Junior guard Kaison Hammonds has basketball in his blood. Having a college basketball great for a father will do that. Tom Hammonds was a stud at Georgia Tech from 1986-89, earning conference rookie of the year honors as a freshman, two first team All-ACC honors, and third team All-America honors as a senior before going ninth overall in the 1989 NBA Draft. His jersey number, 20, now hangs in the rafters of the Thrillerdome in Atlanta to commemorate a remarkable career. Tom then went on to play 12 seasons in the NBA with four different teams until his retirement from the game in 2001. During that time, Tom had three sons. The youngest of which being Kaison.
Kaison Hammonds' skill was obvious early on and he showed it at the high school level. Playing varsity basketball at ThunderRidge High in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, he earned two first team all-state honors while leading the team to a remarkable 49-5 record over his junior and senior seasons. When it came time to pick a college to play for, Kaison had options, but decided on San Jose State and joined Jean Prioleau's program in 2018-19.
After a modest freshman season at SJSU, Hammonds started to put it all together last season, especially in the latter half of the year. He appeared in 21-of-31 games total and found his way into the starting lineup for the first time in his collegiate career on February 12th against Fresno State. The young guard made the most of his opportunity by scoring a career-high 19 points, including five 3-pointers, and pulled down seven rebounds. He started the next two games as well, but suffered a leg injury early on against Boise State that sidelined him for the remainder of the regular season.
Now, healthy again and eager to get back to form, Hammonds will look to continue to build upon his success in year No. 3. With great basketball genes running through his blood, the sky is the limit for what he, and the Spartans, can accomplish. Read on to learn more about Kaison in this week's 1-on-1 feature.
Q: What are some ways that you father has helped you as a basketball player?
KAISON: My father always tells me to go 100 percent and never quit on something that you've started. He would always tell me to stay patient because my time would come. My father always instilled confidence in me from a young age.
Q: What has been your favorite on-court memory at SJSU?
KAISON: My favorite memory on the court would be getting my first start against Fresno State and scoring a career high. Also, being able to play in front of my family and friends when I return home to Colorado.
Q: How did it feel to make that first start and perform so well?
KAISON: Making that start felt great. I gave me the confidence I needed to believe in myself and go out and just play and have fun. It was even better that my teammates believed in me that I could provide on the court.
Q: What are you most excited about for the upcoming season?
KAISON: I'm excited to get to compete with my teammates every game and change the outlook on not only San Jose State basketball, but San Jose State athletics and the Silicon Valley.
Q: How do you feel you have grown as a player and/or person since coming to San Jose State?
KAISON: Since I came to SJSU, I feel like I have trusted myself and my game more and more each year with growing confidence. I've learned that nothing is given and everything is earned.
Q: What are your personal goals for 2020-21?
KAISON: I want to finish in the top three in the Mountain West and win the school's first Mountain West Tournament game.
Q: Now that you've had two years of experience at the collegiate level, what advice can you offer for younger players?
KAISON: There are going to be ups and downs every year, and each season is a grind. Stay true to yourself and don't let anyone tell you that you can't do something. Constantly keep improving, whether it's as a person or a basketball player. Prove everyone who doubted you that they were wrong.
Q: What are some things that you have learned from Coach Prioleau and staff?
KAISON: Coach Pri and staff have taught me how to be a student-athlete at the highest level. They have stayed on top of me about my grades. They taught me how to be a student first. Basketball-wise, I feel like I learn something new every day from Coach Pri and the coaching staff.
Q: What are some things that fans my not know about you?
KAISON: I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, fishing and golfing. I have two older brothers, Tom Jr. and Keelan, my Mom, Carolyn, and a Great Dane named Jasmine.
Q: Do you have a quote or motto you live your life by?
KAISON: It's a poem by Marianne Williamson that says, "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us." It is also from my favorite sports move, Coach Carter.