R. J. Hampton

Roderick Deon "R. J." Hampton Jr. (born February 7, 2001) is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA G League. He played for the New Zealand Breakers of the National Basketball League (NBL) before applying for the NBA draft. He was a five-star recruit at Little Elm High School in Little Elm, Texas. He was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks as the 24th overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft.

R. J. Hampton
Hampton with the Orlando Magic in 2022
No. 4 – Miami Heat
PositionShooting guard / point guard
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (2001-02-07) February 7, 2001
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight175 lb (79 kg)
Career information
High schoolLittle Elm
(Little Elm, Texas)
NBA draft2020: 1st round, 24th overall pick
Selected by the Milwaukee Bucks
Playing career2019–present
Career history
2019–2020New Zealand Breakers
2020–2021Denver Nuggets
2021–2023Orlando Magic
2022–2023→Lakeland Magic
2023Detroit Pistons
2023–presentMiami Heat
2023–present→Sioux Falls Skyforce
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats  at Basketball-Reference.com
Medals
Men's Basketball
Representing  United States
FIBA U17 World Cup
Gold medal – first place2018 ArgentinaTeam
FIBA Americas U16 Championship
Gold medal – first place2017 ArgentinaTeam

High school career

Since his freshman season, Hampton played varsity basketball for Little Elm High School in Little Elm, Texas. 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.[1] As a freshman, 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.[2][3] 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 honors.[3][4]

In May 2017, Hampton announced that he was transferring to the nationally ranked basketball program of Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida, before deciding to return to Little Elm.[5] 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.[6] He garnered MaxPreps Sophomore All-American first team, USA Today All-Texas first team, and TABC 5A All-State recognition.[6][7][8]

On December 14, 2018, Hampton scored 33 points in an 80–66 victory over South Garland High School, matching up against fellow coveted recruit Tyrese Maxey.[9] 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.[10] In February 2019, Hampton had another 50-point game in an 83–80 loss to Northwest High School.[11] 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.[12] On March 15, he was named Texas Gatorade Player of the Year, becoming the first non-senior to win the award since Justise Winslow in 2013.[13] He also earned USA Today All-USA first team and MaxPreps All-American second team distinction.[14][15] On April 30, Hampton reclassified to the 2019 class, forgoing his senior year and graduating from high school after about three weeks of online classes.[16]

Recruiting

Hampton was a consensus five-star recruit and ranked among the top six players in the 2019 recruiting class.[17][18][19] On September 5, 2017, Christian Dawkins, an agent later indicted in the NCAA basketball corruption scandal, expressed a desire to pay Hampton in emails sent to business partners. When the emails surfaced in 2019, Hampton's father denied ever meeting Dawkins.[20] Before reclassifying on April 30, 2019, Hampton had been considered one of the best prospects in the 2020 class.[21] He narrowed down his potential college destinations to Kansas, Memphis, and Texas Tech.[22]

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
R. J. Hampton
PG		 Little Elm, TX Little Elm (TX) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 180 lb (82 kg) — 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:5/5 stars   ESPN grade: 96
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 6  247Sports: 5  ESPN: 5
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2019 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved April 30, 2019.

Professional career

New Zealand Breakers (2019–2020)

On May 28, 2019, Hampton signed a multi-year deal with the New Zealand Breakers of the National Basketball League (NBL), which is based in Australia, with the option to leave for the National Basketball Association (NBA).[23] He said that he skipped college basketball because he wanted to "live like a pro and to play with grown men and not have to juggle books and basketball."[24] Hampton joined the Breakers through the NBL Next Stars program, which aims to develop NBA draft prospects.[25][26] On September 20, he made his professional debut in a win over Melbourne United, recording 11 points, three rebounds and four assists in 21 minutes.[27] Two days later, he posted a season-high 20 points, five rebounds and three steals in a loss to the South East Melbourne Phoenix.[28] On November 9, Hampton was ejected four minutes into a game against South East Melbourne after attempting to put his arm around the neck of opposing guard John Roberson during a scuffle.[29] On December 11, it was announced that he would miss about four weeks of action with a hip injury.[30] On January 5, 2020, Hampton returned, scoring 11 points in a win over South East Melbourne.[31] He parted ways with the Breakers on February 4 to return to the United States and prepare for the 2020 NBA draft. Through 15 NBL games, Hampton averaged 8.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game, shooting 40.7 percent from the field.[32] Hampton was projected as a top 5 pick for the 2020 NBA draft heading into the season.

Denver Nuggets (2020–2021)

Hampton was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks as the 24th pick in the 2020 NBA draft, but his draft rights were later traded to the Denver Nuggets in a four-team trade involving the New Orleans Pelicans and Oklahoma City Thunder on November 24, 2020.[33] On December 1, 2020, the Denver Nuggets announced that they had signed Hampton.[34] He played 25 games for the Nuggets, averaging 2.6 points and 2.0 rebounds in 9.3 minutes per game.[35]

Orlando Magic (2021–2023)

On March 25, 2021, Hampton, Gary Harris, and a future first round pick were traded to the Orlando Magic in exchange for Aaron Gordon and Gary Clark.[36] On April 4, Hampton was named in the starting lineup for the first time in his career against Denver Nuggets. He recorded 16 points, four rebounds, and three assists in 33 minutes.[37] On May 17, he was named Eastern Conference rookie of the month for the month of May.[38]

On December 29, 2022, Hampton was suspended by the NBA for one game without pay due to coming off the bench during an altercation in a game against the Detroit Pistons the day before.[39]

On February 21, 2023, Hampton was waived by the Magic.[40]

Detroit Pistons (2023)

On February 23, 2023, Hampton signed with the Detroit Pistons.[41] He was waived by the Pistons on June 24.[42]

Miami Heat (2023–present)

On September 27, 2023, Hampton signed a two-way contract with the Miami Heat.[43]

National team career

Hampton won the gold medal at the 2017 FIBA Under-16 Americas Championship with the United States national under-16 team. In five games, he averaged nine points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.[44] He won another gold medal with the national under-17 team at the 2018 FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup but was limited to two games by a foot injury. Hampton averaged 7.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game.[45]

Career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

NBA
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2020–21 Denver 2509.3.417.278.7502.0.6.2.12.6
2020–21 Orlando 26125.2.439.319.6575.02.8.6.311.2
2021–22 Orlando 641421.9.383.350.6413.02.5.7.27.6
2022–23 Orlando 26013.9.439.340.8381.51.3.6.25.7
2022–23 Detroit 21318.5.423.365.6672.31.0.5.27.3
Career 1621818.8.410.342.6802.81.8.6.27.1

NBL
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2019–20 New Zealand 151220.6.407.295.6793.92.41.1.38.8

Personal life

Hampton's father Rod Hampton played college basketball for SMU from 1987 to 1991.[46] His grandfather Richard Evans served in the Vietnam War.[47]

References
  1. Murphy, Bryan (November 17, 2016). "Time for hoops: Little Elm dismantles Naaman in season opener". Frisco Enterprise. Star Local Media. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
  2. Murphy, Bryan (August 7, 2017). "Home is where the heart is: Little Elm basketball star R.J. Hampton decides to stay with Lobos". Frisco Enterprise. Star Local Media. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
  3. Wixon, Matt (March 23, 2017). "SportsDayHS 2017 All-Area boys basketball teams, newcomer and coach of the year". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
  4. "2016-17 MaxPreps Boys Basketball Freshman All-American Team". MaxPreps. April 18, 2017. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
  5. Wixon, Matt (August 4, 2017). "R.J. Hampton, one of the nation's top basketball recruits, ditches Montverde Academy to stay at Little Elm". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
  6. Florek, Michael (March 22, 2018). "Meet the best boys basketball players in Dallas: The 2018 Dallas Morning News all-area team". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
  7. Divens, Jordan (April 17, 2018). "2017-18 MaxPreps Boys Basketball Sophomore All-American Team". MaxPreps. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
  8. "2017-18 ALL-USA Texas Boys Basketball Team". USA Today High School Sports. April 16, 2018. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
  9. Jennings, Randy (December 14, 2018). "R.J. Hampton, Little Elm top Tyrese Maxey, South Garland in showdown of Texas' top basketball prospects". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  10. Jordan, Jason (December 29, 2018). "Chosen 25 PG R.J. Hampton scores career-high 50 points". USA Today High School Sports. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  11. Murphy, Bryan (March 8, 2019). "Column: Hampton robbed of District MVP". Frisco Enterprise. Star Local Media. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  12. "R.J. Hampton 2018 - 2019 Texas Boys Basketball Player of the Year". Gatorade. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  13. Hoyt, Joseph (March 15, 2019). "Little Elm star R.J. Hampton named Gatorade's Texas basketball Player of the Year and finalist for national award". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  14. "2018-19 ALL-USA High School Boys Basketball: First Team". USA Today High School Sports. April 2, 2019. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  15. Divens, Jordan (April 11, 2019). "MaxPreps 2018-19 High School Boys Basketball All-American Team". MaxPreps. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  16. Hill, Drew (April 30, 2019). "Five-star Memphis basketball target R.J. Hampton reclassifies to 2019". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  17. "R.J. Hampton, 2019 Point guard". Rivals. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  18. "RJ Hampton, Little Elm, Combo Guard". 247Sports. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  19. "R.J. Hampton". ESPN. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  20. Schlabach, Mark (January 3, 2019). "Christian Dawkins' emails detail payment plans to several players". ESPN. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  21. Newman, Logan (April 7, 2019). "Report: R.J. Hampton cuts list to four schools, could reclassify to 2019". USA Today High School Sports. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  22. Boone, Kyle (May 28, 2019). "Five-star guard RJ Hampton to play in Australian NBL, rejects Kansas, Memphis, Texas Tech". CBS Sports. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  23. Slagter, Josh (May 28, 2019). "RJ Hampton, a top-5 national recruit, chooses to play pro basketball in New Zealand: 'You can always go back to college'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  24. "Top US prospect R.J. Hampton signs with New Zealand team". The Washington Post. Associated Press. May 29, 2019. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  25. "US Teen Sensation Signs with NZ Breakers". New Zealand Breakers. May 28, 2019. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  26. "NBL to Fast Track Next Stars of the NBA". National Basketball League. March 2, 2018. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  27. Taylor, Cody (September 20, 2019). "R.J. Hampton drops 11 points in NBL debut with the NZ Breakers". The Rookie Wire. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  28. "RJ Hampton shines, top scores as Breakers fall in second pre-season clash". TVNZ. September 21, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  29. Robinson, Jesse (November 9, 2019). "RJ Hampton ejected early in NBL tussle". ESPN. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  30. Givony, Jonathan (December 11, 2019). "Projected NBA lottery pick RJ Hampton to miss 4 weeks with hip injury". ESPN. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  31. "Sources: Hampton cleared; LaMelo remains out". ESPN.com. January 3, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  32. Reive, Christopher (February 3, 2020). "RJ Hampton leaves New Zealand Breakers to prepare for NBA draft". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  33. "Denver Nuggets select Zeke Nnaji, trade for R.J. Hampton in 2020 NBA Draft". NBA.com. November 24, 2020.
  34. "Denver Nuggets sign Zeke Nnaji, R.J. Hampton to rookie contracts". NBA.com. December 1, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  35. "Magic Acquire R.J. Hampton, Gary Harris and First Round Draft Pick From Nuggets". Orlando Magic. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  36. "Magic Acquire R.J. Hampton, Gary Harris and First Round Draft Pick From Nuggets". NBA.com. March 25, 2021.
  37. "Magic's R.J. Hampton: Drops 16 points in first start". CBSSports.com. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  38. "R.J. Hampton Named NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month". Orlando Magic. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  39. "NBA announces suspensions from Pistons-Magic game". NBA.com. December 29, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  40. "Orlando Magic PR on Twitter: "PRESS RELEASE: @OrlandoMagic waive R.J. Hampton"". Twitter. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  41. "Sean Corp on Twitter: "Detroit Pistons make RJ Hampton signing official shortly after game with Magic. Hampton, who was waived by Orlando, was in attendance at tonight's game."". Twitter. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  42. "The Detroit Pistons announced today that the team has waived guard R.J. Hampton". Twitter. June 24, 2023. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  43. "HEAT Make Roster Moves". NBA.com. September 27, 2023. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  44. Zagoria, Adam (June 21, 2018). "R.J. Hampton looking to win second straight gold medal with USA Basketball, plans to cut college list during winter". ZagsBlog. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  45. Riddle, Greg (July 8, 2018). "Denton Guyer's De'Vion Harmon and Little Elm's R.J. Hampton help USA win FIBA under-17 World Cup in Argentina". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  46. Murphy, Bryan (January 17, 2018). "Leading the pack: No sophomore slump for superstar RJ Hampton". Little Elm Journal. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  47. "R.J. Hampton". USA Basketball. January 15, 2019. Archived from the original on November 10, 2018. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
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