One of the more impressive players on the spring AAU circuit that has cemented his name among the top players in the Class of 2012 has been JaVontae Hawkins. The 6-foot-5, 202-lb shooting guard has turned in some very impressive performances with the Michigan Mustangs, officially breaking out in a big way back in April at the King James Shooting Stars event in Akron.
“This spring I just showed everyone that I can play against top talent and broke [out of] my shell by making athletic plays on both ends of the court and playing the shooting guard position at my best,” Hawkins told NBE earlier this week.
College coaches on the road in July will get a chance to see Hawkins at events such as the ScoutsFocus International Elite 80 Showcase July 10th and 11th in Greensboro (NC) and during AAU basketball’s Vegas week to close the live evaluation period. In the meantime Hawkins will continue to hone his skills for his moment to shine.
“I’m constantly working on my ball handling and just being a stronger and faster and smarter player everyday,” said Hawkins, adding that he goes up against former NBA players and pros from overseas to help his game. “I want to improve everything. I have the ability to do [what is needed] on and off the court to be an elite player.”
Hawkins is not a player to back down from a challenge. Despite leading his Flint (MI) Powers HS team to an impressive season in 2010-2011, Hawkins will take his game to Huntington (WV) Prep to play for coach Rob Fulford. At Huntington he will face elite competition everyday in practice and player a national schedule that will offer more exposure and the opportunity to play against the best players across the country.
“I chose to transfer to Huntington Prep because I know it will help me become an all-around player and I love to be put up against the best and be the best player on the floor and guarding the best player of the opposing team,” said Hawkins.
While the basketball reasons for moving to Huntington are pretty obvious, the move away from Flint was done for reasons more than just basketball. Two of his brothers were killed in shootings on the crime-ridden streets of Flint.
In August 2007, 14-year-old Dairea Bradley-Hawkins was gunned down just after a party in Flint by a stray bullet, and Quantrell Jamerson, 26, was shot while being robbed in August 2010.
Those deaths are a constant reminder for Hawkins to do what he can to succeed in life and he will use basketball to help him do so.
“I just want to survive at the next level, and growing up in Flint, the crime in my childhood community, and as I got older [it] became an attention getter and losing two older brothers in the past three years has been distracting to me, but I use it as a motivation and grind on and off the court.”
Colleges have certainly taken notice of Hawkins’ talents on the court and he will have no shortage of options when time comes to make a decision. At the moment, he plans to use the summer and the season at Huntington to gain more opportunities with schools with the added exposure. Even though he is planning for a late decision, the options nearly seem limitless now as he gave NBE a list of schools that currently include Colorado, Arizona State, Central Michigan, Dayton, DePaul, Detroit, Iowa, Iowa State, Miami (FL), Michigan, Minnesota, Oakland, Ohio State, South Florida, USC, West Virginia, Western Michigan, Cincinnati, Xavier, Boston College, Marquette, Wisconsin, Providence and Nebraska as schools actively recruiting him that he is considering.
“There are no favorites or leaders,” said Hawkins. “I’m very open in my recruitment.”
In the coming weeks Hawkins will discuss possible visits with his father, but none are currently planned. While a decision seems a long way off, either during his senior season or after it, there is some specific criteria he will be looking for in his future college home.
“All I want is a team that likes to win, play hard all the time and a great coach-to-player relationship on and off the court,” said Hawkins of factors in his future decision, adding “and of course a great educational based school.”
Expect Javontae Hawkins to be closely watched this summer by college coaches. When playing for scholarships in the summer AAU period some players may feel the pressure, we expect Hawkins to thrive in the atmosphere. It is the challenge he welcomes and with the memory of his two late brothers to push him forward, you can count on big things from Javontae Hawkins in the future!!!
http://www.nbebasketball.com/w3/2011-0615/javontae-hawkins-on-the-rise-and-on-the-move/
