Photos: Former Georgia Tech star Tom Hammonds

Sports

Photos: Former Georgia Tech star Tom Hammonds

Photos of former Georgia Tech basketball star Tom Hammonds.

Georgia Tech retired basketball player Tom Hammonds' No. 20 in 1989, during his last home game, against North Carolina. (Photo courtesy of Georgia Tech)

Tom Hammonds played at Georgia Tech from 1985 to 1989. (Photo courtesy of Georgia Tech)

Tom Hammonds averaged 20.9 points and 8.1 rebounds a game and was named first-team All-ACC as a senior. (Photo courtesy of Georgia Tech)

Hammonds on his Tech coach Bobby Cremins: “He was just like a father. ... He would chew us out, but we always knew he cared for us and loved us.” (AJC file photo)

Hammonds puts up a shot. (AJC file photo)

Hammonds once scored 31 points in an NBA game. (AJC file photo)

Hammonds became the highest NBA draft pick for a Tech player at the time, going in the lottery in 1989, ninth to the Washington Bullets. (AJC file photo)

Hammonds makes a move with the ball. (AJC file photo)

Hammonds, now 47, lives in Niceville, Fla., and has three boys. (AJC file photo)

Tom Hammonds dunks for Georgia Tech. (AJC file photo)

Hammonds played in 687 NBA games, averaging 5.3 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. (AJC file photo)

During his days at Tech, Hammonds became interested in cars and bought himself a hot rod and raced on the weekends. His coach didn't know. (Special to the AJC)

Hammonds said he "loved the sensation of going from zero to 215 miles an hour in 6.5 seconds." (Special to the AJC)

Hammonds moved into professional drag racing and owned a NHRA team. (Special to the AJC)

During the recession, Hammonds decided to get out of racing. (Special to the AJC)

Tom Hammonds' main hobby now is Brazilian jiu-jitsu. (Special to the AJC)

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Georgia Tech retired basketball player Tom Hammonds' No. 20 in 1989, during his last home game, against North Carolina. (Photo courtesy of Georgia Tech)

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