UBC Okanagan Heat Athletic Media Release

Heat welcomes Victoria product Whitney Hamilton to Women’s Basketball

Women's Basketball

KELOWNA, BC - Whitney Hamilton, a graduate from Lambrick Park Secondary in Victoria, has signed to play with the UBC Heat’s Women’s Basketball team beginning next fall.  Hamilton, a 6’ versatile wing/post player will bring size and strength to a Heat team getting ready to compete with the stiffer competition they will find in Canada West next year.

Hamilton attended the Heat’s ID Camp earlier in the spring, but Heat coach Heather Semeniuk had “first seen Whitney play at the AA Championships this past March in Kamloops” and commented that “Her skill-set, her basketball IQ and her athleticism really impressed me.”  Whitney is a classic example of a player born and raised in an athletic family. Whitney, the daughter of Clint Hamilton, current athletic director of the University of Victoria and president of the CIS, played on the Vikes' 1983-84 national champion men's basketball team and later captained the basketball team at McGill before making the transition to coaching at the University of New Brunswick. Whitney’s is very excited about joining the team as the Heat embark on their maiden voyage in Canada West, barring any unforeseen issues with the CIS vote in June. “Because my Dad has been working for the CIS since I’ve been little, one of my goals growing up was to play CIS, so I’m really excited to play.”

Whitney has a strong basketball resume, playing senior basketball since her grade nine year, she also played for the Team BC U15 Red Team and the past few summers hit the hardwood with the UVIC Vikes’ open women’s team. Coach Semeniuk likes what she sees in Hamilton’s initiative and discipline adding, “She knows what she wants…She knows what it takes, I don’t have to worry about her not knowing what to do or what it takes to compete at that level.” Coach Semeniuk also envisions the potential mismatches Hamilton should bring to the team as, “she is a left-handed player with a blend of size and strength that make her a challenging offensive weapon.”

Hamilton will be enrolling in the Bachelor of Science program at UBC’s Okanagan campus, with an aspiration to go into Sports Medicine, although “nothing is for sure yet.”  She has expressed a lot of excitement at the opportunity to come to the Okanagan.  “My family is from the Okanagan…Even if I’m moving away, it won’t be far from home…and I really like how the campus is growing.” Whitney will be a welcome addition to the Heat family as well adds Coach Semeniuk, “I am so pleased that Whitney chose to attend UBC’s Okanagan campus and play for the Heat. She is a strong student, an outstanding player and a great person and she will be a perfect fit on our team.”