With a little under 12 minutes remaining in the University of Mary Washington men’s basketball team’s Sweet 16 contest against Wisconsin-La Crosse, junior Hasan Hammad made his way to the bench.
The timing of the substitution was no coincidence.
“I quite literally subbed out, and I was hidden around the corner chugging a 32-ounce water bottle, a Powerade, and I took two protein bars and a fruit snack,” Hammad recalled.
As they prepare to face the University of Chicago in the NCAA Division III Elite Eight on Thursday night in Fort Wayne, Ind., the Eagles (27-3) are hungry for the program’s first Final Four appearance and a shot at a national championship.
And Hammad? He’s arguably the hungriest.
No sooner had he departed the floor Saturday night than the 6-foot-3 guard from Haymarket hastily broke his fast, fueling his body for the first time since the pre-dawn hours. The past month has proven an exercise in discipline for Hammad, who has contributed to the Eagles’ postseason run while observing the Islamic high holy month of Ramadan.
For Hammad and nearly two billion Muslims worldwide, Ramadan serves as a sacred time of reflection and prayer, during which they abstain from food and drink — including water — from dawn to sunset. This year, Ramadan began Feb. 17 and will culminate with the festival of Eid al-Fitr on either Thursday night or Friday.
“I think it’s very impressive,” UMW head coach Marcus Kahn said of his player’s feat. “I know that as coaches, the coaching staff, we’ve said a number of times how impressive it is that he can, one, do it, two, be so committed to it and hasn’t wavered.”
UMW junior Hasan Hammad (4) celebrates during a Sweet 16 game against the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse on March 14.
For the past month, it’s fallen on Kahn and his coaching staff to spot when Hassan might be faltering toward the tail end of the Eagles’ rigorous 80-to 90 minute practices, which usually take place from 4-6 p.m. — about 10 hours into his fast.
“You can see him kind of wearing down towards the end, but he doesn’t ask to come out,” Kahn said. “He doesn’t ask for a break. He doesn’t ask for a shortcut. He sticks it out, and he’s very regimented. He knows when he has to wake up, get his nutrients.”
Hammad’s teammates are looking out for him, too.
“Just being able to check in… like, ‘Hey, you sure you’re good on this rep?’” junior Jadon Burgess said. “’Let me get you one. Let me get you a quick one so you just catch your breath and get back into it.’
“And I think just little things like that go a long way. And then in return, and he does it tenfold.”
Beyond offering breathers, Hammad said that his teammates have shown a genuine interest in the Ramadan experience, “and honestly, I believe if it wasn’t for the NCAA tournament, there’d be a few guys that would be fasting with me.”
Hammad arrived at UMW this past fall after playing two seasons at fellow Coast 2 Coast Conference member Christopher Newport University, helping to solidify an already-experienced junior class.
“Just a good guy. He has all his ducks in a row,” Kahn said. “You never have to worry about him off the court or what he’s doing.”
On the court, Hammad is averaging 4.7 points per game and has connected on 33 3-pointers. He’s appeared in all 30 games this season, making eight starts.
“He’s carved out his role as someone who can come into the game and have an impact by making big shots and helping with making the right plays and being a presence on the floor,” Burgess said.
When practice ends, Hammad has just enough time to make the 50-mile drive from Fredericksburg to Haymarket, where he celebrates “iftar,” or the breaking of the fast, with his parents and four siblings. He makes the trek 3-4 times per week during Ramadan, driving back to UMW in time for morning classes.
Like many Muslims, Hammad usually breaks his fast with dates. Unless, of course, he’s in uniform (and therefore in dire need of electrolytes).
After doing so in the Sweet 16, Hammad subbed back in five minutes later, and he was on the floor as the Eagles celebrated on their home court following a 73-68 victory.
Hammad’s family has accompanied him to Fort Wayne, where they hope to celebrate not only Eid — but also a Final Four ticket for UMW.
“Ramadan’s a marathon, it’s not a sprint,” he said.
Just like the NCAA tournament.
