NC State, Justin Gainey pick up the team’s first transfer portal commitment
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- Christian Hammond committed to NC State, becoming Justin Gainey's first portal pickup.
- Hammond averaged 15.7 points and three rebounds per game this season for Santa Clara.
- Hammond earned All‑West Coast First Team and NABC All‑District honors.
First-year N.C. State men’s basketball coach Justin Gainey has picked up his first portal commitment.
Santa Clara guard Christian Hammond committed to play for the Wolfpack on Monday, he told On3 Sports. The transfer confirmed the move by sharing a graphic on his Instagram story.
Hammond visited N.C. State this weekend, even attending one of the baseball games alongside Gainey and the new coaching staff. He is the first portal pickup for the new regime.
The redshirt sophomore comes to Raleigh after spending three seasons with the Broncos and former N.C. State head coach Herb Sendek.
Hammond averaged 15.7 points and three rebounds per game this season, nearly quadrupling his scoring output from the 2023-24 season. He redshirted in 2024-25. The guard reached double figures in 27 of his 34 appearances this year and reached the 20-point threshold in 10 games, including a career-high 27-point performance against Nevada.
Additionally, Hammond shot 48.4% from the field and 39.3% from the perimeter in his sophomore campaign.
The incoming Pack guard earned All-West Coast First Team honors and NABC All-District recognition for his efforts.
Hammond helped the team go 26-9, including 15-3 in conference play. The Broncos finished third in the league. They also earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. It was the program’s first appearance in March Madness since 1996.
The Broncos ended their season with an 89-84 overtime loss to Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament first round. Hammond scored nine points, while adding five rebounds, four assists and a pair of steals.
Hammond hails from Denver, Colorado. He played at Cherry Creek High School for his first two years. He then transferred to Colorado Prep as a junior and Dream City Christian in Glendale, Arizona, for his senior season.
He is a former Adidas All-American Camp participant in 2023. Hammond was a three-star prospect in high school and a four-star transfer.
The Wolfpack is courting several other players, while a handful of players from last year’s team have not ruled out a return. The roster situation for the new staff remains fluid. The transfer portal closes to new entrants on April 21.
