Ram in Action: Danielle Hammond
©2019 Scott K. Brown Photography, Inc.
Jaron Nutter, Contributing Writer
Women’s Basketball center Danielle Hammond finished in the top five for blocks in the Atlantic 10 conference last season, and she doesn’t plan on stopping there.
“By the time I graduate I would like to hold the record for most blocks at VCU,” Hammond said.
Hammond has totaled 68 blocks throughout her collegiate career and ranks in the A-10 top 10 for blocks this season. This season, she averages a career-best 7.2 points and 61.8 shooting percentage.
But the junior center’s basketball journey did not begin at VCU. Hammond attended the all-girls independent Baldwin School in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, where she averaged 13 points, eight rebounds and three blocks.
She starred as a two-sport athlete in basketball and volleyball at Baldwin — but she ultimately decided to continue her basketball career.
“I chose basketball over volleyball because basketball brings me more joy,” Hammond said. “Once I started playing basketball, there was no other choice for what I wanted to do, although volleyball was a lot of fun.”
Her decision to continue playing basketball led her to VCU. Now in her third season, she has played 57 games and started 16. Even with her collegiate experience and development, she said she actively looks to refine her game with hopes to play professionally one day.
“The part of my game I would like to improve the most is my defense,” Hammond said. “Our team really takes pride in being a good defensive team, and I want to contribute to that in any way possible.”
Taking pride would be an understatement — Women’s Basketball ranks second in field goal percentage and scoring defense in the nation. Hammond anchors the VCU defense with 1.3 blocks per game, ranking 10th in the A-10 conference.
Women’s Basketball currently sits at 13-5 with an undefeated A-10 record through five games. The team is primed not only for an A-10 championship, but an appearance in the NCAA Division I Women’s Tournament. Women’s Basketball has not made an appearance in the tournament in 10 years.
