After spending two years at Dillard University, communications junior and forward Cameron Hill is here to help Loyola to repeat as West Division champions.

Hill transferred to Loyola this summer from Dillard after head coach Dale Brown was fired following the 2010-11 season. Hill says that he has enjoyed his time at Loyola, feeling welcomed by the university.

“There’s a family atmosphere here,” Hill said. “Everybody makes you feel wanted.”

Hill, a 6’5 Chicago native, played three years of prep school basketball at powerhouse Simeon Career Academy. Hill says that while Louisiana is football-centric, in Chicago, basketball is everything. He notes the talent level he played with while growing up.

“There were like eight D-1 players on my AAU Team, and maybe seven on my high school team,” Hill said.

Head Coach Michael Giorlando says that though Hill is a transfer student, he is eligible to play this year. Giorlando describes Hill as a hard worker, though he still has to get used to his new team.

“It’s been a transition for him. He has to learn the terminology,” Giorlando said.

Hill says that he has been learning the Loyola system. The biggest difference from Dillard is in how he is asked to defend screens.

“It’s a different system. I have to make different reads,” Hill said. “I’ve just been paying attention to what Coach tells me.”

Business junior and team captain Robert Lovaglio describes Hill as a “banger” that uses his body well. Hill sees his own role as a finisher who will rebound, play defense and play hard. He also feels that, as a junior, he must be a leader on the team.

“I’m one of the older players, and I’ve been playing, so the younger guys will look to me,” Hill said.

Hill sounds confident in the budding relationships with his teammates. He says that the team is very close-knit this year.

“This is a great group of guys. We got a brotherhood. Everybody hangs out together all the time, and we push each other in practice,” Hill said.

Karl Gommel can be reached at [email protected] 

Correction: November 9, 2012

The story originally said that Cameron Hill graduated from Simeon Career Academy. He transferred to Chicago Lane and graduated from there.