#13 Jordan Hawkins
Height: 6’5
Weight: 195
School: UConn
Position: SG
Class: Sophomore
WHO
Jordan Hawkins was a key part of UConn’s drive to the national championship, and his solid three-point shooting and impressive defensive skills helped him rise from a slept-on four-star recruit to one of the draft’s most in-demand players.
He started his ascent to the top of college basketball at DeMatha Catholic, where he earned the Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year Award as a senior. He fielded offers from Marquette, Seton Hall, Xavier, and more before choosing UConn. The UConn Blog described the small forward as a “lengthy and athletic scorer who has no problem shooting the deep ball”
And shoot he did. He didn’t see a lot of minutes his freshman year, as he averaged just 14.7 minutes per game, 5.8 points, 2 rebounds, and 0.5 assists. Despite being named to the Big East’s All-Freshman Team, he suffered a concussion at the end of the season and missed the majority of the postseason.
Hawkins, much like many lottery prospects on this list, boomed his sophomore year. The loss of a lot of wings left Hawkins a starter on the team, and he made the most of it. Hawkins exploded for big performances that left fans spinning; his 31-point explosion against St. John’s, his unstoppable shooting when he helped embarrass Long Island, and the surprisingly dominant 20-point game against Gonzaga; all of it has shown a NBA-ready sniper ready to help transform offenses with his three-point range and scoring ability.
Hawkins averaged 16.2 points per game, along with 3.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.7 steals, and an impressive 39% three-point shooting rate. His marked improvement showed a lot of qualities that have left franchises foaming at the mouth.
We’ve already talked about Hawkins’ shooting touch; he was second in his conference in both FT% and 3P%; but Hawkins is also a spirited defender who knows how to read the game and is a decent defender on the ball.
Hawkins isn’t the greatest athlete, so his defense only goes so far, and his ball-handling seems capped by a lack of burst and mechanical energy. He also has shown flaws when it comes to really running an offense, but it shouldn’t discourage GMs looking for a floor-spacer who can stretch defenses with his slashing ability and three-point shooting.
WHY
Teams like Jordan Hawkins because he’s an explosive wing with an obvious trait for shooting, but also for his defensive attributes and playmaking. His game fits well in the modern NBA landscape built off of three-point shooting and mobile wings who can impact all levels of the game.
The Wizards, Hawks, and Jazz are reportedly interested in him as a late lottery pick around the 10-15 range, which is understandable. He’s a sleeper pick with a lot of upsides, but he has a lot of holes in his game that could present a risk to franchises.
PRO SCOUT QUOTES
A 6-foot-5 guard, Hawkins had the chance to be a breakout sophomore this season and took full advantage of the opportunity, leading his team to a dominant NCAA Tournament run and ultimately a championship. In an increased role, he tripled his scoring output, nearly doubled his assist production and became one of the most notable 3-point shooters in the country. This was especially true in the biggest moments, as he proved to be more than just a catch-and-shoot guy, showcasing the ability to hit advanced perimeter shots on the move.
Draft Digest Staff, SI.com
Hawkins made it clear this season that he is one of the most prolific shooters in the 2023 NBA Draft class.
The 6-5 wing more than doubled his 3-point attempts (7.7 per game) from his freshman season (3.0), and yet his efficiency went up from 33.3 percent to 38.5 percent. He basically tripled his scoring average this year, thriving in a bigger role for the Huskies while proving he can knock down all the different types of shots that are expected out of an NBA-caliber marksman.
Kyle Irving, SportingNews.com
Jordan Hawkins is an elite shooting prospect with upside as a defender, tertiary playmaker as needed, and finisher at the rim to become a complete shooting guard.
Richard Stayman, MavsDraft.com
He is also a good defender and even better than his 0.7 steals last season suggests. The former Connecticut guard is agile and reacts quickly. He moves his feet well and often stays in front of his defender on the perimeter. With his 6-foot-5 frame, Hawkins also has solid enough size to hold his own against NBA shooting guards at the next level.
Reese Kunz, LastWordOnSports
The place to start with the Jordan Hawkins discussion is his shooting touch—especially from beyond the arc. He is putting up 7.4 three-point attempts per game this season, and he’s knocking them down at a Big East-leading 39.0% clip. Hawkins has a smooth shooting stroke with a quick release, and he is adept at getting his shot off in a variety of ways, even when heavily contested. He is excellent as a shooter on spot-ups and shooting off screens, he can create his own looks from deep off the dribble, and he is also lethal as a trail shooter in transition. His shooting versatility is incredibly impressive, and it is the main driving force behind his offensive game:
Nick Agar-Johnson, NoCeilingsNBA
