Andrew Pace
American basketball player, R.J. Hampton, has had an impressive career so far, with a string of successes at the high school and college levels. Hampton's talent was recognized early on, and he went on to play for several notable teams, including the New Zealand Breakers in the National Basketball League and the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA, who drafted him in 2020. In this paragraph, we will explore the teams Hampton has committed to throughout his career and the impact he has had on the court.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Roderick Deon "R. J." Hampton Jr. |
| Nickname | RJ |
| Date of Birth | February 7, 2001 |
| Age | 24 years |
| Birthplace | Dallas, Texas |
| Height | 6'4" |
| Wingspan | 6'7" |
| Weight | N/A |
| Position | Shooting Guard and Point Guard |
| Shooting Hand | Right |
| High School | Little Elm High School, Little Elm, Texas |
| College | N/A |
| Draft | 24th overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks |
| Teams Played | Capital City Go-Go, Orlando Magic, Detroit Pistons, Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers |
| Achievements | 2017 FIBA Under-16 Americas Championship gold medalist, 2018 FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup gold medalist, 2019 five-star recruit, 2020 NBA All-Star, 2021 Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month (May) |
| Social Media | Twitter: RjHampton14, Instagram: rjhampton14 |
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What You'll Learn
R.J. Hampton's early career
R.J. Hampton, born Roderick Deon Hampton Jr., is an American professional basketball player. He was born in Dallas, Texas, on February 7, 2001, and played varsity basketball for Little Elm High School in Little Elm, Texas, since his freshman season.
In his first high school game on November 17, 2016, he led all scorers with 33 points in a 78–52 win over Naaman Forest High School. As a freshman, he averaged 23.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 3.5 steals per game, leading Little Elm to a 29–5 record and the District 14-5A title. He was named to the MaxPreps Freshman All-American first team and earned Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC) Class 5A All-State and Dallas Morning News All-Area Newcomer of the Year honours.
In the 2017–18 season, Hampton averaged 30.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, six assists, 4.4 steals, and 2.5 blocks per game, guiding Little Elm to a 28–8 record. He garnered MaxPreps Sophomore All-American first team, USA Today All-Texas first team, and TABC 5A All-State recognition. On December 14, 2018, Hampton scored 33 points in an 80–66 victory over South Garland High School, matching up against fellow recruit Tyrese Maxey. He posted a career-high 50 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists, and six steals in an 86–62 win over Coppell High School on December 29.
As a junior, Hampton averaged 32 points, 9.7 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 3.9 steals per game, helping Little Elm achieve a 24–10 record. On March 15, he was named Texas Gatorade Player of the Year, becoming the first non-senior to win the award since 2013. He also earned USA Today All-USA first team and MaxPreps All-American second-team honours. On April 30, 2019, Hampton reclassified to the 2019 class, forgoing his senior year and graduating from high school after about three weeks of online classes.
In May 2019, Hampton signed a multi-year deal with the New Zealand Breakers of the National Basketball League (NBL), based in Australia, with the option to leave for the NBA. He stated that he skipped college basketball because he wanted to "live like a pro and play with grown men and not have to juggle books and basketball."
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Hampton's college prospects
Before becoming a professional basketball player, R.J. Hampton was a five-star recruit at Little Elm High School in Little Elm, Texas. In his freshman season, Hampton averaged 23.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 3.5 steals per game, leading Little Elm to a 29–5 record and the District 14-5A title. In his junior year, he averaged 32 points, 9.7 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 3.9 steals per game, helping Little Elm achieve a 24–10 record.
Hampton was a highly-ranked prospect coming out of high school. He was ranked among the top six players in the 2019 recruiting class and had narrowed down his potential college destinations to Kansas, Memphis, and Texas Tech. However, on May 28, 2019, Hampton decided to forgo college basketball and signed a multi-year deal with the New Zealand Breakers of the National Basketball League (NBL), which is based in Australia. He cited his desire to "live like a pro and play with grown men and not have to juggle books and basketball" as the reason for skipping college basketball.
Despite skipping college basketball, Hampton's career has been on an upward trajectory. He was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks as the 24th overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft. He has since played for several NBA teams, including the Orlando Magic, Detroit Pistons, and Miami Heat. Hampton has also spent time in the G League, playing for the Capital City Go-Go and the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
Hampton's strengths include his athleticism, quickness, and scoring ability. He is a versatile player who can handle the ball well and make accurate passes. However, he has also been criticised for his weak physicality and lazy brand of defence.
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Hampton's NBA career
The American professional basketball player, R.J. Hampton, was born on February 7, 2001, in Dallas, Texas. He played varsity basketball at Little Elm High School in Little Elm, Texas, where he was a five-star recruit. In his freshman season, he averaged 23.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 3.5 steals per game, leading Little Elm to a 29–5 record and the District 14-5A title.
In May 2017, Hampton announced his transfer to the nationally ranked basketball program of Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida, but later decided to return to Little Elm. In the 2017–18 season, he averaged 30.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, six assists, 4.4 steals, and 2.5 blocks per game. On December 29, he posted a career-high 50 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists, and six steals in an 86–62 win over Coppell High School.
Hampton won gold medals with the United States national under-16 and under-17 teams at the 2017 FIBA Under-16 Americas Championship and the 2018 FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup, respectively. He was a highly sought-after recruit, ranked among the top six players in the 2019 recruiting class.
On May 28, 2019, Hampton signed a multi-year deal with the New Zealand Breakers of the National Basketball League (NBL), with the option to leave for the NBA. He ultimately decided to skip college basketball and entered the 2020 NBA draft, where he was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks as the 24th overall pick.
Hampton faced some setbacks during his time with the Magic, including a one-game suspension by the NBA for his involvement in an altercation during a game against the Detroit Pistons in December 2022. He was waived by the Magic on February 21, 2023, and subsequently signed with the Detroit Pistons two days later. However, his stint with the Pistons was short-lived, as he was waived by the team on June 24, 2023.
Hampton then signed a two-way contract with the Miami Heat on September 27, 2023, but his time with the Heat was also brief, as he was waived on February 9, 2024 after making eight appearances for the team. During his time with the Heat, Hampton split his playing time between the NBA and the G League, where he was assigned to the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
Throughout his NBA career, Hampton has demonstrated his athleticism, quickness, and scoring ability. He has shown potential as an instant offense threat due to his aggressive nature and ability to apply pressure on the defense. However, he has also faced challenges, including injuries and illness, which have impacted his playing time and performance.
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Hampton's international career
The international career of American basketball player RJ Hampton began when he signed a multi-year deal with the New Zealand Breakers of the National Basketball League (NBL) in 2019. Hampton, a highly-rated prospect, chose to forgo college basketball, stating that he wanted to "live like a pro and play with grown men and not have to juggle books and basketball".
Hampton's time in the NBL was short-lived, as he was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks as the 24th overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft. He joined the Capital City Go-Go of the NBA G League, where he played during the 2020-21 season. On March 25, 2021, Hampton was traded to the Orlando Magic, where he was named in the starting lineup for the first time in his career against the Denver Nuggets. He recorded 16 points, four rebounds, and three assists in 33 minutes.
Hampton was waived by the Magic on February 21, 2023, and subsequently signed with the Detroit Pistons two days later. However, his stint with the Pistons was brief, as he was waived again on June 24, 2023. In the lead-up to the 2023-24 season, Hampton joined his fourth NBA team, the Miami Heat, on a two-way contract. Despite showing potential, he was waived by the Heat on February 9, 2024, after making just eight appearances for the team.
In addition to his professional career, Hampton represented the United States in international competition as part of the USA Basketball Men's Junior National Team program. He won gold medals with the under-16 team at the 2017 FIBA Under-16 Americas Championship and with the under-17 team at the 2018 FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup.
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Hampton's strengths and weaknesses
R.J. Hampton is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Capital City Go-Go of the NBA G League. He has also played for the Milwaukee Bucks, Orlando Magic, Detroit Pistons, and Miami Heat.
Hampton has been described as a "silky smooth combo guard" with good size, standing at 6'4 with a 6'7 wingspan and an 8'4 standing reach. He is a talented athlete with excellent open-floor speed and a quick first step. He is a confident ball-handler who can take over games with his offensive ability and has pure point guard instincts. Hampton has a nice shooting stroke with excellent mechanics and can shoot an effortless three-pointer. He is also able to float into the lane for acrobatic layups and has a good mid-range game for a young guard.
However, Hampton has faced some criticism for his defensive skills and physical strength. He has been described as playing a "lazy brand of defense" and struggling to deny dribble penetration or fight through screen action. He needs to add weight to his thin and light frame, as his lack of strength limits his interior defense, rebounding ability, and ability to finish through contact. Hampton himself has acknowledged that his weaknesses include defensive schemes and shooting, although he believes he has improved the latter through dedicated practice.
Overall, Hampton is a highly athletic and talented player with excellent offensive skills. While he has faced some criticism for his defensive abilities and physical strength, he has the potential to be a great defender and has worked to improve his shooting abilities.
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Frequently asked questions
In 2019, Hampton narrowed down his potential college destinations to Kansas, Memphis, and Texas Tech. However, he decided to skip college basketball and signed a multi-year deal with the New Zealand Breakers of the National Basketball League (NBL).
Hampton is a 6'4" guard with a 6'7" wingspan and excellent athleticism and quickness. He has good court vision and passing ability, and is very good in drive-and-kick situations when attacking the baseline. He is also a good scorer, having led the Under Armour Association in scoring with 24.6 points per game in 2018.
Hampton shows raw fundamentals and polish on both ends of the court. He plays a lazy brand of defense and struggles to deny dribble penetration or fight through screen action. He also needs to improve his physical strength to deal with bigger perimeter players.
Hampton was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks as the 24th overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft. He was then traded to the Orlando Magic in March 2021. After being waived by the Magic in February 2023, he signed with the Detroit Pistons. He has also played for the Miami Heat during the 2023-24 season.
