ANCHORAGE (May 20) – The Alaska Anchorage men’s basketball team has gone to the California junior college ranks for a pair of sizeable additions to its 2015-16 roster as head coach Rusty Osborne announced Wednesday that post players Corey Hammell and Tayler Thompson have signed National Letters of Intent with the Seawolves.
Hammell, a 6-6, 220-pound forward, comes north after two seasons at Santa Rosa Junior College, where he led his team with 14.3 points and 10.2 rebounds per game as a sophomore. The Santa Rosa native scored double figures in 20 of 22 games in 2014-15, shooting 45 percent from the field and 74 percent at the free throw line. As a freshman, Hammell averaged 8.3 points and 7.3 rebounds in all 32 games for a Bear Cubs club that finished 24-8 and won the California Community College Athletic Association state title.
Hammell spent his prep career at traditional NorCal power Cardinal Newman High School, earning a bevy of major honors as a senior, including The Press Democrat Large School Player of the Year, North Bay League Player of the Year and Second Team All-State by Cal Hi Sports. He was also named the top player in the North Bay area by the San Francisco Examiner after averaging 16.2 points, 8.8 rebounds and leading the Cardinals to a 32-4 record and the NorCal Div. IV title in 2012-13.
“Corey Hammell is a huge addition to our program,” said Osborne, who has led the Seawolves to 10 straight winning seasons. “After three years of playing undersized at the power forward position, he now gives our program a legitimate ‘stretch 4.’ Corey’s skill set is a perfect fit for our system – he can pass, screen, and handle the ball on the perimeter, in addition to being able to face up and shoot to the three-point line. However, his biggest asset is his ability to play hard and rebound.”
Meanwhile, the 6-9, 220-pound Thompson gives the Seawolves additional size and a veteran presence after two seasons at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, where he was an All-Western State Conference First Team selection as a sophomore. The Sonora, California, native averaged 11.6 points per game and posted top-five league ranks with 7.6 rebounds per game, 1.6 blocks per game and 58 percent field-goal shooting in 2014-15. Prior to Cuesta, Thompson spent his true freshman season of 2012-13 at fellow NCAA Div. II West Region program Cal State Stanislaus, where he took a medical redshirt.
Thompson excelled in the prep ranks at Sonora High School, earning All-Freeway League honors with numbers of 10.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and 52 percent shooting as a senior in 2011-12.
“Tayler Thompson adds maturity and athletic ability to our front line,” Osborne said. “His ability to get out and run the floor as a ‘5 man’ is unique. He is very ‘bouncy,’ rebounds well, and can shoot to 17 feet. His ability to catch and finish out of ball-screen action will add another dimension to our offense. Being a redshirt junior, he brings experience that will be beneficial to our other young post players.
“We are excited to add both these outstanding young men to our program. We expect they both will have immediate impacts in our league.”
Hammell and Thompson are the third and fourth players to join UAA’s 2015 recruiting class, along with fellow JC transfer Spencer Svejcar (6-3, 195, G , Arvada, CO/Ralston Valley HS/Laramie County CC) and true freshman Curtis Ryan (6-9, 230, F/C, Warrnambool, Australia).
--GoSeawolves--
Nate Sagan
Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations
University of Alaska Anchorage
3211 Providence Dr.
Anchorage, AK 99508
(907) 786-1295 / nate@uaa.alaska.edu
GoSeawolves.com
