May 4, 2009

ROCHESTER, Mich. - Reggie Hamilton has transferred to Oakland University and joined the men's basketball team, announced head coach Greg Kampe on Monday. Hamilton, a junior from Harvey, Ill., played for one-and-a-half seasons at UMKC before coming to OU.

"Obviously, this is an exciting recruit for us because he is proven, being selected to the All-Newcomer Team as a freshman," said Kampe. "He will be able to step in when we lose Johnathon (Jones). He has already competed in our conference, shown that he can play, and play well in our conference, and he'll be ready when Johnathon leaves. It's really a bridge to the future for us and we are very excited about having him."

Hamilton averaged 11.7 points per game and 3.6 assists per game in 21 games for the Kangaroos last season. He garnered All-Newcomer Team accolades in 2007-08 after starting in 21 of 31 games played, scoring 12.6 ppg and dishing out 3.3 apg, posing as the only true freshman on that five-person squad. Hamilton finished eighth in The Summit League in assists and assist/turnover margin (1.04), and was also tabbed Academic All-Summit League.

"I am pretty familiar with the program," said Hamilton to The Oakland Press last week. "I like their style of play and coach (Greg) Kampe is a well-respected coach. The program has had a lot of success, and I think the coaching staff and the people they bring in are a big part of that. That's why I had a lot of interest in the program."

Prior to UMKC, Hamilton played at Thornwood High School in South Holland, Ill. There he averaged 17.7 ppg, 6.0 rebounds per game, 5.0 apg and 4.0 steals per game as a senior. He earned all-area and All-Sica East Conference honors in each of his last two seasons, including guiding the Thunderbirds to a 23-7 record.

Hamilton scored a career-high 23 points against the Golden Grizzlies back on March 1, 2008, in Kansas City, Mo. He posted double figures in each of his last seven games as a freshman, tallying 20 or more in three of those games. Hamilton scored in double figures in 37 of 52 games played, including 16 points against Kansas in his collegiate debut on Nov. 11, 2007.

Hamilton joins incoming freshman Drew Valentine in Oakland's 2009 class. OU is still waiting on one other player to conclude the incoming 2009-10 recruiting class.

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