Players

Dick Hamrick

Year Inducted: 2002

Category: Players

Schools / Organizations:
Wyanet High School

Biography:

Dick Hamrick was part of a great year for high school basketball scoring in Bureau County in 1955. Among the many great players from that area, Wyanet’s Dick Hamrick led the way  with a state-best 31.9 ppg average.

Stories of Hamrick’s scoring prowess bordered on phenomenal. There was a December night where Hamrick scored 41 points as the Eagles soared past defending Little Eight champion Manlius. Then there were the nights Hamrick scored 32 and 36 in losses to league powerhouse Tiskilwa, but came back with 41 in a 69-67 upset of the Indians on their home floor.

There was the night Hamrick had 43 in a 79-66 loss to Buda where Chuck Moretz scored 37. He had 44 against Ohio in a league tournament game and outscored Ron Zagar 39-33 in a regular-season loss to DePue. The topper came when LaMoille center Roger Weller scored 34 first-half points and owned the conference scoring record with 51 when he fouled out midway through the fourth quarter. Weller’s record only lasted a few minutes as Hamrick finished with 52 in the only game in IHSA history with opposing players scoring 50 or more points.

Hamrick was honored as the only unanimous all-conference choice.  He was offered a scholarship to Bradley but turned it down because he wanted to attend Illinois academically.  He is a member of the Bureau County Sports Hall of Fame. Dick Hamrick passed away Feb. 23, 2004 at the age of 66.