Sophomore Connor Grant: I’m Connor. 

Sophomore Patrick May: I’m Patrick,

Grant: And this is the athletes of the West, where we let athletes share their story. And in today’s episode, we’ll be talking to senior Gavin Hamlin about his basketball journey. 

May: For the upcoming season. How are we feeling about it?

Senior Gavin Hamlin: As I told my teammates, I go into every game thinking we’re gonna win. So if we did a bracket, excluding the tournaments, and it’s like a 19 we played 19 games without the tournament. So they were like, how many games you win 19 and 0 

Grant: What is the pre-game routine looking like? 

Hamlin:  Like my pre-game? Well, for basically off of last year, so we would have team meals give I would get very, very, very full. 

Grant: Wouldn’t you get a cramp in the middle of the game, though? 

Hamlin: Huh? 

Grant: Wouldn’t you be getting cramped in the middle of the game?

Hamlin: Well, if you went to the games last year, you would probably see me on the end of the bench every game, or, if not, most games. 

Grant: So now you start like all the time, right? 

May: How’s it feel being a senior? How does it feel like being a senior on the basketball team? 

Hamlin: It’s all right, because the coaches look for me and the other guys to be a leader, because our team is very young, like very, very young and inexperienced. So, you gotta look to help those guys out, work with them, even if you’re frustrated, try not to show it be a good example for the younger guys. 

May: How do you feel about the team this year?

Hamlin: I told you, I feel 19 and 0. 

Grant: You got any plans for basketball after high school?

Hamlin: Yeah, the plan is I want to play overseas.

Grant: Overseas?

Hamlin: Yeah.

May: Like Ken Carson?

Hamlin: Like who?

May: Ken Carson. 

Grant: He is talking about the song. That song is so overrated. 

May: If you were playing overseas, what would you want to play?

Hamlin: Like, like, I will up. Yeah, you’re up euro in the I want to play in the year elite. Eventually, you got to work your way up, though, and so we’ll see

May: If you could go anywhere to play college, where would it be? 

Hamlin: Anywhere?

Grant: Anywhere. You have every scholarship. 

May: You are a five-star number one recruit in the nation, 40 plus offers. Where are you going?

Hamlin: I’ve actually never thought about that. Probably, no. Maybe, oh, UConn. Yeah, UConn. UConn. 

Grant: UConn? Why UConn? 

Hamlin: Have you seen back to back? March Madness champs, great college, hard-working.

Grant: If they’re a good team, would you start or get any playing time?

Hamlin: I mean, eventually. Maybe not the first year, but after, I’m still getting them rings, though. You’re still getting the rings and I’m gonna play eventually. He’s gonna shape you into a better person and player. That’s what it’s all about. 

May: Growing up, who did you look up to? 

Hamlin: So growing up, my favorite basketball player was Kobe Bryant. Okay, rest up.

Grant: Valid.

Hamlin: And now, since he retired, it’s been Jimmy Butler. I’ve always liked the guys that worked harder and come from a story that’s, I don’t know, they just have a story behind them. This is why they do these things. 

Grant: Do you wanna share your story? 

Hamlin: Do I want to share my story? Yeah, um, I mean, I guess I’ll tell you a little bit about it. Here in high school. So I’ve been coming from, like, a little, I wouldn’t say less fortunate, but not as fortunate as other people when it comes to lifestyles and stuff. But in terms of sports, I haven’t really been the best. I should say, my freshman year, I played a lot, but my season ended soon because I had COVID, so they made me stop playing. And in my sophomore year, I had a fractured tailbone, and let’s just say that wasn’t the best. I didn’t play much. Then, junior year, I didn’t get the minutes I was hoping for, and I got hurt at the end of the season.

Grant: Thank you for listening, and stay tuned for more episodes of Athletes of West.