Ruth Hamblin

Classroom

Ruth Hamblin has proven to be a standout in the classroom in her time at Oregon State, holding a 3.84 GPA as a mechanical engineering major. The senior was named a CoSIDA second-team Academic All-American last year, and has earned first-team Pac-12 All-Academic honors in each of the last two seasons. Hamblin was highlighted by the Chevron and Pac-12 Networks last season as part of their Human Energy Stories series, which highlights student-athletes majoring in science, technology, engineering and math. Hamblin has been credited by her professors as being a leader in the classroom and an active participant in classroom activities.

“Ruth is someone who has excelled at all levels,” said Dr. Nancy Squires, a mechanical engineering professor at Oregon State. “The same qualities that Ruth shows on the basketball court have helped her in engineering, and she will make contributions to the field of engineering that are in our national interest.”

Character

Ruth Hamblin has faced an unusual journey to reach the top level of college basketball. The senior did not take on the sport of basketball until her freshman year at Houston Christian High School, as small school in Houston, British Columbia, where she walked across the stage as part of a 10-student graduating class in 2012. She caught the attention of the Oregon State coaching staff while playing with a B.C. club team. After spending most of her early life working on her family ranch and engaging in activities like horseback riding and 4-H, Hamblin joined the Beavers for the 2012-13 season. At that point, Oregon State Head Coach Scott Rueck recalls that Hamblin was in “over her head” on the basketball floor.

Hamblin’s dedication and perseverance showed through, however, as the Canadian was able to turn the corner midway through her sophomore campaign. She credits her willpower to her rural childhood when she was often up before 5 a.m. helping with ranch chores for Hamblin Industries. “She has all of the grit and determination,” said Ruth’s father Lance Hamblin. “Once she makes up her mind, get out of her way.” Hamblin has used that type of mentality to transition from a raw, inexperienced college freshman into one of the top players in the country.

Community

Ruth Hamblin has done tremendous work to help serve the community over the course of her career, engaging in service events on her own as well as with the Oregon State squad and the Canadian National Team. Notably, Hamblin has applied her own personal expertise as a ranch hand to help teach and mentor children in the local 4-H program in the art of grooming steers. She also has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity helping to build houses and has engaged in Love Corvallis on multiple occasions to help to clean up local parks.

Along with her OSU teammates, Hamblin has helped out with numerous community service functions in Corvallis, Ore., including hosting local basketball camps and clinics, volunteering at the Corvallis Cure Breast Cancer 5K, helping out at the Corvallis Fire Department’s “Kids’ Day” and helping local forest rangers keep hiking trails clean. Hamblin is also part of Oregon State’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).

Competition

Ruth Hamblin has left no doubt that she is one of the best players in all of college basketball. The senior has earned back-to-back Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year honors, as well as All-Pac-12 recognition in the last two seasons. Hamblin is the Pac-12’s all-time leader in career blocks with 405, and sits second in Oregon State history in career rebounds. On the offensive end, Hamblin is averaging 11.9 points per game, to go along with 9.5 rebounds. The 6-foot-6 Canadian is shooting 56.3 percent from the floor this season, and earned All-Pac-12 Tournament honors last week. Hamblin was the Pac-12 Media Player of the Year last season, as well as the consensus Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. With still a year remaining in her career, the Canadian has already shattered the Oregon State career blocks record and will enter the upcoming season as the NCAA’s active career leader in blocks with 295. Her 122 rejections in 2014-15 were more than seven Pac-12 teams.

Hamblin’s defensive impact has been matched by her offensive prowess. The Canadian averaged nearly 13 points per game in 2014-15 and shot an impressive 58 percent from the floor, the best shooting percentage in the Pac-12. Hamblin’s presence on the floor has helped the Beavers reach new heights as Oregon State earned the first Pac-12 title in school history last season.