Ella Hamlin faced a difficult decision her senior year at Granbury High School: continue
playing basketball at a smaller college or start her journey into nursing at TCU.
She chose the latter after hearing great things about the nationally recognized Harris
College of Nursing & Health Sciences. Basketball became a hobby through games at the
campus recreation center.
Meanwhile, TCU had just hired Mark Campbell to be the women’s basketball coach, and
his first season was going well. But then injuries and illness struck the team in
January 2024. It was a wave of misfortune so severe that the Frogs had to forfeit
Big 12 games and hold an open tryout just to keep the season going.
Hamlin answered the call and, along with two others, became reinforcements for the
women’s team. When the season ended, Campbell said the door remained open for the
trio to continue with the team.
Hamlin took him up on his offer, and on the first anniversary of her arrival, TCU
rewarded her with a full scholarship to keep her basketball dreams alive. The women’s
basketball team has been ranked in the top 25 for much of the season, peaking in the
top 10.
The nursing dream is still alive, too, and Hamlin is learning how to pound the books
while pounding the hardwood. She recently answered a few questions on her journey.
How did you decide on TCU over basketball?
I had some smaller opportunities to go play, but, ultimately, I knew I wanted to major
in nursing. TCU is just such a good school, so when I got accepted there, I thought
that would be the better move for my future.
What drew you to nursing?
I just love how involved they are with the patients. I wanted to be a doctor for a
while, but I think that nurses really get to form very important relationships that
really make a huge difference in people’s lives.
When the basketball team faced the injuries and illnesses last year, did the call
for tryouts give you the chance to scratch a basketball itch?
I was missing basketball, but when I saw that, unfortunately, a bunch of the girls
had gotten hurt and they were having open tryouts, I knew I was going to do it. It
just seemed like a perfect opportunity, so I had to give it a try. I felt pretty confident,
just because I’d been playing at the Rec the first semester. I didn’t just stop playing after I graduated. So, I was feeling pretty confident, but I really
had no idea what to expect.
How difficult was it to go from playing Rec games to playing Division I basketball?
The girls and the coaches made it as easy a transition as possible. They were so welcoming.
The coaches were just amazing. The girls, especially. They definitely helped us get
into a rhythm and helped us transition into collegiate athletes.
When the season was over, did you think you were done playing?
Coach Campbell met with us at the end of the season and just said, if we were interested
in playing again, we could go talk to him personally. I can’t speak for the other girls, but I knew that I wanted to see how far this opportunity
could go. So, I went to talk to him, and I ended up coming back. I’m just very thankful and blessed to have come back again.
So, flash forward to the day you received your basketball scholarship. Did you know
what was happening when Coach Campbell started talking after the game?
I honestly did not. I really didn’t. I knew the game was the first game we played
last year, so I wasn’t too surprised that he was saying some nice words. But I definitely was not expecting
it to go there. I was just thrilled. Obviously, it’s the opportunity of a lifetime
to play for these coaches and with these girls.
How are you balancing being a basketball player and being a full-time nursing student?
Honestly, it’s been pretty manageable. So far, the nursing department has been so
understanding and eager to help me balance both. I’m just very grateful for them and
also my coaches, who helped me prioritize nursing and helped work with my schedule.
As a nursing major, have any of your teammates asked you to evaluate an injury?
They haven’t, and I would not be qualified to answer that. But they’re truly the best
group of girls I’ve ever met, I've ever played with. It’s just such a blessing being around them. They were so happy for me. You could see
in the video, and I think that speaks to what good people they are, what a close team
we have and why it's a special team.
How do your fellow nursing students, your “cohorts” in the program, feel about your
basketball pursuits?
This is the first semester we have our nursing cohorts. I have the same girls in every
class, and it’s really cool to get close with them, work together in all of our different
classes and really help each other to progress through the nursing program. They’re
all so supportive. They help me out when I miss class, and they’re just amazing. I
love my nursing group.
When you have to miss classes for road trips, do you take work with you?
I take all my work, my computer and everything, and my professors let me know ahead
of time, pretty much every time, in each class what I should be doing to make it up
and stay on top of it. I’m very thankful to all of them for really making things as
seamless as possible for me.
Are there any professors who have been particularly helpful?
I would say, Dr. Lisette Saleh. She’s one of my nursing professors, and she’s just
really been so helpful. She met with me at the beginning of the semester and planned
out every single class that I was going to miss, told me how to make it up. From Day
One, that just really meant a lot to me and helped make me feel very confident in
succeeding this semester on the academic side.
Has your time in the program helped you reshape your ideas about nursing?
This semester we’re starting labs. So, we wear scrubs once a week. I’m definitely
getting into very hands-on nursing education, and I’ve definitely learned a lot. I’m
excited about it. I think it’s maybe a little harder than I was expecting, but I’m
really thrilled to start clinicals next year.
Has the Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences lived up to the reputation you
brought to campus as a freshman?
I think so for sure. It’s a great program. I’ve learned so much in these two years,
and just seeing the older girls that I’m friends with about to graduate, they just
love it so much and don’t have a bad thing to say about it. I think it’s a really
special program.