Valley prospect Corey Hawkins hopes to get a shot in the NBA
Jun 9, 2015, 2:16 PM | Updated: 2:16 pm
PHOENIX — As the Suns tipped off another week filled with draft workouts, a local prospect had the chance to prove his worth at US Airways Center Tuesday morning.
Estrella High School alum Corey Hawkins, who lived in the Valley from 2004-2011, was a part of Phoenix’s six-player workout featuring guys battling it out for second round status.
Hawkins spent his freshman season under Herb Sendek at Arizona State in 2010-11, but that didn’t work out.
“I just felt like it wasn’t a good fit,” said Hawkins about his time with the Sun Devils. “I wanted to go somewhere I could play. I felt like I could play. I felt like I was proving it in practice and didn’t really get a chance.”
The 6-foot-3 guard played 24 games for ASU, seeing just 8.2 minutes per contest. Hawkins ended up transferring to UC Davis, where he averaged over 20 points in two of his three seasons. Having to leave home was something the hopeful draftee reflected on.
“Yes and no,” explained Hawkins on deciding to leave the state of Arizona. “You want to be around family and friends, but at the end of the day you got to do what’s best for the chance for you to play basketball. It worked out, I got a great education, I had a great career.”
Hawkins is the 100th-ranked prospect by draftexpress.com and isn’t in their latest mock draft. He understands what he needs to show if does want to eventually make it at the NBA level: an ability to play point guard.
“I would think so,” stated Hawkins on his future being at that spot. “With my height I can’t really play another position, and I feel comfortable playing point guard.”
Hawkins only averaged three assists per game during his time with the Aggies, so running an offense as a lead guard will be an adjustment for him.
Along with Hawkins, the workout included VCU’s Treveon Graham, Georgia State’s Ryan Harrow, SMU’s Yanick Moreira, Iowa’s Gabriel Olaseni and St. John’s Sir’Dominic Pointer.
