Jordan Hawkins

Hawkins is an American guard who entered the NBA as a lottery pick in 2023 after a decorated sophomore season at UConn that culminated in a national championship and West Regional Most Outstanding Player honors. He has played for the New Orleans Pelicans, where he has contributed as a scoring threat off the bench with deep shooting range.

Born Jordan Dorrell Hawkins on April 29, 2002, in Gaithersburg, Maryland, he attended Gaithersburg High School before transferring to DeMatha Catholic High School after his sophomore year. As a senior, he averaged 19.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.3 steals, and 1.9 blocks and was named Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year. He was rated a four-star recruit and committed to UConn over Louisville, Marquette, Xavier, and Seton Hall.

At UConn, Hawkins played 27 games as a freshman, averaging 5.8 points and two rebounds, and was named to the Big East All-Freshman Team. He suffered a concussion near the end of the season and missed the postseason. As a sophomore, he entered the season as the starting shooting guard and suffered a second concussion in the opener. He returned to average 16.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists and was named first-team All-Big East.

In the 2023 NCAA tournament, Hawkins averaged 22.0 points in the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight and was named the West Regional Most Outstanding Player. He scored 16 points in the national championship game against San Diego State as UConn won 76-59. He declared for the 2023 NBA draft shortly after.

The New Orleans Pelicans selected Hawkins with the 14th overall pick. On January 13, 2024, he scored a career-high 34 points and grabbed five rebounds in a win over Dallas. His cousin, Angel Reese, won a national championship with LSU two days after Hawkins' title, and the two were born one week apart.

Hawkins is a score-first guard with elite three-point range, a quick release, and a willingness to shoot off the dribble. He operates in transition, relocates off screens, and has shown the ability to get hot and score in bunches. His defensive positioning and rebounding are developmental areas, but his shooting and scoring instincts make him a valuable floor-spacing option.

Hawkins enters each season as a young guard with the New Orleans Pelicans, carrying the pedigree of a national championship, a Most Outstanding Player award, and a lottery selection. His trajectory from a Maryland high school to a UConn champion and a first-round draft pick reflects shooting excellence and a commitment to expanding his offensive arsenal at every level.