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VALENCIA, Spain — Former Lone Peak post Justin Hamilton’s first foray in Europe proved quite successful.
The former second-round draft pick by Philadelphia averaged 14.2 points and 5.1 rebounds for Valencia Basketball Club in Spain’s Liga Endesa, and the league recognized him as the power forward of the year in 2015-16.
The Taronja post finished second in Liga Endesa most valuable player balloting, including a second-place finish on the coaches’ balloting.
ENG ➡ Justin Hamilton (@Justin__41) receives the @ACBCOM best Power Forward awardhttps://t.co/WdmQ3Lk2TLpic.twitter.com/RFC4QgyXD0 — Valencia Basket Club (@valenciabasket) May 23, 2016
After helping Lone Peak to the 2008 Class 5A state title, Hamilton signed with Iowa State before transferring to Louisiana State. He sat out the 2010-11 season before earning second-team all-Southeastern Conference honors in 2011-12 while helping the Tigers to the National Invitation Tournament in his lone active season in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The 76ers selected Hamilton with the No. 45 overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft, and he played 49 games with the Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves and Charlotte Hornets.
Hamilton spent part of the 2014 season with the Sioux Falls Skyforce in the NBA D-League, where he was named to the roster for the Futures All-Star Game. He signed a one-year contract with Valencia in July 2015.
Hamilton, who also earned all-Liga Endesa first-team honors, finished his season with a thigh injury shortly before Valencia’s quarterfinal playoff game against Unicaja.
