March 23, 2010

RedStorm hoops adds McClain's Hammond

Rio Grande --- The University of Rio Grande RedStorm women's basketball program has signed its second recruit for the 2010-11 season. She is Kate Hammond of Greenfield McClain High School.

Hammond, a 5-10 forward, was a 2^nd team All-Ohio performer this past season for the Lady Tigers. She earned 1^st team all-conference honors as well as 1^st team All-Southeast District and 1^st team All-District 14. Hammond was the team's Most Valuable Player all four years. 

Hammond was a consistent performer all four years for McClain as she earned 1^st team all-conference every year. She was 1^st team All-Southeast District as both a junior and senior and was 3^rd team All-District 14 her first two seasons. 

Hammond explained that she fulfilled a dream when she signed her letter of intent with Rio Grande. "I'm excited to sign," she said. "It's been my dream since I was a freshman to play ball in college."

Rio Grande head coach David Smalley had targeted Hammond as a key prospect for next season and is pleased to have landed her. "We feel like, number one, most importantly, she is a very, very solid student, great ACT score, wants to get into the biology/chemistry field and really I thought, had a great visit when she came down, she was able to sit down and speak with some of our science people and really just felt very comfortable with what we're able to do for her from a university standpoint, academically," Smalley said. "Athletically, she is just a very, very talented player, she's versatile, she can shoot the three, she handles the ball really well, sees the floor well, can be a slasher and also (McClain) Coach (Dennis) Overstake had used her and worked her on the inside, so I think with her athletic ability and all the talent that she brings as a basketball player that she will fit nicely into our scheme of things."

"Katie has a pretty good I.Q. as far as basketball goes and we've had great luck here with Lyndsey Meyers, this is her home school," Smalley added. "(Lyndsey) recently graduated and played four years in our program. To me it's a win-win situation and I feel that Katie will have every opportunity to be on the varsity and produce and give us good minutes as a freshman."

Rio Grande had a close connection with Hammond as former Rio Grande basketball and baseball player Jarrod Haines is an assistant coach on the McClain team. Hammond mentioned that as one of the factors that helped her in making the decision to sign with the RedStorm. "I liked the location," Hammond said. "I knew some about the college from Coach Haines and it just fit what I was looking for."

"I knew it wasn't that far away from home and it had the major and classes I needed," Hammond added.

She plans to major in Chemistry.

Hammond is a slasher, very similar in body type and skill set to former Rio Grande standout Renee Turley, who played for Rio from 1998-2002. Hammond spent some time in the post this season and feels like she needs to work on her perimeter shot again to help her make the transition to the college game. "I'm a team player and will contribute in any way possible," said Hammond. "I need to work on shooting the outside shots again." 

Smalley agreed with the comparison to Turley. "Right now, with some of the players that we've had in the past, she's kind of got a Renee Turley type of body-build. Katie shoots the ball better than Renee did, but Renee had a great career for us," Smalley said. "With Katie, it's just a matter if time, how quickly she adapts to our system and to the college game and basically how long it takes her to get a little more physical, get a little stronger and be able to handle the rigors of the college style."

"She has great upside and I think that she's got lots of potential and I think she's going to have an immediate impact," Smalley added.

Hammond comes from a very successful program at McClain and wants to bring that success with her to Rio Grande and help the RedStorm win a national title. "I want to help lead the team to a national championship and help out in any way possible to help achieve that," Hammond said. 

Kate is the daughter of Kevin and Tara Barton of Greenfield. 

Hammond joins Chelsea Delong of Coal Grove as the current members of the 2010-11 recruiting class. 

Rio Grande finished the 2009-10 campaign with a 16-15 overall record and went 7-7 in the Mid-South Conference.