CHENEY, Wash. – When Alton Hamilton IV entered the transfer portal after a standout NAIA career at Lewis-Clark State, his focus wasn't simply on moving up a level. He was searching for the right fit, one built on trust, relationships, and shared purpose. That search ultimately led him to Eastern Washington. "I'm a relationship-oriented person," Hamilton said. "Coming on the visit and meeting the coaches and players was what I was evaluating the most, where I felt their goals and priorities were in line with mine. I felt the people here were very genuine and that I could trust what they were saying to me." Hamilton also leaned on insight from former teammate Sam Stockton, who had already spent time in Cheney. Hearing firsthand about the culture helped confirm what he sensed during his visit. "Hearing from Sam and seeing how genuine everyone was here gave me another way to trust that everything about this place was reliable," Hamilton said.

While the people and environment felt right, the jump from NAIA star to Division I contributor required significant adjustment. Hamilton quickly realized the physical and mental demands of the Big Sky were different from what he had experienced before. "On the court, the game is just a lot faster," he said. "You've got to make more reads and quicker decisions. Physically is where I had to grow the most, the speed, endurance, and strength of guys. I wasn't going to be able to play bully ball like I did the last two years, so I had to add more finesse and really think more." An early scrimmage against Nevada delivered a clear introduction to Division I athleticism. "I got my shot blocked like four times in 20 minutes," Hamilton said. "That showed me there's got to be a lot more thinking before the shot, angles, space, timing, or it's getting sent."

Eastern's coaching staff anticipated that transition curve and helped Hamilton navigate it with patience and confidence. "They were very vocal about their belief in me," he said. "They understood the process, that it wasn't going to click right away. When things weren't going how I wanted early, they'd remind me, 'This is how it's supposed to be. Stay patient and keep working.' That gave me a lot of security." Off the court, the move felt natural. The small-town familiarity of Cheney mirrored Lewiston, easing the transition and allowing Hamilton to focus on development.

At Lewis-Clark State, Hamilton was a primary scoring option who could overpower most opposing bigs. At Eastern, he had to reshape both his game and his mindset. "At NAIA, I was usually bigger and more skilled than most bigs, so I could go to the same move every other play," he said. "Now it's like, this guy is taking away two or three of my favorite options, what's the fourth thing I can do?" That shift pushed Hamilton to embrace production beyond scoring, hustle plays, defense, and rebounding. The result has been one of the most consistent seasons on the roster: double-figure scoring in 22 games while leading the Eagles in rebounds. "A lot of it is trust with my teammates," he said. "I'm surrounded by talented guys who can score. Some people see that as, 'I'm not going to get mine,' but I see it as, 'I don't have to.' I know I'm going to get a couple good opportunities every game." On the glass, his approach is rooted in pride and role acceptance. "If I'm not going to be the first or second leading scorer, I'm going to get as many rebounds as I can," Hamilton said. "Compared to when I was the No. 1 scoring option, now it's about affecting the game in as many ways as possible, rebounding, guarding, deflections."

As his production has grown, so has Hamilton's presence within the team. What began as a transfer adjusting to a new level has evolved into a player shaping games with energy, physicality, and communication. "There's more emphasis on creating pressure at the basket, being physical, getting centers in foul trouble, making the other team uncomfortable," he said. "I've also become more of an energy guy through how I play, deflections, blocks, steals, and communicating with teammates." With that growth has come recognition of leadership potential. "With the production I've had, I know I have a voice," Hamilton said. "I'm trying to use it to build guys up."

Hamilton's path from NAIA standout to Division I impact player has made him a visible example for athletes hoping to make the same leap. His advice is grounded less in ambition than in patience and self-awareness. "Be patient," he said. "Moving up wasn't even my goal early, I was focused on becoming the best player I could at my school. People told me after my freshman year to leave, but I knew there were areas I still needed to grow." For Hamilton, development, not division, should drive decisions. "If you want to move up, keep it in the back of your mind, but the priority should be development," he said. "Invest where you are. When you invest in a place, it invests back in you." It's a perspective shaped by experience, and one that now defines his role at Eastern Washington. Hamilton didn't just change levels. He expanded his game, his impact, and his understanding of what success looks like, becoming proof that the NAIA-to-Division I path is less about where you start and more about how you grow.
 
Join the Eagle Athletic Fund for as low as $50 per year! Support Eagle student-athletes on and off the field while enjoying exclusive EAF perks such as season ticket and tailgating priority, invitations to special events, exclusive access and more. Visit goeags.com/eaf for more information.

ABOUT EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Eastern Washington University Athletics sponsors 14 intercollegiate sports, six for men and eight for women, both as learning opportunities for its most athletically talented students and as an enhancement to student and community life. Eastern is affiliated with Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and is a member of the Big Sky Conference, an association of 10 regional schools with comparable enrollments and academic goals.

FOLLOW THE EAGLES
SOCIAL: Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram