Conference USA Player of the Year Javion Hamlet reflects on impressive first year with North Texas

This season, North Texas won their first Conference USA regular-season title since 2010.

Point guard Javion Hamlet's success was much needed for the Mean Green this season. Hamlet averaged 14.6 points, 4.9 assists, and 3.0 rebounds per game this season. Although his play was crucial for North Texas' success, Hamlet acknowledged that every one of his teammates were needed as much as he was.

"I didn’t lead them, it took all of us having to buy into winning," Hamlet said when asked what it meant to him to lead the Mean Green to their first Conference USA regular-season championship since 2010. "It was truly a blessing to be apart of this team this season."

Following the impressive season, Hamlet was named Conference USA Player of the Year, First Team All-Conference USA, and Conference USA Newcomer of the Year. Hamlet shows a lot of praise in his teammates and feels that they played a huge part in helping him receive the award.

"It meant to me that the work me and my teammates put in during the summertime and fall paid off," Hamlet said when asked what being named Conference USA Player of the Year meant to him. "I couldn’t have been able to receive this award with out their help on and off the court."

For North Texas, Hamlet wasn't the only with postseason honors. Umoja Simpson was named Second Team All-Conference USA. North Texas' coach Grant McCasland won Conference USA Coach of the Year as well.

"Coach Mac is a great coach," Hamlet said when asked what it was like playing for coach McCasland. "He put me and my teammates in great positions to be successful. He’s tough coach because of how competitive he is."

North Texas was the number one seed heading into their conference tournament and were set to take on Florida Atlantic in the quarterfinals. However, the Conference USA Tournament was canceled due to coronavirus concerns. A few days later, the NCAA Tournament was canceled for the same reason. This meant that the rest of the college basketball season was canceled and there would be no postseason.

"It was super sad because we couldn’t control what was happening to us," Hamlet said about having his season cut short due to coronavirus concerns. "My teammates and I were sad about not being able to compete at the NCAA tournament, but we also understand that there are bigger things being affected by the virus."

Hamlet takes pride in representing his hometown. He grew up in Memphis, Tennessee and attended Whitehaven High School.

"It means a lot, to be able to show the world that there are a lot of great players in Memphis," Hamlet said. "It’s great to give people in that city hope!"

Out of high school, Hamlet went to Motlow State Community College. After a year there, he committed to Buffalo. Hamlet redshirted in his one year at Buffalo and transferred to Northwest Florida State. At Northwest Florida State, he averaged 17.8 points and 6.5 assists per game and was the 17th ranked junior college player in the nation per JucoRecruiting.com. Hamlet committed to North Texas in the spring following his season at Northwest Florida State.

"It made me appreciate a lot of things," Hamlet said about what his time at junior college did for him. "I will never take things for granted. I’m determined to advantage of every opportunity that comes my way."