Hamilton Named Preseason Bob Cousy Award Candidate by Athlon Magazine

Sept. 15, 2006

Clemson senior Vernon Hamilton was named a preseason candidate for the Bob Cousy Award, given annually to the nation’s top collegiate point guard. The list of candidates was released in the 2006-07 season preview magazine by Athlon Sports. Dee Brown of Illinois won the award in 2006.

Hamilton returns for his fourth year as the starting point guard for Oliver Purnell’s basketball squad. Last season, he set the Tigers’ single-season (83) and career (201) records for steals. At the conclusion of the 2005-06 season, he was named to the All-ACC Defensive team after leading the conference in steals per game. He was the first Tiger ever to lead the ACC in that statistical category.

A native of Richmond, VA, he showed great improvement offensively as a junior when he led Clemson to a 19-13 record and berth in its second straight NIT. Hamilton averaged a career-best 12.0 points per game, which included an incredible 31-point performance against #1 Duke in January. He made as many three-pointers (27) in his junior season as he did his first two years at Clemson combined.

Hamilton was one of seven guards from the Atlantic Coast Conference named to the preseason watch list.