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UNLV top scorer Bryce Hamilton has had his eye on the NBA for a couple years now—and probably a lot longer than that, in the big picture—and on Wednesday he declared his intention to enter the draft.
Hamilton released a statement via his Twitter account, saying he will go through the draft process without hiring an agent. That will allow him to maintain his college eligibility if he decides to remove his name from the draft before the July deadline.
“I am looking forward to this process and the valuable feedback that I will receive that will help me make my decision to turn professional or to return back to college,” Hamilton said. “I am excited to see what the future holds for me.”
Hamilton was a 3-star recruit in the Class of 2018 and was the centerpiece of UNLV’s recruiting class that year under Marvin Menzies. He didn’t play much as a freshman under Menzies, but flourished as a sophomore in 2019-20 in T.J. Otzelberger’s system, scoring 16.0 points per game and earning All-Mountain West First Team honors.
Hamilton considered going pro after that campaign, but ultimately returned to UNLV for another year under Otzelberger. His junior season didn’t go quite as well; despite raising his scoring average to 17.9 points per game, his shooting percentages dropped across the board as he made 43.0% from the field, 31.3% from 3-point range and 65.6% from the free-throw line.
Hamilton is not included in any mainstream mock drafts, so he is hoping that the pre-draft process will improve his stock. After UNLV’s season-ending loss to Utah State in the Mountain West tournament, one NBA scout told the Sun that Hamilton graded out as a G League-caliber prospect.
In addition to concerns about his shooting percentages, Hamilton will also have to convince doubters of his ability to distribute the ball. He averaged a career-high 3.0 assists in 2020-21 but often came under fire from Otzelberger due to his resistance to reading the floor and getting the ball to open teammates.
One source within the UNLV program also questioned whether Hamilton has NBA measurables. Though he’s officially listed at 6-foot-4 by the team, the source said Hamilton actually checks in under 6-foot-2, which would make him undersized for a shooting guard at the pro level.
Despite all that, Hamilton’s ability to dribble through traffic and put the ball in the basket is intriguing and it’s not difficult to envision an NBA type becoming enamored of his skill set during the pre-draft process.
New UNLV head coach Kevin Kruger would certainly love to see Hamilton don the scarlet and gray for one more season. Seven UNLV players have already entered the transfer portal, so retaining a proven offensive threat like Hamilton would make Kruger’s offseason a lot easier to navigate.
In a statement released by the team, Kruger supported Hamilton’s decision.
“We have encouraged him to go through the process and obtain feedback from the league so that he can make the best decision for himself and his family,” Kruger said. “We will assist him every step of the way and if he decides to return to UNLV, he will be welcomed back with open arms.”
Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.
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