Hammer lifts Germantown Academy over FitzSimons

As a high school senior, Jimmy Hammer has reached the point at which his primary Christmas gift is money.

So, 1-plus week later, has he made any special purchases?

"One pair of shoes and one pair of sneakers," he said.

We know one thing he does not have to buy . . . A jump shot.

There's the ball in Hammer's hands. And there it is in the basket. That's just about how quickly it happens, too. From all locales on the court. Both behind and in front of the arc.

The 6-2, 175-pound wing guard is a quick-draw master. And just because he rushes, that doesn't mean he's sloppy. Each shot is measured and released with the same exact wrist snap, and, on those occasions when the ball does not go in, surprise reigns.

Did someone open a door and allow a quick gust of wind to surge through the gym? Did some trickster push a button to change the height of the rim from 10 feet to an inch or two more?

Monday, Hammer and Germantown Academy bested Thomas FitzSimons, 51-40, in a nonleague contest at Holy Family University. Hey, when a guy scores nearly half his team's points, the outcome must be listed that way.

Jimmy wielded the scoring Hammer to the tune of 25 points. He shot 7-for-13 from the floor (3-for-7 on treys) and 8-for-8 at the line, and he now boasts 249 points in 12 games, for an average of 20.8.

Such craftsmanship doesn't just happen.

"I've been a pretty good shooter since I started playing basketball," Hammer said. "I've always worked hard on shooting. For hours and hours. That's what it takes, repetition.

"In the summer, I work out every single day for an hour or two. We have a half court at our house, so I can do a lot of shooting there. Mostly, though, my dad [Craig] likes me to go somewhere where there's a full court, so I can work on all the different skills and improve my conditioning. Sometimes, I'll just drive down to GA [from Collegeville] and work out there."

When pressed, Hammer acknowledged he probably has hit as many as 20 consecutive jumpers in practice drills.

"But there," he added, quickly, "you don't expect to miss. Especially since no one's on you."

Games are a different matter.

"When you're identified as a shooter," he said, "defenses automatically get right up on you. As you're catching the ball, they're trying to make you put it on the floor.

"We haven't faced any junk defenses yet, but a few teams - Conestoga, Cardinal O'Hara, Archbishop Wood - tried to deny me the ball the entire game. Wouldn't even let me catch it. You just have to work harder. Luckily, I have teammates - Beau Jones [seven rebounds], Julian Moore - who set me really good screens. You just have to run guys into them."

Hammer was the only Patriot in double figures, though Greg Guers and Nick Lindner notched eight points apiece.

After FitzSimons used a surprise press to draw within 35-33 late in the third quarter, Hammer ended the session with a drive for a lefthanded layup. His eight-point fourth quarter began with a 12-foot, right-baseline jumper, making it 43-38, and wound down with 6-for-6 marksmanship at the foul line.

Sub Dionte Blackman led FitzSimons with 10 points. Jack Burris (nine) and Nate Boyer (eight) were right behind. Mike Majett and Richard Williams, the star quarterback, halved 10 rebounds for the undersized Rams. (Oddly, though he throws footballs righthanded, Williams shoots basketballs lefthanded.)

By the way, the game was played at HF because its coach, John O'Connor, and Fitz' boss, Chris Monahan, once were members of Jim Fenerty's GA staff.

Hammer, who favors math and science, has applied to a number of Ivy (Dartmouth, Brown, Cornell) and Patriot (Lehigh, Lafayette) members. Division III schools are playing him in a box-and-one.

"I know if I go to an Ivy or Patriot school, I'll probably have to sacrifice playing time," Hammer said. "But I'd probably go to one of those first because of the academics, then try to play basketball, as well."

His earlier GA sports life included brushes with football (ninth grade), lacrosse (10th) and tennis (11th). Those last two resulted in shoulder tendinitis, which hampered his offseason hoops improvement.

It did? Coulda fooled all the nets he scorches. *