When the LSU basketball team was asked about freshman wing Shane Hammink, another player’s name continually came to mind.

“[San Antonio Spurs guard Manu] Ginobili,” said sophomore point guard Anthony Hickey. “Exactly that. He likes the Euro step.”

Hammink, LSU’s first international player since the Bahamas’ Magnum Rolle in 2006-07, is still getting used to the transition from international basketball to the collegiate level. The biggest obstacle the Netherlands native has had to overcome is executing the patented Euro step made famous by Ginobili without traveling.

“Shane sometimes tends to take too many steps,” said LSU sophomore forward Johnny O’Bryant III. “We called so many travels on him that he’s sick now.”

While the number of steps taken by Hammink on the court is still an ongoing debate between him and his teammates, his athleticism jumped out to the Tigers from the first day they saw him.

“I can remember the first day he played — the first time he got the basketball — swept baseline and dunked it,” said junior guard Andre Stringer. “I was like, ‘Who is this?’ I see a lot of Ginobili in him.”

With a 6-foot-7 frame and a long wingspan, Hammink will get a chance to fill the void on the wing left by Ralston Turner, who                      transferred to North Carolina State after former LSU coach Trent Johnson left for TCU in April. 

Even though there is an opening at small forward, he believes his skill set is more suited for the backcourt.

“I prefer [shooting guard],” he said. “I feel comfortable playing [small forward], not really the [power forward], but if I have to, I’ll play it and do it with pride.”

Hammink didn’t have to worry about sticking to one specific position playing for the Canarias Basketball Academy because he was usually the best player on the court. He was named Tournament MVP at the 2012 U23 Tournament in Tourcoing, France.

Teammates have also noticed Hammink’s versatility, an asset that the Tigers hope to utilize over his career at LSU.

“I think he can play any position he wants once he learns what he has to do for it and works at it,” Stringer said. 

Hammink also had to adjust to the physical nature of American basketball, as he found out how rugged the style of play is during summer pickup games with teammates.

“The physicality I’ve noticed in practice is higher than Europe,” he said. “I just need to get stronger during the season, and I think I’ll be all right.”

It isn’t mere coincidence that Hammink, one of the top European players in the 2012 recruiting class, decided to take his talents to Baton Rouge. His father, Geert, donned purple and gold for legendary LSU coach Dale Brown from 1989 to 1993. 

Choosing LSU instead of Florida, Miami and Iowa wasn’t a difficult decision for Hammink.

“It’s been my dream to come here since I started playing basketball,” he said. “It’s always been my No. 1 choice.”

Once he takes the court for the Tigers’ exhibition against Arkansas-Monticello on Nov. 5, Geert and Shane will become the fifth father-son combination to suit up for LSU.

The elder Hammink, who played sparingly his first three seasons, was a First Team All-SEC center his senior year, averaging 15.3 points and 10.2 rebounds. Geert’s time on the sideline talking to then-assistant coach Johnny Jones played a big role in luring his son to LSU. 

Shane’s father had nothing but good things to say about his time spent with coach Jones.

“My dad’s first three years, he didn’t play that much because of [Shaquille O’Neal],” Hammink said. “So he spent a long time sitting on the bench talking to Coach Jones and said he was a great guy, always talking to [my dad], trying to keep his head up.”

Shane, who was born in Baton Rouge, returned to his birth place this summer for the first time since he was 10 years old. So far, he’s been enjoying his time adjusting to life in south Louisiana.

“The people are great, the food is great,” he said. “It’s an                       amazing experience.”

With a number of new faces, Shane has an immediate opportunity to use his athleticism and versatility to log significant minutes. But Jones wants to remind everyone he’s still a freshman.

“I think [Shane] has the potential to not only be a player, but an impact player here,” Jones said. “His biggest deal is just catching up with the speed of the game. [He’s] not different from any freshmen we have on this team.”