Though Malik Duffy, Isaiah Brooks, and Kevin Warren received most of the headlines during last season’s run to the NCAA West Region title, true Chico State men’s basketball fans know exactly how big a role Joshua Hamilton played in getting the Wildcats to the Elite Eight. An All-CCAA Honorable Mention in 2021–22, the Modesto product has carried over his outstanding play into the 2022–23 campaign, grabbing the early spotlight by putting up big numbers in the Wildcats’ first two games of the season. Hamilton’s opening weekend excellence makes him the latest Wildcat of the Week.
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Hamilton excelled in all facets of the game during the Conference Crossover Challenge in Azusa. The junior guard averaged a team-high 19 points in the ’Cats’ two season-opening contests, connecting on over 59 percent of his field goal attempts (13-for-22), while also contributing 10 rebounds and 12 assists to help the Chico State earn a split against two top West Region opponents.
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In a season-opening loss November 11 to Seattle Pacific, Hamilton scored 14 points and led the Wildcats with seven rebounds and seven assists. He then followed up Saturday by hitting four 3-pointers on the way to a career-high 24 points while also dishing out five assists in the ’Cats’ 81-74 victory over PacWest powerhouse Azusa Pacific.
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Since joining the Wildcats in 2018, Hamilton has averaged 8.1 points a game, knocked down 57 3-pointers, and posted a .794 free throw percentage (13th best in program history) in his Chico State career.
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Hamilton and the Wildcats return to action this week with road contests vs. Holy Names on Wednesday, November 16, and Academy of Art on Saturday, November 19.
