TCU’s Ella Hamlin Earns Full Scholarship After Saving Women’s Basketball Team

FORT WORTH, Texas — Ella Hamlin, one of TCU‘s “Underfrogs” who joined the women’s basketball team in January 2024 to save its season, was awarded a full scholarship Tuesday night. The emotional announcement came nearly a year after Hamlin and three other students answered an open tryout call following a series of injuries that left the team short-handed.

First-year coach Mark Campbell made the surprise announcement in the locker room after TCU’s 90-81 victory over UCF. The Horned Frogs, now ranked No. 10 nationally with an 18-1 record, have come a long way since last season’s struggles. Hamlin, a sophomore guard from Granbury, Texas, was the only member of the original “Underfrogs” quartet to return this season.

“Ella, we’re just super grateful for you,” Campbell said in a video posted to Instagram. “When there’s adversity, most people run away from it. The ‘Underfrogs,’ adversity hit, and you guys decided to step up.”

Hamlin, who bypassed small-school scholarship offers to study nursing at TCU, upended her life and class schedule to join the team. TCU estimates the annual cost of attendance at $82,310. This season, she is averaging 2.2 points per game but is beloved among her teammates for her work ethic and positive energy.

“There’s no one else more deserving of this than Ella,” TCU star Hailey Van Lith wrote on Instagram, calling Hamlin “The Real GOAT.” Van Lith, a five-star recruit who transferred to TCU after stints at Louisville and LSU, has been instrumental in the team’s success this season, averaging 18.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 6.2 assists.

The Horned Frogs’ resurgence has been a team effort, with standout performances from players like Sedona Prince, who scored 27 points in the victory over UCF. The team’s unity and resilience, embodied by Hamlin’s journey, have become a defining narrative of their season.

“That game a year ago was the foundation of our program,” Campbell said, reflecting on Hamlin’s first game with the team. “Thank you for stepping up to the plate and coming back and being a huge part of this team.”