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'12 VA C A.J. Hammons (Purdue Verbal)

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shock3;1641260; said:
I don't see how Hammons doesn't have more offers. He's 6'10, solid body, good hands, good touch, passes very well, good timing for blocking shots, understands the game. His potential is big.

I would much rather offer a center early as opposed to a guard.
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+1

I think offering Anthony Crater and Walter Offutt so early ended up costing Matta some. Others now complain that he shouldn't have signed one-and-done seven footers like BJ and KK. But I don't agree with that and feel centers should be offered earlier as they are much harder and tougher to find and sign. I also think Matta offered Golden and Wright too early, probably prompted by Groce to do so. When they hadn't improved their game much, he cooled on them. Sounds like it spurred Wright to improve quite a bit after that though.

I'd like to see Matta offer Hammons now. Guys like that are not in abundent supply in this area of the country - if anywhere.

:osu:
 
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shock3;1641260; said:
I don't see how Hammons doesn't have more offers. He's 6'10, solid body, good hands, good touch, passes very well, good timing for blocking shots, understands the game. His potential is big.

I would much rather offer a center early as opposed to a guard.
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Totally agree. We need to start recruiting some of the bigger boys instead of constantly recruiting wing players and then we are short on the bench when it comes to guys who can play the 5 position. We need to start building depth for both the 4 and 5 position.
 
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Carmel 6-10 sophomore A.J. Hammons said he hears from a lot of IU fans at tournaments or out in public. Hammons currently has offers from Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and Xavier.

Coming off a 10-21 season, Hoosiers fans are hungry for the future to arrive.

"(IU fans) walk up to me all the time," Hammons said. "Some I know because they're at my games. But some I don't and they'll come up and talk about IU. It's pretty crazy."

Though he doesn't yet have an offer, Hammons said one school he likes is Ohio State. He has taken unofficial visits to Indiana and Ohio State.

"IU is a good school," he said. "My mom went there and it has a good tradition. Ohio State has a great campus. I like Xavier a lot, too."
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Etherington talks up IU | IndyStar.com | The Indianapolis Star
 
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Carmel's Hammons refines his game
By Kyle Neddenriep
Posted: May 7, 2010

Washington High School junior Cody Zeller and Lawrence North's Michael Chandler (both 6-10) are literally two of the biggest uncommitted in-state basketball recruits in the 2011 class.

A year behind them, in the sophomore class, is Carmel's A.J. Hammons. The 6-11, 250-pound center is arguably the most sought-after Indiana prep player in his class and one of the top sophomore centers in the country.

A defensive force since his freshman year, Hammons averaged 4.8 blocks as a sophomore.

"Blocking shots comes pretty natural," he said. "I see it as, 'I'm not going to let them score before we score.' The hard part is not fouling. You have to go over their body to block the shot and sometimes they will throw their body into you to draw the foul. But I'd rather have him miss one or two free throws than have a chance to get three points."

Hammons' offensive game wasn't refined as a freshman, but it has come a long way in a year. He averaged 8.3 points and 7.8 rebounds last season and shot 69 percent from the field.

The key to improving as a post player, Hammons said, is footwork and strength.

He has been working with a personal trainer after school to work on improving his agility.

"I need to be able to make another move when (the defender) takes something away," Hammons said. "That's what I want to get better at for next year. And I need to be able to finish at the basket and really want the ball more."

Hammons said he's not in a hurry with his recruitment. He currently has scholarship offers from Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and Xavier. Ohio State has also shown interest.

"I'm pretty much focused on trying to get my schoolwork done right now," he said. "I really don't just have one college I like. I'm looking for somewhere I can develop more and get playing time. It's pretty open right now."
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Carmel's Hammons refines his game | IndyStar.com | The Indianapolis Star
 
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2012 Intro: A.J. Hammons
by Alex Bozich in Media | June 1st, 2010

The Essentials: 7-0, 260-lb center for Carmel and Spiece Indy Heat

The Schools: Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and Xavier have offered scholarships. Butler, Kentucky, Ohio State and Purdue have expressed interest.

The Numbers: 8.3 ppg, 7.8 rebounds and 4.8 for Carmel, which finished 15-7.

The Quote: ?I?m pretty much focused on trying to get my schoolwork done right now. I really don?t just have one college I like. I?m looking for somewhere I can develop more and get playing time. It?s pretty open right now.? ? Hammons to Kyle Neddenriep of The Indianapolis Star.

The Ranking: The Hoop Scoop ranks Hammons the 94th best prospect in the 2012 class.

The Scout Says: ?We?ve seen the progression for this kid over the past year and we can see the light slowly coming. The 7-footer out of Carmel (Ind.) is being more aggressive on both ends and is starting to show his potential. Offensively he has a go-to move in a right jump hook, now we?d like to see him add from there, but he already has what many young posts are missing. Defensively he contests shots and he certainly got his hands on quite a few on Sunday.? ? Scout.com analyst Evan Daniels on Hammons at EYBL Los Angeles.
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2012 Intro: A.J. Hammons | Inside the Hall | An Indiana Hoosiers basketball blog

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6UM6AeLZaU]YouTube - AJ Hammons - Carmel Basketball[/ame]
 
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June 18, 2010
Tar Heels show interest in area standout
Posted by Kyle Neddenriep

When it's all said and done maybe no player in Indiana's stellar 2012 class will be as hotly recruited as Carmel's A.J. Hammons. The 6-11 center is still developing as an offensive threat (he averaged 8.3 points and 7.8 rebounds as a sophomore), but has the requisite skills (footwork, touch, agility) to be a strong offensive threat. And he's already a force on the defensive end, where he averaged 4.8 blocked shots last year.

Carmel is a bit a flux right now without a coach after the resignation of Mark Galloway in the fallout of the hazing/assault incidents that rocked the program last season. A new hire should be coming soon - possibly next week - and Hammons will be a major factor no matter which coach lands there.

As for Hammons' recruitment, I spoke with one of his Spiece coaches, Jared Quarles, this week. He said North Carolina made contact with Hammons on Tuesday, the first day coaches could call the 2012 prospects. Other schools to call: Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Georgia Tech, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio State, Purdue and Wake Forest.

"His recruitment has really gone through the roof," Quarles said. "It's really picked up quite a bit."

Quarles said Hammons currently claims offers from Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio State and Xavier. He said the North Carolina interest "came out of nowhere."

"(Galloway) had been working on setting up Carmel at a team camp down there, but with everything going on that didn't happen," he said. "But they made contact this week so they must have some interest."

Hammons spoke highly of Ohio State last month at a tournament in Fort Wayne, but said he was taking his recruitment slowly and was looking forward to seeing what happened in July. No doubt he'll get a close look from a number of coaches during the evaluation period.
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IndyStar.com | Recruiting Central | The Indianapolis Star
 
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Hammons to Oak Hill a possibility
Posted by Kyle Neddenriep

Oak Hill Academy (Va.) coach Steve Smith posted on his twitter page this morning that Carmel's 6-11 junior-to-be center A.J. Hammons would be on his roster for next season.

Hammons' mother, Alfreda Hammons, said that is a bit premature, although she said the family has been in contact with the school.

"We have requested information from a couple of prep schools, but haven't even filled out an application yet," she said. "Because Carmel didn't have a coach for all that time, there have been some prep schools inquiring about him. It's a possibility."

Alfreda Hammons said one of her son's travel coaches, Jared Quarles, has handled most of conversations with the prep schools, including Oak Hill Academy. Quarles could not immediately be reached.

A.J. Hammons is considered one of the top prospects nationally in the 2012 class. He has offers from Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and Xavier.
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IndyStar.com | Recruiting Central | The Indianapolis Star
 
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A.J. Hammons, a 6-10 junior-to-be, said he doesn't necessarily want to leave Carmel for Oak Hill Academy, but said a change of venue might help him academically.

"I didn't want to mess up anymore with my schoolwork," he said. "I think they can help me there. I'm a little excited because it's a good school for basketball, but I really didn't want to leave because I'm so used to Indiana. It will be a hard move, but I'm going to go through with it."

Hammons has lived away from home before, spending nearly three years at the Indiana Soldiers' and Sailors' Children's Home near Knightstown before coming to Carmel.

"I'm used to being in a boarding school so that should help," he said.
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Smeathers attracting big-time attention | IndyStar.com | The Indianapolis Star
 
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July 8, 2010
Hammons about to learn more about Oak Hill Academy
Posted by Kyle Neddenriep

Admittedly, A.J. Hammons doesn't know much about his new school.

"I know it's a good basketball school and I know Carmelo Anthony went there," he said.

The 6-10 Hammons is headed to Oak Hill Academy next month, transferring out of Carmel. It's not a move that he particularly wants to make, but he said it makes sense both for basketball and academically.

"I didn't want to mess up anymore with my schoolwork," he said. "I think they can help me there. I'm a little excited because it's a good school for basketball, but I really didn't want to leave because I'm so used to Indiana. It will be a hard move, but I'm going through with it."

Hammons said the transition may be helped by the fact that he lived at the Indiana Soldiers' and Sailors' Children's Home near Knightstown for nearly three years.

He said he expects different schools to get involved with his recruitment now that he's going to be on the East Coast. He has offers from Indiana, Illinois, Xavier and Minnesota.

"I'm going to a different area of the country so I'm sure more schools will be interested," he said.
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IndyStar.com | Recruiting Central | The Indianapolis Star
 
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AJ Hammons ?12, Oak Hill Academy (VA): Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana, Xavier, Marquette, Ohio State, North Carolina, and Kentucky
Offers: Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana, and Xavier
Favorites: None
Notes- On when he plans to commit, Hammons said, ?I was gonna do it probably the end of my junior year, beginning senior year.? Asked how he decided to transfer to Oak Hill from Carmel (IN), Hammons said, ?It was a better choice for my academics. I had messed up in one of my classes . . . [and I felt like] they weren?t pushing me hard enough. I felt I?d rather go to a good school [for both] basketball and academics [and I did] . . . what I gotta do.?
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BLOG.NORTHSTARBBALL.COM
 
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Summer Scouting 2010: AJ Hammons
By Joey E on August 5, 2010

It?s time to introduce you to a new feature called Summer Scouting. Over the next month or two we?ll be recapping how Indiana players have done this summer. Included will be a scouting report and an overall look at how the player progressed and performed this summer. This will be based off of AAU and summer high school games.

I watched Hammons play half a dozen times this summer, in both high school and AAU events. What impresses me most about Hammons is how in shape he is now. A year ago his weight and conditioning were in question, but now Hammons has the body and stamina to be a huge factor in games.

Hammons is a young big man with veteran touch and presence in the post. His footwork helps him to establish good position, and he can score over either shoulder in the post. He has a developing hook shot, or can spin left or right and use the glass to finish. He?s still developing his post moves, but his footwork and touch provide a good base for plenty of improvement. Another great thing about Hammons is his ability to get to the foul line, and his ability to knock them down at a fairly consistent rate for a big man.
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Summer Scouting 2010: AJ Hammons | Hoosier Hoops Report
 
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2012 Update - A.J. Hammons
Big man ready to take off at Oak Hill
By Antonio Curro - Midwest PUNKS Editor

aj-hammons-headshot1-211x263.jpg


A strong group of promising interior prospects fill the board in the 2012 class and one massive talent who is regarded as one of the best in the class is A.J. Hammons, a native from Indiana who recently transferred to Oak Hill Academy in Virginia. Long regarded as one of the best up and coming prospects in the Midwest, Hammons is an elite national talent on the cusp of seeing his stock soar over the next 12-15 months.aj-hammons-headshot1

At 6-11 weighing in at a little over 260 pounds, Hammons looks the part of a high major talent as he has the size, length, and strength of an interior prospect that schools across the country covet on an annual basis. Hammons has solid rebounding instincts, a decent feel around the basket, and has shown an improved ability to finish in the paint with consistency the past few months. Hammons is really just starting to emerge on the skill size which means his best years lie ahead and that?s what schools and scouts love to hear. Add to the mix a year at the powerful Oak Hill Academy under the direction of legendary head coach Steve Smith and Hammons has a great opportunity to really explode in the coming months.

According to sources close to the situation, Hammons has secured offers from Indiana and Xavier with strong interest coming from the likes of Maryland, Purdue, Texas, Florida, Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio State, Iowa, and N.C. State. He has not set up any unofficial visits for this fall but he has already taken one to Ohio State earlier in his high school career. As 2012 prospects go, Hammons has firmly established himself as one of the premiere bigs in the country and you can expect his recruiting trail to load up with high major programs from coast to coast before it?s all said and done.

He plays with the Spiece Indy Heat program during the grassroots travel season.
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SLAM ONLINE | ? 2012 Update - A.J. Hammons
 
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