July 21, 2006
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JoAnn Hamlin, who played at Kansas State as a freshman last season, will transfer to the University of Iowa and join the Hawkeye women’s basketball program.
Hamlin is a 6-3 center who will have three seasons of eligibility at Iowa after sitting out the 2006-07 season. She is a native of Douglass, KS, and attended Winfield High School.
“I am very excited to start a new career at the University of Iowa,” said Hamlin. “Iowa is a great University and Iowa City is a great community with a lot to offer. The coaching staff and the girls are great and I am ready to start a new career with the Hawkeyes.”
Hamlin joins the Hawkeyes after a stellar rookie campaign with the Wildcats. She averaged 10.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 0.8 blocks and 0.7 steals while playing in all 33 games, including 31 starts. The 31 starts were the fifth-most in the nation among freshmen. Hamlin scored double figures 15 times, including reaching the 20-point plateau four times. She was one of only two Kansas State players to hit over 50 percent of her field goals (52.5) and ranked seventh in the Big 12 and ninth in the nation among freshmen.
Hamlin poured in a game and season-high 24 points, including the first 12 of the game in Kansas State’s season-opening triumph over Detroit. Kansas State won the 2006 WNIT Championship, where Hamlin averaged 13.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.0 steals in the five games.
“We are thrilled to have JoAnn join our team, said Iowa Head Coach Lisa Bluder. “She is a proven player at the top division one level. JoAnn is strong inside and a great competitor.”
Her prep career includes being named a two-time first team all-state honoree, a three-time first team all-league selection and honored as the Blue Collar Player of the Year three times. Hamlin is the Winfield High School record holder for career scoring, rebounding, blocks and steals. She also holds the school’s single-game record for points, free throws made, offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds, total rebounds, blocks and steals. Hamlin also lettered in volleyball, golf and track in high school.
Hamlin was also a member of the Kansas Belles basketball team that won the girls’ under-19 AAU national championship in Orlando the summer of 2005. She garnered MVP as well as all-tournament team accolades at the event.
Hamlin is Bluder’s second transfer from a Division I school while coaching the Hawkeyes. Guard Kristi Faulkner (2001-04) played three years for Iowa after she transferred from Illinois and finished her Iowa career ranked 12th in career scoring, 14th in assists and third in 3-pointers made.