louis and J.P. Moorman have absolutely delivered), and Justyn’s name largely got lost in the shuffle. I myself only gave him a passing mention when I argued the importance of the sophomore class for this season, saying that he would likely be Fran Dunphy’s last option off the bench this year.

But what wasn’t clear to Temple fans in his limited 28 minutes his freshman season became so to most after he was tapped to contain Miles Brookins of La Salle in the season opener; Brookins was dominating inside offensively against the less athletic Ernest Aflakpui in the first half before Hamilton got the assignment. In ten minutes of play, he took Brookins out of his offensive rhythm, gathered three rebounds, and went 2-3 from the floor. It looked like Justyn might be a bigger part of the rotation than anticipated, and that maybe he had the tools to eventually become a special player at this level.

But things didn’t go quite as smoothly as most hoped for the big that suddenly got the attention of so many Temple fans. Rumors arose that his tardiness to a team function or functions led to his playing time being limited early in the season (how much truth is behind that, I don’t know); he failed to earn any playing time in four of Temple’s first nine games, and his minutes were limited to five or under in eight of the 17 games he has appeared in this year. He often looked lost positionally on both sides of the ball, frequently blew assignments, looked confused rotating on the defensive end of the floor, and didn’t contribute enough on the glass. Perhaps his worst performance of the year came in a January game against East Carolina, one in which he logged nine minutes, committed four fouls, and didn’t record a single rebound.

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But the improvements seemed steady for Hamilton, and he began to show a sudden instinct for getting to the hoop. Although he wasn’t finishing on a consistent basis, he began using his size and surprising athleticism to explode to the basket and earn trips to the free throw line, and has become automatic on what seems to be a trademark mid-range baseline jumper. He earned his first career start on Thursday night against Houston, Dunphy’s staff understanding the need to insert more size against a tough rebounding Houston team after losing the battle on the glass against Cincinnati 46-22 in a heartbreaking loss a week ago, and Hamilton suddenly showed a swagger and level of comfort mostly not seen in his game at the collegiate level to that point.

Taking advantage of an inconsistent De’Vondre Perry being moved to the bench, Hamilton started the game alongside Ernest Aflakpui, playing as more of a traditional four after previously being used almost exclusively as a center.

Hamilton didn’t exactly light the world on fire against Houston, one of the best rebounding teams in the country, but the extended 18 minutes seemed to allow him to settle in, and he looked more comfortable than he had previously. He also launched his first career three-point attempt in that game, and while it didn’t fall for him, his stroke seemed like that of someone with natural range.

He earned another start in Saturday’s game against Tulane, and played a career-high 24 minutes in a Temple win. He hit his first career three-point shot, an effort that sent the ball straight down the middle of the hoop, scored seven total points, dished an assist, and didn’t commit a single foul.

The numbers aren’t gaudy yet for the sophomore, but tools in his arsenal are becoming apparent with each increase of time and responsibility. He can score from anywhere on the floor, disrupts shots better than anyone on the roster, and has the size to contribute significantly on the glass. But with his slow and steady improvement now continuing late into his sophomore season, some Temple fans are wondering why he didn’t either play more his freshman season or take a redshirt, and why he is just now being used in a significant enough role that is helping him settle into the division one game.

But of course, things are never so simple. The advanced statistics have illustrated the importance of starting center Ernest Aflakpui, and limiting his important role in a season the Owls are aspiring for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament wouldn’t be prudent at this point in the season. And it’s certainly disappointing to the North Broad faithful that at best, they’ll get two full seasons of Hamilton as an effective contributor.

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The Charlotte native is starting to look like he can be the best big to come through Broad and Montgomery since Lavoy Allen left for the NBA in 2011. All of the tools are there for the sophomore, and everyone in North Philly is hoping his big breakout is coming before the end of this season.