RJ Hampton talks move to Montverde, summer ball and offers
When you are a program like Montverde, you can continue to add top talent to the mix.
The Eagles did just as 2020 guard RJ Hampton announced he’ll be transferring to the school on May 26. At 6’5″, 160 lbs., Hampton is a lengthy point guard coming down to Florida from Texas Little Elm.
Hampton says the decision to switch schools ultimately came down to the combination of academics and athletics.
“Montverde has a great academic structure that will continue to challenge me in the classroom,” Hampton told Prep Hoops Florida. “From the basketball standpoint, the tradition speaks for itself. I just wanted to be apart of what is going on and get better every day.”
He was announced as part of the 16 finalists for the U16 USA basketball team that will compete in Argentina from June 14-June 18. University’s Vernon Carey Jr. and Cardinal Newman’s Scottie Barnes are the other two prospects on the team from the state.
The rising sophomore talked about his freshman season at Little Elm.
“This past season I came into the season with personal goals but I made sure to put our team goals first and in doing that I could still reach my personal goals,” Hampton said. “My leadership skills grew the most this past season. Coach [Rusty] Segler called me in his office early in the year and told me if we were going to be a winning team and have great success I would have to be a leader on and off the floor.”
Hampton plans to serve as a team player for head coach Kevin Boyle and the Montverde staff this fall.
“We should have a good team with good players at all positions. I plan to play solid defense, score the ball and just play basketball and make plays on both ends of the floor,” he said. “Coach Boyle and his staff are great we really connected and what he brings as a coach. I really think he can take my game to the next level. His coaching style and approach reminds me of my dad’s coaching.”
This summer, Hampton is running with the first year Adidas program Texas B.U. Nation. He plans to get stronger, more explosive and stay in the gym as much as possible.
He says he can’t pinpoint an age that he started playing basketball but he talked about how there are pictures of him with a ball in his crib.
“I’ve always have watched players from high school to college to pros so it’s my dream to somehow make basketball my career,” he said.
Hampton called his biggest strengths his ability to make everyone better around him and his scoring ability. He’s looking to improve his full-court man defense.
Currently, he has eight offers on his plate from Texas, Baylor, Texas A&M, Kansas, TCU, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and SMU. Hampton says Stanford, Virginia and Duke are also showing strong interest as of late.
He added that he’s nervous and excited to get to Montverde.
“I know this is a big step in my career and I know with the work I put in I’m ready for the challenge ahead,” Hampton said.
It will only bring more juice to Montverde by putting Hampton alongside the likes of 2019 prospects RJ Barrett (No. 1 in our 2019 class rankings), Andrew Nembhard (No. 3 in our 2019 class rankings), Jake Betlow (No. 40 in our 2019 class rankings) and 2018 prospect Rechon Black (No. 9 in our 2018 class rankings).
Hampton is a crafty guard who will fit right into what the Eagles do. His stock is already on the rise with the combination of smarts and athleticism. Expect him to flourish at his new spot. He ranks No. 5 in our latest 2020 rankings.
Photo credit: Casey Athena