Eastern Wayne's Hamilton inks NLI with Coastal Carolina

By Brandon Davis
Published in Sports on November 13, 2015 1:48 PM

• Print
• Email

bdavis@newsargus.com

Surrounded by family, friends, coaches and balloons, Naheria Hamilton displayed a smile almost as wide as she is tall.

The 6-foot-3 Eastern Wayne senior signed a national letter-of-intent to play basketball at Coastal Carolina University on Thursday afternoon.

Her mother, Warriors head basketball coach Phil Gray and her AAU summer coach Shawn Farmer stood behind Hamilton as she signed with the Chanticleers.

"I like the environment (and) the coaches," said Hamilton, who originally thought about the University of Texas-El Paso, but added that the beach also persuaded her to commit to Coastal Carolina.

Hamilton's mother, Tamika Powell, appeared relieved when talking about her daughter's decision.

"Bittersweet. I'm excited, but, you know, for her to be leaving home -- it's bittersweet," Powell said. "It's not that far away. It's better than Texas. Texas was also trying to get us there. It's closer, so better."

Hamilton averaged 8.5 points, 9.3 rebounds and 6.4 blocked shots per game as Eastern Wayne finished 26-1 overall last season and won the Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference for the second time in the past three years. The Warriors' run ended with a loss to Chapel Hill in the eastern 3-A regional semifinals.

Hamilton also etched her name in the record books as well. She set school records for blocked shots in a game (19 vs. J.H. Rose) and single season (174). The season total is the ninth-best in state history, according to the N.C. High School Athletic Association.

She has blocked 325 shots in her career.

Eastern Wayne opens its season Nov. 30 at home against Greene Central.

Gray became the Warriors' head football coach during the offseason, but he says basketball and track are on his resume.

"I've been doing three sports for ten years now," Gray said. "I started out at New Bern (where) I was the head girls' basketball coach there and head JV football coach, and I was track coach, also.

"I love a little bit of all of them. Going from football to basketball, switching up from the boys to the girls. Each one has their own identity."

Hamilton possesses her own identity, and it's evident in her height and physical play on the basketball court.

"Naheria's going to have a big impact on the team," Gray said. "Most people are going to have to double team her because of her height. I feel like she can play with anyone one-on-one."