Every town has its one great athlete, a multi-sport star who dominates his respective sports, someone whose play epitomizes hard work and determination, someone whose talent is often overshadowed by the ability to make his teammates better. For South Kingstown that athlete is Senior Ben Hamill.
Hamill has showed time and time again that he is among the top athletes in the state Rhode Island, dominating both the gridiron and the hardwood.
“He seemed to be able to take over games at will,” said Matt LeValley, who played beside Hamill on both the football and basketball teams.
When Hamill arrived at SKHS as a scrawny 5’6” 140 pound freshmen, many would have never predicted his athletic career would bring him this much success.
“I just took everything as it came,” said Hamill, a Rhode Island Football All-State Quarterback.
What sets Hamill apart from other great athletes, is his will to compete, whether it be a card game or wrestling in the backyard.
“He’s one of the best wrestlers I’ve seen,” said Justin Favreau, who has played football with Hamill since grade school. “But he’s not good enough to beat me,” Favreau added.
Hamill has always been a good athlete. Hamill has been a superb basketball player since he was young. He always played with his friends and his brother Sean, a former SKHS halfback, but football was something that Hamill didn’t consider playing until he was older.
“I wasn’t really interested in football,” said Hamill, the two time Division II State Championship quarterback.
“One day my mom went and signed me up and it’s a good thing she did.”
At the beginning of Hamill’s high school football career, as a halfback and safety, he got a decent amount of time on the junior varsity team. Then as Hamill entered his sophomore season he was expected to make the jump to starting varsity quarterback.
The Rebels were coming of a season in which they made the Division II Semifinals, and lost their starting quarterback to graduation. Heading into the 2007 season former Head Coach Bruce Tardiff placed Hamill at the helm.
“I was scared, I was nervous, I was just afraid to let everyone down,” said Hamill. He certainly did not disappoint. Hamill led the Rebels to a Division II State Championship, displaying phenomenal leadership, despite being the youngest player on the field.
During the final regular season game in 2007, the Rebels were playing on the road against a Cranston East team many thoughtwould win the championship. Early in the game the Rebels lost their left tackle to an injury early in the game and Hamill rallied together his teammates, who responded by getting the win.
“It was the turning point of the season,” said Hamill. “It let everyone know we were championship contenders.”
Hamill has displayed leadership in so many games on the gridiron. Not only has he led the Rebels to two state championships, he has stepped up multiple times to rally the troops and lead the Rebels to victory.
“He was the glue that held our team together,” said LeValley.
Prior to this football season, expectations for Hamill couldn’t be higher. Entering his third year as the starting quarterback, he was expected to lead the Rebels to their third consecutive State Championship.
“I worked out a lot with the guys from the football team to prepare,” said Hamill. Although Hamill and his teammates fell short in the semifinals to the Mount Hope Huskies, 13-12, Hamill had a tremendous season as the team’s quarterback and safety.
Hamill was selected as a Rhode Island All State selection, having passed for 1700 yards and 22 touchdowns, as well as rushing for seven touchdowns. Despite falling short of expectations, Hamill was not disappointed with the loss.
“It wasn’t as much disappointment as just reality setting in that I’ll never play the sport again with all my friends,” said Hamill. “It wasn’t just football that I loved, it was being with guys.”
“He was one of the best teammates ever,” said Favreau. Hamill’s legacy as a great player and teammate will never be forgotten on the football field. After football, Hamill hung up his helmet to take on the challenges that waited for him on the hardwood.
Hamill entered the basketball season ready to establish himself as an elite player on the hardwood. “I played a lot of pickup basketball at Old Mountain Field over the summer,” said Hamill with a laugh.
Hamill had his work cut out for him as the Rebels entered the basketball season having lost three senior starters. The Rebels were inexperience and lacked size or depth and many thought they would struggle to get wins. Hamill’s play on the basketball court was outstanding and the Rebels did not disappoint finishing the season with a respectable 10-9 record and a playoff appearance, in which the Rebels lost on the road to a tough Mount Pleasant Kilties team 68-59.
Hamill was second in the state in scoring and put himself on everyone’s radar with a remarkable 47 point performance against the Chariho Chargers, with 24 of those points coming from three pointers.
“That was just something else,” said Hamill. “It was a special night.”
Hamill led the tenacious Rebels to respectable wins over Central and North Kingstown, teams that clearly had superior talent. In those wins, Hamill was able to tear apart defenses with his tremendous shooting ability and knack for getting to the basket. For the most part, Hamill didn’t always necessarily consider himself the best player on the court.
“I just try to work hard and play smart,” said Hamill.
Hamill will leave South Kingston having left behind a great legacy as one of the better athletes to walk these halls. He was South Kingstown’s dominant athlete of this generation and will always be remembered as someone who played with a tremendous passion.
As for Hamill’s future, his career as an athlete is likely over. If he wishes to continue competing he will likely attend Stonehill College in Massachusetts. When asked where he stands among the great SKHS athletes of all time, he replied modestly, “That’s not for me to decide.”