Hamilton College men's basketball all-American Hank Morgan '25 is playing for the Salt Lake City Stars of the G League during their 2025-26 season.
 
The G League is a North American professional basketball league that serves as the developmental league for the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Stars are affiliated with the NBA's Utah Jazz.
 
As of Dec. 21, Morgan had played in 10 of Salt Lake City's 16 games. The Stars posted a 12-2 record during Tip-Off Tournament play and won their first two games in the G League's Winter Showcase Tournament. Salt Lake City played in the tournament's championship game at Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., on Monday, Dec. 22.
 
Morgan rocketed into the national spotlight in July 2025 as a member of We Are D3, which was a team made up of former players from NCAA Division III schools that reached the semifinal round of The Basketball Tournament. We Are D3 won four games, including against teams of Syracuse University and University of Connecticut alumni, along their unexpected and thrilling trip to the semifinals.
 
Morgan was named a 2025 National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) first team all-American and D3hoops.com second team all-American. He was voted Player of the Year for NABC District 1, D3hoops.com Region 1 and the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC), and he was selected to play in the NABC College All-Star Game. Morgan was one of 10 national finalists for the 2025 Jostens Trophy, which recognizes excellence in basketball, academics, and community service.
 
Morgan was a two-time all-NESCAC first team selection and made the D3hoops.com all-region team twice, including the first team in his final season. Off the court, he was a three-time NESCAC winter all-academic team honoree, earned a spot on the 2023–24 NABC Honors Court, and was named to the 2022–23 Academic All-District Team by the College Sports Communicators.
 
Morgan finished his career ranked ninth in team history in scoring with 1,585 points and sixth with 172 three-pointers made. He helped lead the Continentals to two 20-win seasons, two NCAA tournament appearances, and the 2023 NESCAC title.
 
I recently had a chance to catch up with Morgan while he was with the team in Orlando during the Winter Showcase Tournament.
 
JT: What has the G League experience been like so far?
HM: The G League has been an exciting new challenge for me to see what it takes to establish myself as a pro. On the court the main challenge has been adjusting to the athleticism that exists across the league, which just means being smarter about choosing where and how to make plays, and understanding what it takes defensively to be able to consistently guard really skilled players. And then mentally I've just had to constantly reinforce my own confidence, making sure it's unconditional even if I didn't play well that day. It's exciting to keep getting better every day, surrounded by so much talent, and to try to establish myself in the league.
 
JT: Have you encountered anyone else in the league who has a similar collegiate playing background (small school) as yours?
HM: There are definitely a handful of players who come from small schools, but nobody currently in the league shares quite the same experience that I had in the NESCAC. There have been a few Division III players in the league in the past. But most if not all of the current players, even the ones who attended small Division I schools, had scholarships and various NIL opportunities in college. That was far from my college basketball experience, and I take a lot of pride in having played at Hamilton, in the NESCAC, and at a Division III school. It's like a chip on my shoulder because I never got the same recruitment or Division I benefits as most guys.
 
JT: I know first-hand the competitive athlete that you are, but are you ever intimidated going against these players from big-time Division I programs, or do you not think about it?
HM: The moment you allow yourself to be intimidated by some of the big names or players you've seen on TV is the moment you lose your capability of competing with them. Of course, it's cool playing against so many well-known players from Power Five schools, but the goal for me is to partake more and admire less. I get excited to go up against these players because I get to see where I stand in relation to them. I'm not afraid of failing because I have nothing to lose, given my journey from Division III. At the same time, I'm hungry and eager to keep climbing, and I know not to get too satisfied or complacent. Otherwise, I won't be able to achieve the professional goals that I know I'm capable of achieving.
 
JT: Did playing for We Are D3 in TBT open doors in professional basketball for you? Do you think playing in that event prepared you for the G League?
HM: Playing for WeAreD3 mainly served as my first pro experience, allowing me to get comfortable with playing against grown professionals in larger arenas and on a bigger stage. It helped me make connections and build relationships with other pros and become familiar with the professional process. There are a lot of G League players who play in TBT, so it was a great experience that helped prepare me to compete in that way.
 
JT: How did Hamilton basketball and the NESCAC get you ready for this opportunity?
HM: NESCAC basketball is very high-level basketball. While not every player is a generational athlete, the level of coaching, the will to compete, and the intensity of the games is up there with any level. Many players are very skilled and the basketball knowledge you learn is just as high-level. Coach (Adam) Stockwell at Hamilton is one of those coaches who doesn't miss any detail. When every player on the court has that talent, like in the G League, it's those little details that make the difference. Maybe it's a habit, or a positional technique, or a rotation, or just an understanding of a concept that separates you. Coach Stockwell taught me the game in a way that definitely prepared me for the G League, although I didn't realize it at the time. In the G League my role has obviously changed a lot compared to what it was at Hamilton. This year, since I'm not the primary scorer, it's easier to implement all those little details I learned at Hamilton and maximize my ability to do those little things. It's part of the reason why I earned this spot, and it's really how I earn minutes at this level. Everyone can score, but not everyone does the little things.