STRENGTHS

Aggressive attacking slashing high scoring guard
Very good athlete with quick twitch movements
Elite first step and speed for his size
Fast in open floor and excels in transition
Always in attack mode and puts pressure on defenses
Excellent at getting to the free throw line on prep level
Good ball handler that can create space off the dribble and shift defenders
Capable passer; Especially on drive & kick situations
Strong driver going left and right
Good body control, can adjust his body to avoid defenders and make acrobatic finisher around rim
Uses floaters and soft touch finishes around the rim
Good quick decision maker out of P&R; find the roll man

AREAS TO IMPROVE

Slim frame and must add muscle
Must improve shooting range and shooting consistency ;Streaky shooter at best
Shot 25% on jumpers in NBL
Can be very predictable which leads to tough shots
Tendency to play out of control
Can he play off the ball and compliment another ball handler?
Very ball dominant in high school
Must improve finishing with his left hand

SUMMARY

RJ Hampton elected to go from high school junior to professional basketball player this summer and has game is looking to be paying off.

I had a chance to see RJ play a few times in high school and attended around 10 of his workouts last summer leading up to his season in Australia's NBL. Hampton was a ball dominant slasher in high school and on the prep levels that was able to get to the rim at will due to his blazing 1st step and NBA type athleticism.

In his first season as a pro, Hampton has done good job adjusting from being featured on every play, to being a key contributor/role player on a competitive professional team. His speed, scoring in transition and defense have translated well and he's made big strides as a decision maker.

Rafael Barlowe - December 2, 2019