Rice confident in Hammond being Monmouth’s latest special senior

Deion Hammond enters senior year as clear leader for Monmouth, transforming from Ray Salnave’s Robin to Hawks’ Batman. (Photo by Monmouth University Athletics)

Over the past decade, King Rice’s Monmouth teams have had one constant.

Dion Nesmith. Jesse Steele. Andrew Nicholas. Justin Robinson. Josh James. Micah Seaborn. Ray Salnave.

Each of those players had evolved and cultivated themselves into the Hawks’ de facto leaders as either seniors or redshirt juniors, and each of those players made an impact that extended far beyond any sideline, baseline or locker room inside the OceanFirst Bank Center. And as Monmouth readies itself for a season unlike any other it has attempted to navigate, Deion Hammond has taken the requisite steps to add his name to the rich lineage of upperclassmen who have become THE GUY in West Long Branch.

“Deion’s been incredible since he’s been here,” Rice remarked as Hammond begins his final go-round in the Hawks’ blue and white later this month, with the specter of COVID-19 looming large around the season at every turn. “Deion’s dream is to play in the big leagues, and we did some research and talked to some people, and Deion can really, really show people that he can be a great defender.”

“Everybody knows Deion can shoot, they know he’s super-athletic, they know he’s a great kid. Will he guard the way he plays offense? Because if he’ll do that, then all of a sudden the big league starts saying, ‘Well, he fits.’”

Hammond's scoring prowess is well documented, as is his marksmanship, with Monmouth’s career 3-point field goal record in close pursuit. But it is the strides in which the Maryland native has made without the basketball in his hand that his coach both excited and eager to unleash his reigning first team all-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference superstar one last time to conjure more magic on the Jersey Shore.

“Deion is a leader by example,” Rice intimated. “He doesn’t say a lot, but when he speaks, everybody listens. So I’m trying to get him to take that leadership — instead of leading by example — and do it a little more verbally, because he carries a lot of weight with our guys on the team, and it will help him to be a better player in the future.”

“I think the defensive end for him and him saying what’s on his mind way more than he ever does will help our team a lot, but will also help him expand his game to show people he can play after college.”