It seems only fitting a guy with the nickname ‘J-Hawk’ play basketball at Kansas University.
“That’s what everybody calls me,” grins KU red-shirt freshman guard Jeff Hawkins, who was able to practice last year, but did not play in any games fresh out of Kansas City’s Sumner Academy.
“It’s weird because my mom’s initials are the same as Allen Fieldhouse,” he added of Addie Faye Hawkins.
Hawkins, who grew up following Jayhawk sports, loved KU so much he attended as a walk-on a year ago, declining full-ride scholarships from some other programs.
“It’s kind of funny. UCLA had stopped recruiting me for a while, then I committed to Kansas and they were trying to get me to come there for a visit,” said Hawkins who received academic aid last year.
“It was mainly Indiana State, Long Beach State, St. Louis and Wyoming. I thought Kansas was the best school for me. Even though I had to sit out that first year, I still felt Kansas was the best place to go.”
Though he admitted struggling some his first year on campus, Hawkins said he learned a lot.
“I would sit back and watch Kirk at practice,” Hawkins said of Kirk Hinrich. “I’d be playing defense and would be watching him instead of holding my man. He works too hard. He has a work ethic.
“It did rub off on me. I lifted every day last summer and ran every day. I did things I normally wouldn’t do in the offseason.”
He said not being able to dress for games was difficult to get used to, but bearable.
“I think last year I could have played some, but I feel with my limited knowledge last year I wouldn’t have played much,” Hawkins said. “My knowledge of the game has improved so much, I think I can step in this year and contribute off the bench.
“It was tough, but not that terrible,” he said of red-shirting. “I got to go to the Final Four and still had good seats. It wasn’t that bad. I got through it. I feel if I can get through that I can get through anything.”
Hawkins he averaged 19.6 points and 4.5 assists for 19-7 KC Sumner his senior year was in the coach’s doghouse some his freshman campaign.
“When a guy red-shirts he sometimes is not into it as much as he needs to be mentally. Whether they want to admit it or not they almost take the year off, and I think Jeff did that,” Roy Williams said. “I really have been pleased what he’s done since the end of the season. We had a couple of pretty good heart-to-hearts, so I’m hopeful he’ll be able to do some things to help us.”
Hawkins said he missed class twice and was late for tutoring and paid with penalty runs at 7 a.m.
“I think I’m growing up. I’m a little more mature now,” Hawkins said. “I did well in summer school, got a B. Last year they had independent study for me every time I got in trouble. This year I don’t have any tutoring, so I must be doing something right,” he said.
He’s improved in the classroom. What about on the court?
“He’s a good ballhandler,” Williams said. “He sees his teammates well. The problem is sometimes he doesn’t see defenses as well as you’d like. In practice last year he’d turn it over in a heartbeat. He has good feet, can slide his feet. He works hard. He understands a lot more now how hard you have to work every day.”
Hawkins believes he brings a lot to the table.
“The intensity I bring on defense,” he said of his top quality. “I will try to be a defensive stopper. When I come in the game I will try to bring it to a different level as far as intensity-wise.
“I feel I can play defense and push the ball in his style of play. I can fit his style of play and do what he wants to do.”
He’s worked an awful lot on his jump shot.
“I am planning on trying to pick up where Boschee left off,” Hawkins said. “We still have that three-point game in our system.
“Overall I’d say (his game) is penetrating, dishing off, finding the open man and hitting the open shot and bringing defensive intensity to the court.”
He relishes a bench role.
“I always see coming off the bench as a positive,” said Hawkins, who watched with interest as Wayne Simien and Keith Langford excelled off the bench last season. “You get to sit out at the start. When you are coming off the bench you get to see what’s going on the court. You know a little bit more. You guard your man more to the left or guard ’em a little tighter. You know what to do better just by watching the game. I feel coming off the bench is good.”
