Rayshaun Hammonds

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Rayshaun Hammonds

| image = Rayshaun Hammonds.jpg

| caption =

| position = Power forward/Center

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 9

| weight_lbs = 235

| league = KBL

| team = Suwon KT Sonicboom

| number = 13

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|11|10}}

| birth_place = Augusta, Georgia, U.S.

| high_school = Norcross
(Norcross, Georgia)

| college = Georgia (2017–2020)

| draft_year = 2020

| career_start = 2021

| years1 = 2021

| team1 = Fort Wayne Mad Ants

| years2 = 2021–2022

| team2 = VEF Rīga

| years3 = 2022–2023

| team3 = BG Göttingen

| years4 = 2023–2024

| team4 = Avtodor

| years5 = 2024

| team5 = Santeros de Aguada

| years6 = 2024–present

| team6 = Suwon KT Sonicboom

| highlights =

Latvian-Estonian Basketball League Champion (2022)
Latvian Cup (2022)
LBL champion (2022)

}}

Rayshaun Hammonds (born November 10, 1998) is an American professional basketball player for the Suwon KT Sonicboom of the Korean Basketball League (KBL). He played college basketball for the Georgia Bulldogs.

High school career

Hammonds attended Norcross High School. In the summer of 2016, he averaged 18 points, eight rebounds, and nearly two steals and two assists per game in the Nike EYBL. As a senior, Hammonds averaged 18 points and 11 rebounds per game and led the team to the Class 7A final.{{cite news |last1=Holcomb |first1=Todd |title=State titles up for grabs |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57963284/the-atlanta-constitution/ |accessdate=August 24, 2020 |work=Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=March 8, 2017 |page=C6|via=Newspapers.com}} He was named Gwinnett County player of the year by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.{{cite news |title=All-Metro High School Basketball Teams |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57964366/the-atlanta-constitution/ |accessdate=August 24, 2020 |work=Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=April 2, 2017 |page=C17|via=Newspapers.com}} He was considered a four-star prospect, ranked the 38th best player in his class by ESPN. On his 18th birthday, November 10, 2016, Hammonds committed to Georgia over offers from Texas, Miami (Florida) and Memphis.{{cite news |title=Four-star power forward Rayshaun Hammonds commits to Georgia |url=https://usatodayhss.com/2016/four-star-power-forward-rayshaun-hammonds-commits-to-georgia |accessdate=August 24, 2020 |work=USA Today |date=November 10, 2016}}

College career

In his debut versus Bryant, Hammonds became the first Georgia freshman to start his first game since Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in 2011 and finished with 17 points.{{cite news |last1=Shugan |first1=Zach |title=Birthday boy Rayshaun Hammonds makes history in first career start for Georgia |url=https://www.redandblack.com/sports/mens_basketball/birthday-boy-rayshaun-hammonds-makes-history-in-first-career-start-for-georgia/article_b961395c-c68b-11e7-88f9-336a21830b66.html |accessdate=August 24, 2020 |work=The Red & Black |date=November 10, 2017}} As a freshman at Georgia, Hammonds averaged 6.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.{{cite news |last1=Towers |first1=Chip |title=Georgia's Rayshaun Hammonds decides to stay in NBA draft |url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/college/georgia-rayshaun-hammonds-decides-stay-nba-draft/V9K42LOUH7qlanVCv1lT6K/ |accessdate=August 24, 2020 |work=Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=May 3, 2020}} On November 19, 2018, Hammonds scored a career-high 31 points in an 80–68 win against Illinois State in the Cayman Islands Classic.{{cite news |title=Georgia reaches Cayman Islands Classic semis |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401083142 |accessdate=August 24, 2020 |work=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |date=November 19, 2019}} He averaged 12.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game as a sophomore. Hammonds suffered a foot injury against Ole Miss on February 23, 2019, and was ruled out for the season on March 7.{{cite news |last1=Griffith |first1=Mike |title=Georgia's Rayshaun Hammonds out for season |url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/college/georgia-rayshaun-hammonds-out-for-season/1vnw5NAMz2VsqWTCH9GDUP/ |accessdate=August 24, 2020 |work=Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=March 7, 2019}} As a junior, he served as a complementary place to Anthony Edwards, posting five double-doubles and scored a season-high 26 points twice. Hammonds averaged 12.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, shooting 35 percent from three-point range.{{cite news |last1=Towers |first1=Chip |title=Georgia's Rayshaun Hammonds will enter NBA draft, retain eligibility |url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/college/georgia-rayshaun-hammonds-testing-nba-draft/lCtswhHkoNNjGoBjJQXh0L/ |accessdate=August 24, 2020 |work=Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=March 27, 2020}} Following the season, he declared for the 2020 NBA draft but did not initially hire an agent. On May 3, 2020, Hammonds decided to remain in the draft, forfeiting his remaining year of collegiate eligibility.

Professional career

After going undrafted in the 2020 NBA draft, Hammonds signed with the Indiana Pacers. On December 18, he was waived by the Pacers.{{cite news |last1=Thombs |first1=Palmer |title=Georgia's Rayshaun Hammonds signs with Indiana Pacers |url=https://247sports.com/college/georgia/Article/Georgia-Bulldogs-Basketball-Rayshaun-Hammonds-Indiana-Pacers-155021223/ |accessdate=November 19, 2020 |work=247 Sports |date=November 19, 2020}}

On January 11, 2021, Hammonds was signed by the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA G League.{{cite news |last1=Marini |first1=Glenn |title=Mad Ants draft Brissett, McKnight and announce roster |url=https://www.wane.com/sports/mad-ants/mad-ants-draft-brissett-mcknight-and-announce-roster/ |access-date=June 28, 2021 |work=WANE |date=January 11, 2021}} He averaged 6.1 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. On August 26, 2021, Hammonds signed with VEF Rīga of the LEBL.{{cite web |title=Vef Riga signs Rayshaun Hammonds |url=https://sportando.basketball/en/vef-riga-signs-rayshaun-hammonds/ |website=Sportando |access-date=August 26, 2021 |date=August 26, 2021}}

On July 25, 2022, Hammonds signed with the BG Göttingen of the Basketball Bundesliga.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bggoettingen.de/us-center-hammonds-wechselt-zur-bg/|title=US-Center Hammonds wechselt zur BG|last=|first=|date=July 25, 2022|website=bggoettingen.de|publisher=|language=de|access-date=August 17, 2022}}

On July 9, 2023, Hammonds signed with the Avtodor of the VTB United League.{{cite web |title=«Автодор» подписал Рэйшона Хэммондса |url=https://www.sports.ru/basketball/1115283507-avtodor-podpisal-rejshona-xemmondsa.html |website=Sports.ru |access-date=December 4, 2024 |date=July 9, 2023}}

On June 14, 2024, Hammonds signed with the Suwon KT Sonicboom of the Korean Basketball League (KBL) for 2024–25 season.{{cite web |title=KT, 새 외국선수 해먼즈 영입 발표…"내외곽 가리지 않는 공격 옵션 보유" |url=https://jumpball.co.kr/news/newsview.php?ncode=1065576597960108 |website=점프볼 |access-date=December 4, 2024 |date=June 14, 2024}} On July 12, he signed with the Santeros de Aguada of Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN) for 2024 season.{{cite web |title=Rayshaun Hammonds (ex Suwon KT) signs at Aguada |url=https://www.latinbasket.com/Puerto-Rico/news/881342/Rayshaun-Hammonds-ex-Suwon-KT-signs-at-Aguada |website=Eurobasket.com |access-date=December 4, 2024 |date=July 12, 2024}}