Jordan Hawkins Apr 3, 2023; Houston, TX, USA; Connecticut Huskies guard Jordan Hawkins (24) celebrates with cutting the net after defeating the San Diego State Aztecs in the national championship game of the 2023 NCAA Tournament at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

After starring in the 2023 NCAA Tournament and helping UConn bring home its fifth national championship in program history, Jordan Hawkins made a major announcement.

Appearing on ESPN’s NBA Today, Hawkins, a 6-foot-5, 195-pound guard from Gaithersburg, Maryland, informed the network’s Malika Andrews that he would be declaring for the 2023 NBA Draft. He spent the 2022-23 season with the Huskies where he shot nearly 41 percent from the floor and 38.8 from beyond the arc.

Hawkins appeared in 37 games this past season with the Huskies. He averaged 16.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game in those contests. Hawkins shot 88.7 percent from the free throw line, as well.

He scored 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting while adding four rebounds, a steal and a block to help the Huskies capture their fifth national title in program history. In what was his final act as a member of the UConn basketball team, Hawkins helped close out one of the most dominant runs in NCAA Tournament history with a 76-59 takedown of San Diego State on Monday.

After news of Hawkins’ decision broke on Twitter, NBA Draft analyst Jonathan Givony offered a scouting report on the likely lottery pick.

“Jordan Hawkins has an NBA-ready skill with elite range, footwork and body control running off screens, pulling up off the dribble or rising up behind dribble-handoffs with a lightning quick release. He made strides with his defense, passing and shot-creation prowess this season.”

[ESPN, Jonathan Givony on Twitter]

About Sam Neumann

Since the beginning of 2023, Sam has been a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. A 2021 graduate of Temple University, Sam is a Charlotte native, who currently calls Greenville, South Carolina his home. He also has a love/hate relationship with the New York Mets and Jets.