Killer Frogs

From Walk-On to Full Scholarship: Ella Hamlin’s Reward for Her Role in TCU’s Basketball Revival

The former "UnderFrog" gets noticed for her role in the rise of TCU women's basketball.
Nick Girimonte|
TCU women's basketball player Ella Hamlin gets rewarded a full scholarship on Tuesday, January 14, 2025 after a win against UCF.
TCU women's basketball player Ella Hamlin gets rewarded a full scholarship on Tuesday, January 14, 2025 after a win against UCF. | X: @tcuwbb

In this story:

TCU Horned Frogs

Ella Hamlin, one of the four "UnderFrogs" from last season got rewarded with a full scholarship Tuesday.

Last season, TCU women's basketball was in an unbelievably desperate spot following a series of injuries.

The Frogs had such a shortage of players that they needed to hold open tryouts from the TCU student body to allow the team to continue the season with a roster.

They added four students who were quickly known as the "UnderFrogs" that helped the Frogs continue the season.

The only "UnderFrog" to return this season was Hamlin, now playing a role in TCU's rise to a current 18-1 record and AP top 10 ranking.

This moment came full circle when No. 10 TCU hosted UCF Tuesday night.

Hamlin made her debut last season against the Knights last season where she said she was shaking with nerves from all the cameras following her.

On Tuesday, the 5-foot-9 guard played the final three minutes in a win over UCF, shooting two three-pointers in the process.

Postgame, an emotional TCU head coach Mark Campbell shared with the team that Hamlin was awarded a full scholarship.

"I appreciate you, Ella, more than you know," Campbell said. "That game a year ago was the foundation of our program. ... Thank you for stepping up to the plate and coming back and being a huge part of this team."

What followed was an uproar in excitement, showing how much this team appreciated Hamlin and her contributions to the team.

It was truly an unbelievable moment to put into perspective the rise of TCU women's basketball.

Want to join the discussion? Click here to become a member of the Killer Frogs message board community today!

Follow KillerFrogs on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest TCU news! Follow KillerFrogs on Facebook and Instagram as well.

Published
Nicholas Girimonte
NICK GIRIMONTE

Nick Girimonte, a senior at Texas Christian University majoring in Communication Studies with a minor in Journalism, is passionate about media, storytelling, and sports. Originally from Windsor, CA, Nick moved to Fort Worth, TX in 2021 to pursue his career goals. He has gained diverse hands-on experience as an on-air talent for Frogs Today, covering TCU sports, and as a writer and podcast host for TCU Horned Frogs on SI. Nick specializes in covering both men’s and women’s basketball. His podcast, “Frog Fever,” covers TCU and Big 12 Men’s Basketball. Additionally, he works with the TCU Football video crew, contributing to game footage and analysis. Nick has also held roles with the Texas Rangers, Barstool Sports, and Austin Industries, where he worked on social media content, event planning, and brand visibility. Nick is excited to contribute to TCU Horned Frogs On SI and looks forward to his next sports communication journey after graduation in May 2025.

Share on XFollow girimontenicky
Home/Basketball