Reviews

By JENNY ELDER Published Georgetown News-Graphic January 30, 2010

Success for A.W. Hamilton’s basketball camp is measured by reminding everyone that all are winners, which is a highlight for repeat camper Peyton Coleman. For the past four years, the former Scott County standout has been coming back to his hometown to put on camps — one in the winter and one in the summer. The winter version is a mini-camp, three days, while in the summer it runs for five days. And Hamilton’s biggest focus he said is on showing the kids that everyone is a winner. “You win all sorts of stuff,” Coleman said. “We play tournaments and you can win trophies and headbands and T-shirts. All kinds of stuff.” Those tournaments are Coleman’s, who has been to every Hamilton camp, favorite part. He likes to play five-on-five and take what he has learned from the day into a real game situation. Michael Matsumura said he was learning to play better defense during the second day of the camp held this week at the Pavilion. “It’s my first time coming and this morning we learned to slide our feet,” Matsumura said. “And I learned how to take a charge.” It is important to Hamilton that kids learn a variety of things while at his camp. He said he could roll a ball out and let the campers play games all day, but it is about teaching them the techniques of the game he loves. Hamilton makes the event a family affair as his brother has participated for years and his sister finally got the chance to help. “She’s great with the kids and knows the game of basketball having been a college player and a high school player,” A.W. Hamilton said about his sister Carrie Hamilton. “It is also nice to be able to spend some time with her. She is my sister and one of my best friends and to have her at a camp like this has been absolutely phenomenal.” She was pleased to also finally have the opportunity. She lives in California and this camp was the first time it was held while she was visiting.

Area athletes ages 4-15 participated in a three-day mini camp run by A.W. Hamilton. The kids learned a variety of things ranging from defense to offense to listening. In the picture below, Hamilton takes his younger campers through a listening exercise where they are to hear what direction their arms are supposed to be in rather than see the visual of where Hamilton has his arms. If the campers get the direction wrong, they must sit down and another round begins. At right, Brianna Lockard, 10, enjoys a free throw shooting drill. Above Lorenzo Williams, 8, works on a timed spot shooting drill.

Hamilton Gives Back to Scott County

By NATHAN PENISTON 7/25/07 Published: Wednesday, July 25, 2007 9:32 AM EDT

As a youngster, A.W. Hamilton spent many summer mornings in the gym competing in various basketball camps. He received instruction from people such as former Georgetown College basketball coach Jim Reid and former University of Kentucky basketball player Kyle Macy. This week, Hamilton is doing the instructing at his own basketball camp. He is guiding 22 children in the Georgetown-Scott County Parks and Recreation A.W. Hamilton Basketball Camp at the Pavilion. This is the first camp Hamilton has conducted, and it offers participants the chance to improve their basketball skills under the direction of the former Scott County High School and Marshall University star. “It's been a great experience,” Hamilton said. “The kids have been phenomenal, and they are willing to learn. It's been very rewarding and fulfilling.” Hamilton focuses on the fundamentals - ball handling, passing, rebounding, shooting and defense. So far, he has received great feedback. “The support from all the parents has been great,” Hamilton said. “Hopefully I can do this every year until I die.” The children seemed as excited as the parents. “I'm having the most wonderful time at camp," Colton Tudor said. “It's awesome." The players range from ages 6-13. The older players are grouped together, but some don't seem to care what age they compete against. “Some of the little kids like to bang with the big kids,” Hamilton said. “Aiden Hoffman is one kid that has stood out. He has really done a good job.” The camp is a family event for Hamilton, with brothers Ty and Jarad helping out. Hamilton hopes his sister, Carrie, can help with future camps. She recently finished her collegiate basketball career at Pikeville College. Hamilton said the most rewarding moment he has experienced at the camp has been watching the children display good teamwork.

Former Cards' Star Now Coach

By NATHAN PENISTON Georgetown News-Graphic 7/03/07 Published: Tuesday, July 3, 2007 7:48 AM EDT

It seems like just yesterday when A.W. Hamilton was helping lead the Scott County men's basketball team to their first state championship. The 6-foot-3 guard was a key figure on some of the Cardinals' best teams. These days the former star is seeing the game from a different point of view. Hamilton is in his second year as an assistant coach at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Virginia. “I love it here,” Hamilton said. “I'm lucky to have this job. I want to be a head coach at the college level one day, so this is great experience for me.” Hamilton said HMA is a great place for kids who don't make the grades coming out of high school. It gives them a chance to work on their academics, while competing to earn a college scholarship, he said. This past season Hamilton played a big part in helping 11 of his players sign college scholarships. Hamilton has seen his basketball skills take him to great heights. After high school he attended HMA where he started as a point guard, and averaged 18 points and nine assists per game. He earned a scholarship to Wake Forest in 2000, and played for the Deamon Deacons during the 2001 season. Hamilton eventually transferred to Marshall where he started for three seasons. As a sophomore he led the conference in assists at 5.5 per game. His junior year he averaged 8.9 points and a team-best 5.4 assists per game. Hamilton led the team in scoring as a senior at 11 points per game. He finished his career eighth on the school's all-time assist list. Hamilton said for all the game of basketball and the community of Georgetown has done for him, he now wants to give back. And that is what he plans to do. On July 23-26 he will conduct his own basketball camp. The camp will be held by the Georgetown-Scott County Parks and Recreation Department and will take place at the Pavilion. “I've never run my own camp, but I have helped do many others over the years," Hamilton said. "I would like to get 30-35 kids between the ages of seven and 12, who really want to learn about basketball. My staff and I are going to teach fundamentals, and break the game down into baby steps.” After all, it was in Georgetown where Hamilton first started to make a name for himself on the hardwood. But in those days Scott County wasn't known as the high school basketball powerhouse that it is today. “I remember we were underdogs at first,” Hamilton said. “When coach Billy Hicks first got here, he worked us real hard. We were relentless. (Coaches) told us our time was coming, and it did.” The Cardinals were a combined 67-5 during the 1998 and 1999 seasons. They won a state title in '98 and finished runner-up in '99. “Scott County has always had the talent,” Hamilton said. “Coach Hicks just took over and has made something really special.” That something special was on display this past March at the Kentucky Boys Sweet Sixteen in Lexington. As the Cardinals concluded another successful tournament run, Hamilton was among the Rupp Arena crowd watching them cut down the nets and celebrate the school's second state championship.” “It's a moment these kids will never forget,” Hamilton said. “I remember the memorable run we had.” And much like Hamilton did, some of those players will be taking their basketball skills to the college level. Matt Walls is one of them. Walls has signed to play basketball at Marshall next season. “That's a great choice,” Hamilton said. “He will be treated like a hero there. He needs to soak it up and enjoy it while he can.” HMA is scheduled to play a game at Marshal next season, and Hamilton is looking forward to the opportunity to return to his alma mater. “It's going to be great to get back down there,” Hamilton said. Hamilton said he doesn't get to come home as often as he would like, but with HMA playing in Huntington, Georgetown will be only a quick two-hour drive away. Plus, he might get a chance to see Walls in action. “Maybe, I can then see Matt Walls swish some three-pointers,” Hamilton said. “That kid has one pretty shot.”

A.W. Preaches Fundamentals

By NATHAN PENISTON Georgetown News-Graphic

While many basketball camps consist strictly of games and contests, former Scott County and Marshall University standout A.W. Hamilton's second annual basketball school focuses on improving the basic essentials of a player's game. “It's great to get a chance to help kids improve on their fundamentals,” Hamilton said. “We try to pride ourselves on having a camp where we don't just roll the ball out and let them play. We come in here and teach them how to shoot, dribble, and the little things about basketball that some camps don't give you.” Hamilton's brothers, Jarad and Kyle, along with Robert Tackett, Tootie Tackett and Scott County product Jason Conway, are all helping out with the 2008 A.W. Hamilton Basketball Camp. Approximately 28 children ranging from ages 5 to 13 are enrolled in the clinic at the Pavilion. The camp, which runs through Thursday, has been a big hit among the participants. “It has been a lot of fun,” fifth-grader Hunter Bentley said. “We've worked on our passing, dribbling and shooting.” “It's been great,” Olivia Kopser said. “If you're having trouble with something, (Hamilton) comes up and explains it to you until you get it right.” Some of the same kids who attended last year's camp have returned to showcase their skills again this summer. Hamilton has been pleased with the progress he's seen in many of his campers. “It's great to do (the camp again) and have some of the same kids back that I had last year,” Hamilton said. “It's great to see their improvement from last year, and be around them and see them grow a little bit.” During the morning session, the players focus strictly on fundamentals. As the morning progresses they get into a variety of competitive drills such as free throw, hot shot and 3-on-3 contests. The day concludes with an intense 5-on-5 full-court game. Campers are awarded wristbands, basketballs and other types of prizes throughout the day based on how well they perform and listen. “We always ask the kids what they learned at each station,” Hamilton said. “If they remember what they learned then they get a reward. They get excited about it. Everybody, even myself, likes to win stuff, so it gives them more incentive to pay attention and try to retain all the stuff that we’re teaching them.” Hamilton wants all of the kids to play with a message in mind that was instilled in him when he grew up attending basketball camps conducted by former Georgetown College coach Jim Reid. “Offense sells tickets, and defense wins championships,” Hamilton said. “That was what coach Reid always taught me, and it's a great concept to play by.” Hamilton's second summer camp session is scheduled from July 28 to July 31.

Hamilton’s Camp Creates Winners

Benjamin S. Rossi Georgetown News-Graphic Aug. 1 2009

In its third year A.W. Hamilton Basketball School is experiencing phenomenal success. The camp, which ended its fifth complete session this week, has quadrupled in size since its inaugural year. “One thing we try to tell the kids is that everyone is a winner, because one thing that happens at camp is that, one team is going to win the most games and one kids is going to be the one-on-one champion but really everybody is a winner,” Hamilton said. “At the end of the day everyone is a winner and if they had had fun and had a good experience at camp then it's a success.” The proof of success is in the numbers. Around 83 campers ranging from ages 6-14-years-old “enjoyed” a four-day basketball camp that runs through the mornings at the Pavilion. “The first year the camp began with 18 kids, it was definitely the most difficult, but very rewarding,” Hamilton said. “We were working so hard just to recruit kids. Looking back it was a great week, and even some of the those 18 have kept coming back and it's been so great to see them grow up.” Hamilton himself has been privy to learn from several successful coaches including Billy Hicks. The former Scott County standout attended Hargrave Military Academy out of high school in the fall of 1999. He signed to Wake Forest for one season, but transferred to Marshall where he played under head coach Kevin Keats. He started for three seasons at Marshall, and as a sophomore he led the conference in assists at 5.5 per game. As a junior he posted averages of 8.9 points and a team-best 5.4 assists per game. He led Marshall in scoring as a senior with 11 points per game. Hamilton spent one year as a graduate assistant coach at Marshall before taking the assistant coaching position at Hargrave where he is now. “I'd been thinking about starting a camp for a long time and even in college I used to work different camps like (Billy) Hicks, Jim Reid and Happy Osborne's camp,” Hamilton said. “When I got my position at Hargraved I had a lot of experience doing it and was ready to start my own. I said to myself, “I would love to do my own camp in Georgetown and help some kids out and give back to an area that gave me so much.” The trip from his post at HMA is about a 6 or 7-hour drive but worth every minute, he said. “My boss has been great about giving me the time, and I helped out with his camp a couple of weeks ago,” Hamilton said. “He's really good about letting me do my camp, because he's about the same things I am, helping kids out and giving kids the best chance at having success.” Hamilton has not been a lone Samaritan on the basketball court, and said that his success is shared with those who have backed him and worked along side him. On Hamilton's team helping are former Scott County players Jason Conway and Matt Walls who currently plays for the Georgetown College Tigers. “Derek White has also been there and my brothers have been there, too” Hamilton said. “There's been several coaches and everyone who's helped is just a great group who know basketball and are really great with kids which is what makes them the best at it. Plus we've had some phenomenal speakers with some very positive messages for the kids.” The Pavilion has been very instrumental in the success of Hamilton's camp, he said. “They've done a great job and they have a great facility and have such a good group of people out there like Lois Holmes and all the others who do a great deal of work and its those people behind the scene that really make these things happen,” Hamilton said. “Plus, I've got a bunch of people in the community, in Lexington and all over the state, all over the country really, who reach out and help. But the Pavilion, I can't say enough good things about them.”

Georgetown News-Graphic

Benjamin S. Rossi Georgetown News-Graphic July 30, 2009

At the A.W. Hamilton Basketball School players ranging from 6 to 14-years-old come out to a four-day camp to improve on the basic essentials of the game but they go home with much more. This week the campers were inspired by a “powerful message” and given a chance to meet and question former NFL player Jared Lorenzen. “When he was back in the area I called him up and asked if he'd like to come out and say something,” Hamilton said, “and being the great guy Jared is he jumped on it and even went above and beyond what I expected.” Hamilton and Lorenzen first met as competitors their junior years of high school on the basketball court. “When you play someone of his caliber you come to respect him, not only as a player but a person,” Hamilton said of how the two became friends. “We go way back, so listen to this guy he knows what he's talking about,” Lorenzen said. “I used to play against him, he may have gotten us in the Sweet 16 but we beat (Scott County) early on that year. It was a good competition.” The current quarterback for the Lexington Horseman, Lorenzen is also an area hero for his accomplishments as the all-time leading passer for the University of Kentucky Wildcats. “Take it all the way, there's nothing that can't be done,” he said to the basketball campers, many of which were wearing UK T-shirts and shorts Tuesday morning. “Just keep practicing, practicing, practicing and listen to yourself.” After college, Lorenzen played in the NFL for the Indianapolis Colts and won the 2008 Super Bowl with the New York Giants. “I keep my ring in a mail box, I hardly ever wear it but I visit it all the time,” Lorenzen laughed. After joking about his high school rivalry and his Super Bowl ring, Lorenzen had a serious but encouraging message for all the campers there. “You can't let anyone tell you that your not going to be any good, or that you can't do it,” he said. “You just walk away from them because it will break you down, it will affect you. “Walk away from it and keep at it.” Lorenzen spoke of his own fight to prove himself as a 290 pound quarterback. “Look at me, I'm not the smallest guy,” he laughed with the campers. “But I never would have played how I did if I'd have listened to the people who told me I was too big, too fat, or too slow to be a quarterback. I just kept practicing.” After fielding more questions about the NFL, playing at UK and having some general fun Lorenzen stayed to sign autographs for the campers. In it's third year the A.W. Hamilton Basketball School's camp at the Pavilion is having its most successful year and boasted around 80 campers. Read about the camp and its growing success in Scott County in Saturday's edition of Georgetown News-Graphic.