Champaign, ILL.– Head Coach Brad Underwood announced Tuesday that Jermaine Hamlin has signed a Big Ten Tender of Financial Aid with the University of Illinois.

Hamlin is a 6-10, 225-pound center from Lincoln, Illinois. During his senior season at Lincoln Community High School he averaged 13.9 points on 71 percent shooting, along with 6.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks.

Hamlin scored in double figures in 22 of 31 games, with six 20-plus point performances. He set his career scoring high with 29 points against Bloomington on Feb. 12. He recorded three double-doubles on the season, with 18 points and 11 rebounds vs. Mattoon (Dec. 4), 18 points and a career-high 12 rebounds vs. Rock Island (Feb. 2) and the 29-point, 11-rebound showing vs. Bloomington (Feb. 12).

Hamlin earned third-team All-State honors by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA) and honorable mention All-State accolades by the Associated Press. He helped lead the Railers to a 27-5 record, including an appearance in the IHSA Class 3A Sectional title game and Apollo Conference championship, where he received first-team all-league recognition.

"Jermaine is a young man who we've followed the last two years, and we are excited about the growth and development he has shown during that time," Underwood said. "He was one of the outstanding shot blockers and defenders on the EYBL circuit this summer, and we feel he can really impact the game on the defensive side of the floor. He has the desire to be a great player and his work ethic shows with the improvements he's made offensively. He has vastly improved his back-to-the-basket game and has good touch shooting it out to the mid-range. We feel good about the addition of Jermaine to our frontcourt and the promising future he has ahead of him."

Hamlin played for IBCA Hall of Fame Coach Neil Alexander, who also coached former Fighting Illini All-American and 2003 Big Ten Player of the Year Brian Cook as a prep at Lincoln.