Player: Delani Hammonds
Class: 2024
School: Ardrey Kell
Height: 6'0
It was great to get a better glimpse of players on the public-school side of things at the Phenom Team Camp, as we had a chance to see several talents. Hammonds, a 2024 6'0 point guard with Ardrey Kell, was one that really captured the attention of our scouts with his play.
With the key loss of Evan Smith from last year, Hammonds has a chance to really elevate and become an even bigger leader for Ardrey Kell along with 2023 Brock Rose. The quick, shifty point guard continues to show his ability to be a playmaker on the floor, whether it is dissecting defenses and getting into the paint, knocking down outside shots, or finding his teammates. At the Team Camp, our scouts really took notice of his assertiveness in finding ways to score more, adding another depth to his game to go along with his defensive presence and ability to lead an offense.
Last year, Hammonds averaged 8.1 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.0 steals per game, but from what we saw on the floor and with his role increasing more this upcoming season, the rising junior point guard could be in for a big season.
What Has Been Said:
'Really liked what I saw out of Hammonds today, as the shifty, quick point guard stepped up for his team when they needed to and showed he can be one of the team's better offensive threats. He plays poised, attacks when needed, is crafty and quick, plays with a smart feel, and gets after it on both ends. But really opened more eyes with his ability to score the ball when his team needed him to.'
'It's easy to appreciate everything Hammonds brings to the table with this Ardrey Kell group. He's a smart, tough, scrappy point guard prospect with quickness and the ability to consistently breakdown opposing guards and make plays within the paint. Hammonds attacks the basket really well, finishes with craftiness, and sets up others at a quality rate. He's a pest defensively and displays a great nose for the ball. His production should take a leap this season.'
'What I really love about Hammonds when I watch him is his speed and how well he is able to use it. A lot of point guards in high school really don't know when to stop and when to slow down, but Hammonds has mastered this, and it really shows in his game as he is able to use this skill to set up teammates on drive and kicks or make a play for himself. Hammonds also showed me that he had the ability to knock down the open three which is an important skill to have if you are an undersized guard like Hammonds. Finally, Hammonds has really good vision, which makes him the ultimate floor general as he can change speeds well and find his teammates in half-court situations or in transition.'
