Jairus Hamilton has chance to take lead role for Western Kentucky Basketball

Western Kentucky Basketball is going to go through a ton of turnover heading into next season. After winning the Conference USA regular-season title, the team will be replacing six of their nine main rotation players.

That includes the two stars of the team, three-time all-conference scoring guard Taveion Hollingsworth and Charles Bassey, a former five-star recruit that became Conference USA Player of the Year after leading the team with 17.6 ppg and 11.6 rpg. It was a shame that we never saw this core of Hilltoppers make the NCAA Tournament but now we move forward with a new era.

Key players returning to Western Kentucky includes third-leading scoring guard Josh Anderson, point guard Dayvion McKnight, and sharpshooter Luke Frampton. Joining them is top-60 point guard Zion Harmon, JUCO All-American center Dayvion McKnight, and another JUCO big in Darrius Miles. But the Hilltoppers needed more proven D-I talent to feel more comfortable for next season. That’s where newcomer Jairus Hamilton comes in.

Hamilton started his college career at Boston College, elevating to the starting lineup as a sophomore and averaging 9.5 ppg and 4.3 rpg. The 6’8 forward can play and defend multiple positions and is a really good athlete. A former top-100 prospect out of high school, Hamilton transferred to Maryland a year ago and was viewed as a high-level pickup.

Unfortunately for the former Eagle, Hamilton’s role didn’t grow. He came off the bench for the Terrapins, averaging 6.5 ppg in 20 mpg. The one positive was his improvement from the three-point line (43% on 37/86 attempts), which was around 60% of his total attempts from the field. To offer a defense for Hamilton, the emergence of junior forward Donta Scott and the three-guard lineup the Terps used forced him to the role of 6th man.

Now at Western Kentucky, Hamilton has the chance for a major role in the frontcourt. His versatility and shooting will space up the floor and he and Frampton can have the team become an offensive force in Conference USA. The talent will be beneficial to the freshman Harmon, as well as the JUCO centers inside. Hamilton has the potential to be the catalyst for the Hilltoppers to remain in the upper-tier in league play.

While Western Kentucky Basketball lost plenty of quality talent, so did the rest of Conference USA when it comes to both seniors and outgoing transfers. So don’t count out the Hilltoppers to make an under-the-radar run to win the league and finally get back to the Big Dance. If Jairus Hamilton can become that all-conference play the team hopes for, it won’t be out of the question.