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Ahead of the NBA draft, R.J. Hampton has had the opportunity to train with Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant. For someone like Hampton looking to transition into the NBA, there may be no one better to learn from than the reigning Rookie of Year recipient.
Hampton spent time with Morant prior to the season restart at the Wide World of Sports Complex and he has also linked up with him once since the Grizzlies left the bubble. The two players would work on strength and conditioning while Morant also offered some feedback.
The projected first-round pick, speaking on “The HoopsHype Podcast” with Michael Scotto, detailed the advice, and even praise, Morant offered him during their workouts.
I think that has been a real, big help for me from somebody that was just Rookie of the Year. I got a chance to spend a lot of time with him this summer to prepare for my rookie year. I think the biggest piece of advice he gave me over the summer, he was like, ‘You are one of the fastest guards I’ve ever seen in person. Take that to your advantage, learn how to play with pace and use your speed to your advantage. You are so fast, slow down and think the game. That’s going to help in the long run just because you are so fast.’
Of course, Morant emerged as one of the quickest individuals in the NBA last season so he is certainly qualified to call Hampton one of the fastest players he has ever seen on the court. Morant has seen firsthand what Hampton has to offer and believes he can be even better.
Hampton also possesses the physical tools and athleticism to play at the next level. He has studied Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine extensively since the two players are similar in size and are both athletic and play downhill and he will be looking to channel that into his game.
The 19-year-old was once viewed as a potential top-five pick but an inconsistent showing in the National Basketball League dropped his draft stock a bit. However, Hampton projects to have a high ceiling and that figures to have teams curious about his potential.
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