Returning Home to the BBL – With Ashley Hamilton – Ep. 44

For episode 44 of the Hoopsfix podcast, we sit down with London City Royals’ Ashley Hamilton, who has signed in the BBL this season for the first time after spending his career overseas in Europe.

It completes a full circle for Hamilton, growing up in South London and starting his career with the London Towers as an Under-16 at Crystal Palace. Now, fifteen years later, he suits up on the same floor as a professional with the league’s newest franchise.

The 6’7″ Great Britain Senior cap left the UK for High School as a Sophomore, before heading to Spain with Canarias Basketball Academy. Ultimately, he signed with NCAA Division 1 school Loyola Marymount University, before turning pro and having played in Italy, Greece, Ukraine, Spain and now the UK.

In this 1 hour 50 minute episode, hear from Ashley on:

• What made him decide to sign with London City Royals this season
• How it feels to be playing back home in the BBL
• Whether or not he feels the Royals overhyped their entrance into the league
• How his rehab is going from his wrist surgery and how it feels
• What he thinks of the level of the BBL and the league as a whole so far
• Why he first got into basketball, making the switch from football
• His memories of the London Towers programme as an Under-16
• Playing England Under-18s as a younger player
• The most talented English players he has played against and seen
• Making the switch from the UK to the US to Lawrence Academy for his Sophomore year
• Returning to Europe from the US to go to Spain with Gran Canaria and ultimately Canarias Basketball Academy
• His memories of Spain, with both Ryan Richards and Joel Freeland
• Being recruited by US colleges, and why he signed with LMU
• The impact streetball.co.uk had on his early years
• Why he was convinced Dallas were going to draft him
• The NBA Summer League experience in Las Vegas
• Turning pro and his first professional contract where he chose Italy over Poland
• What he has learned playing in Europe
• Advice he has for younger players that want to turn pro
• And much, much more!

As always, I’d love to get your feedback, come back after you’ve listened and lets get some discussion going in the comments.

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