Hawks’ Hamlin seeks medical hardship year

It's a long shot, but Iowa women's basketball player JoAnn Hamlin intends to pursue a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA.

“I do want to play again,” Hamlin said Tuesday. “We're going through the process of paperwork right now.”

Associate director of athletics Fred Mims “says he's not very optimistic” about Hamlin's prospects to play in 2010-11, Coach Lisa Bluder said, but “even if there's a 1- or 2-percent chance, I feel we owe it to her to try.”

Hamlin has been sidelined all season with a blood clot in her leg. It's her second year of inactivity.

She spent her freshman year at Kansas State, then sat out the 2006-07 year per NCAA transfer rules. That year off doesn't qualify as hardship. Hamlin said the transfer was necessary to continue her basketball career, but would not specify why.

Whether or not she's granted another year, Hamlin plans to pursue a master's degree at Iowa next year.