By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor The Pasadena area boys basketball scene had three teams make CIF final runs and many individuals had breakout years. But no player dominated in more ways than did Pasadena junior Bryce Hamilton. Hamilton averaged 24 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists per game, and he always seemed to play his […]
By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor
The Pasadena area boys basketball scene had three teams make CIF final runs and many individuals had breakout years.
But no player dominated in more ways than did Pasadena junior Bryce Hamilton.
Hamilton averaged 24 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists per game, and he always seemed to play his best in the Bulldogs’ biggest games.
Pasadena (27-7 overall) earned their 13th consecutive Pacific League title by going 14-0.
It was their runs to the CIF-SS Division 1-A and CIF State Division 2 title games that separated Pasadena’s success from the pack.
The Bulldogs lost in both games after slow starts, but their season was an incredible success.
Best yet, Pasadena will have its core back next season and is likely to make an even better run.
Hamilton is considered the most complete player in the area and is classified a “four-star” talent that many college and university’s will fawn after for his services after next year.
For his incredible and consistent play and leading Pasadena reach a level (state finals) it had never been, Hamilton has been named the Pasadena Sports Now Boys Basketball Player of the Year.
The star junior led Pasadena in scoring in 27 of their 34 games, including the CIF-SS Division 1-A finals, the CIF State semifinal and finals.
Hamilton had 30 against Harvard-Westlake, and then 10 days later, in a revenge victory, he scored 31 to knock Harvard-Westlake out of the state tournament, and on the Wolverines’ floor.
But he literally saved his best for last when he out-scored Esperanza’s Kez Okpala, a Stanford commit, 34-28 on his home floor in the CIF-State Southern Regional finals.
In that game, Hamilton scored 18 fourth-quarter points and stole the show.
What separates the 6-foot-4 junior from most is his ability to score from anywhere on the court, his knack to be in the right place at the right time and his assist and rebounding skills.
His coaches and teammates will tell you that Hamilton is quiet, humble and lets his play do his talking.
Hamilton also excels in the classroom with a 3.4 grade-point average and he takes two AP classes.
It was an incredible season for Pasadena, and Hamilton would be the first to tell you his success was a byproduct of the production he got from fellow stars Darius Brown II and Darius Mason.
Brown scored 18 and dished out 7 assists per night and Mason scored 12 and 6 rebounds each game.
“I knew we were going to be good, because we have been playing together since we were freshman,” Hamilton said. “Both Darius’ really stepped up and played great and we got so many contributions from everyone on our team.”
His least favorite moment of the season was the loss at Esperanza in the state finals, and it was no shocker to find out that the redemptive victory at Harvard-Westlake in the state playoffs was his favorite moment of the season.
Hamilton will spend the next seven months getting ready for what Pasadena hopes is the best season in school history.
Quotable:
Pasadena coach Tony Brooks: “The best thing about Bryce Hamilton is that awards, recognition and accolades are not his motivation. He honestly wants to get better every day and he uses every day to improve as a player. He is one of the most competitive players I have ever seen as a coach and a player. He hates to lose, so he will put the team on his back if necessary. As witnessed in the Esperanza game. His competitiveness isn’t only on the offensive end. He values competing on the defensive end as well. If there is a top player on the other team, there is no hesitation in who he wants to defend. Bryce is an excellent scorer, but he also excels in rebounding on the both ends of the court, assisting his teammates and leading the team. With all of these things, he is one of the most down to earth teenagers you will ever meet.”
Pasadena point guard Darius Brown II: “Bryce is an excellent player and a great teammate. He doesnt say much on the court with his words, but alot with his actions.”
Muir coach Simaine Stewart: “Bryce is a great player! I believe he is going to be a high major Division 1 player. I wish him and his family all the success in the world and look forward to competing next basketball season.”
