'It just comes down to discipline': Former Worcester Tech star Brendon Hamilton keeps thriving for Westfield State men's basketball
Former Worcester Tech star Brendon Hamilton spent most of the summer in scorching central Florida, where his mom recently relocated, getting up 500-1,000 shots in the local, air-conditioned gym, and preparing for his senior season at Westfield State.
He also devoted hours in the weight room, continuing to strengthen his 6-foot-6, 220-pound frame.
“I love to go to the gym and work out,” Hamilton said during a phone interview Monday afternoon. “For me, that’s not even ‘work.’ That’s just a part of my life.”
Hamilton, who was the 2019-20 MASCAC Rookie of the Year and is a two-time All-MASCAC first-team selection, is off to another terrific start for the Owls (4-1).
He is averaging 14 points and 10.2 rebounds, both team highs, and he leads Westfield State in field goal percentage (67.4%) and blocks per game (1.8) as well.
“I could be doing better, always,” Hamilton said. “Any time you’re a college athlete, there are always little things you can improve on. It’s all in the details.”
Outside shooting and rebounding, which always has been one of Hamilton’s specialties, are two areas he is trying to improve.
Hamilton averaged a career-high 14.6 rebounds a game his second year at Westfield State.
“I’m doing decent,” Hamilton said, “but I want to get back to the level I know I can be at. It just comes down to discipline.”
Hamilton recently scored his 1,000th career point in a win over Mitchell, and he needs 124 rebounds to become just the second player in Westfield history to reach 1,000 in both categories.
In Westfield’s early-season win over Ramapo, Hamilton set a single-game program record for field goal efficiency with his 10-for-10 effort.
With 20 points, 18 rebounds and 8 blocked shots, Hamilton led Worcester Tech to a thrilling win over Abington to capture the 2019 Division 4 state championship. It was the first boys’ basketball state title for a Worcester public high school.
Hamilton was thrilled to see the North boys’ basketball team become the first Division 1 public school from Worcester to win a state title earlier this year.
“I think it’s beautiful,” Hamilton said. “In Worcester, sports is part of our identity. The values and the spirit of the community are important to us.”
Hamilton, who was a T&G Super Team selection in basketball and volleyball, said he keeps in touch with all of his former Eagles teammates and coaches.
“At Worcester Tech,” he said, “it’s a family.”
Westfield State’s 2022-23 season ended in Worcester.
In the MASCAC Tournament final, Worcester State defeated the Owls, 65-53, on Brissette Court, and denied Westfield its third straight conference title.
The loss left the Owls “super motivated,” Hamilton said, for this season.
“We can’t wait to get back on the court in conference play and see what we can do,” Hamilton said. “We are performing pretty good. Last year, we had a good team, but we weren’t able to put it together until the end of the season. It was a little too late. This year, you can feel it. We have something special going on here.”
Two weeks ago, Westfield State hung tough with Division 1 Dartmouth, and Hamilton scored a team-high 14 points in a 79-61 loss.
“We were able to keep it close,” Hamilton said. “It shows we can play with anybody. That should be motivating for everybody. It was motivating for me.”
—Contact Jennifer Toland at jennifer.toland@telegram.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @JenTolandTG.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Former Worcester Tech star Brendon Hamilton keeps thriving at Westfield State
