PLEASANT GROVE — Gymnastics is the sport that captured Jen Hamson's heart as little girl.
"She loved gymnastics," said her mom Tresa Hamson.
But, at 6-foot-6, she wasn't exactly built for the sport.
"They had to move the beam because when she did her routine, she'd hit the ceiling," said her mom.
But the very trait that would end her gymnastics career in eighth grade, will allow her to do what very few athletes — male or female — have been able to do at the collegiate level.
Hamson is considering both volleyball and basketball scholarships at BYU, Utah, Louisville and Oklahoma. She just had home visits from Oklahoma and Louisville coaches and will travel to both of those schools in the next two weeks. She's already visited the campuses of BYU and Utah.
"I know it will be a lot of work," said Hamson, an all-state basketball and volleyball player and an honor student. "I honestly love both sports so much, I just want to play both."
Those who know Hamson best have never doubted her ability to manage two sports.
"She is 6-6," said her club basketball coach Adam Barrett, of Utah Swoosh. "Her standing reach is 8-8. She's athletic; she can do some things. I watched her warm up on the volleyball court, just standing on the baseline and there was no question she was a D-I basketball player."
Barrett and her mom actually believe the years of gymnastics training have helped Hamson develop in ways that some athletes with her height never do.
"She is balanced, coordinated," said Barrett. "Jen is different and every coach knows it."
Hamson began getting volleyball recruiting letters her sophomore year. But the interest in her as a basketball player really didn't heat up until this past summer.
"I knew Jen could play volleyball," said Tresa, who played at BYU. "I didn't think she'd want to play basketball at that level. Last year I realized she can play at this level if she wants to."
A shy, kind teenager, some doubted Hamson's ability to bang in the paint. But her mother cautioned her good manners don't mean she won't do what it takes to win a game.
"She is highly, highly competitive," said Tresa. "She just didn't play club basketball until last year. She started to like it more and more so we said we better see how much she likes it and got her involved in club basketball this summer. She did incredible."
Barrett said he fielded dozens of phone calls after the Utah Swoosh played in out-of-state tournaments.
"She had a huge summer," said Barrett. "Texas just called me the other day. They're an Elite 8 basketball team and they're volleyball team is ranked No. 2. That should tell you how good she is."
As Jen weighs the personalities of different coaches, school locations and each program's successes, her mom is confident that she will find a place that will allow her to continue developing in both sports.
"The schools she's considering have done it," said her mom of coaches sharing athletes. "Louisville is probably the best school for winning; they're top 16 in basketball and volleyball."
Her parents have their opinions about each school, including how easy it would be to switch from blue to red at games, but Tresa said they want Jen to make the decision on her own.
"She has to choose the school that fits her and her personality," she said. "I don't want to be a crutch for her. She is a well-grounded child. She is who she is. She's not going to stray a lot from that. She shows who she is all the time. She's just a good kid."
Still, the decision has to be hers, and right now, there is only one thing her mom knows for sure.
" I'm pretty darn sure she's not going to choose a school for basketball only," Tresa said.
Hamson would like to make her choice before basketball season begins, as it can be an overwhelming process.
"I'm enjoying it," said Jen. "Sometimes it's (over whelming), but for the most part it's OK."
And while she contemplates where she will make her collegiate career, she continues to help the top-ranked Vikings to a stand-out season.
"She's developed so much," said teammate Danika Mendivil. "She's always been good, but this year things are really clicking. She's a lot of fun to play with."
One thing everyone agrees on, Hamson is only going to get better — regardless of the sport.
"I truly don't think she understands how good she really is," Tresa said.
e-mail: adonaldson@desnews.com