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Football, Hoops or Both For Hammonds

With football signing date right around the corner, two-sport star Cliff Hammonds of Cairo HS in Georgia is struggling with a decision on his collegiate future. People ask him daily: Will he play hoops? Will he play football? Will he play both? Where will he go? All of those questions have been running through his head of late and decision time is nigh. Read on to find out his status.
As a 6-foot-3, 195 pound two-star free safety and as an underrated guard on the hardwood, it is no surprise why several high majors have been after Hammonds’ services. And most of these schools have no problem with him playing both sports at their schools. Hammonds is glad to hear that.
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“Right now I’m thinking about both (sports),” he said. “Most of the people that are telling me that it is hard to do both so I might have to decide before I go. But right now, I’m preparing to play both.”
As noted, the football signing period is quickly approaching and gridiron coaches are trying to get his commitment and signature in early February. Vanderbilt and Wake Forest have both offered in football, but not basketball.
Hammonds said he had a trip to Winston-Salem planned for this upcoming Martin Luther King holiday weekend but the plans were scratched because the ACC school got a commitment from another free safety. Hammonds said the Deacons weren’t really recruiting him as a basketball player either.
With that, he said he is looking at two other schools to visit (on a basketball trip) in the very near future and most likely wait to sign, thus bypassing the football signing date.
“I’m trying to go to Clemson and Stanford for basketball visits some time in the beginning of February,” Hammonds said. “They are both interested in me as a football player, too.”
The guard has already taken a trip to Mercer back in October for an official visit. Although he has yet to visit any other schools, the guard has a favorite list already.
“My top three are Mercer, Stanford and Clemson,” Hammonds said.
“Great academics are key. All of the ACC schools have good academics. Stanford is good, Mercer is good, Vanderbilt is good. All of the schools I’m thinking about are good academic schools,” Hammonds said. “I want to go to a good conference, with good guards. I want to match up against the best competition out there in the guard play.”
Georgia is also in the mix but the Bulldogs have not offered for either sport.
Hammonds is averaging 22 points, 8.7 rebounds, 7.7 assists and 5.5 steals per game for his 8-6 Cairo team. There may not be a better backcourt defender in the senior class from the Peach State than Hammonds.
Stay tuned to RivalsHoops and Rivals100 for a decision from the two-sport star.
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