During his freshman year, under the direction of head coach Tom Shields, Hamilton's team would finish the season with a loss in the IHSA super-sectional to future Fighting Illini basketball player Scott Meents and the Herscher Tigers.
[2] As a sophomore, Hamilton's team would win the super-sectional but lose in the quarterfinals to future Indiana Hoosiers guard, Marty "The Mule" Simmons and the defending state champion, Lawrenceville Indians.
[3] It would be Hamilton's junior year when the Knights would dominate Illinois high school basketball, finishing the regular season with 22 wins and only 3 losses.
In the semifinal game, Hamilton's team was pitted against Thad Matta and the Cornjerkers from Hoopeston for the chance to play for a state championship.
After the season, Hamilton was named a McDonald's All-American and played in the 1985 game with teammates Quin Snyder, Sean Elliott and Roy Marble while opposing Danny Ferry and Pervis Ellison.
[10] The Fighting Illini experienced a surge in performance sparked by the play of sophomore guards Nick Anderson and Kendall Gill along with the addition of junior forward Kenny Battle.
[11] Hamilton was an instrumental force in the 1988–89 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team's drive to the Final Four.