Jordan Hawkins is a sophomore sharpshooting guard that was an integral part of Connecticut winning the National Championship as a four seed. Hawkins’ 3-and-D skill set should translate well to the NBA, making him an intriguing pick in the upcoming 2023 NBA Draft.
Jordan Hawkins 2023 NBA Draft Profile
College Career
This past year, Connecticut had a rollercoaster season, capped off by their title. They finished fourth in the Big East with a 31-8 record. They were the tenth-ranked team nationally but won every March Madness matchup by at least ten points.
Connecticut blew out fifth-seeded San Diego State in the National Championship game, 76-59. In the title game, Hawkins finished with 16 points, four rebounds, one block, and one steal on an efficient 5-9 shooting from the field, 2-4 from three, and 4-4 from the charity stripe. That game represented what Hawkins has been doing all season to contribute to this National Championship team, elite shooting, and solid defense.
In his sophomore season, Hawkins averaged 16.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 0.7 steals per game on 41/39/89 shooting splits.
Hawkins significantly jumped from his rookie to sophomore year, increasing his minutes from 14.7 to 29.4 per game. Hawkins averaged only 5.8 points and two rebounds per game in his rookie season but still made the Big East All-Freshman team.
In addition to being an NCAA Champion, Hawkins made First-team All-Big East this season—quite the year for the sharpshooter.
Strengths
Hawkins’ primary strength is shooting. He shot 39 percent from three and 89 percent from the charity stripe with Connecticut last season. Shooting is a coveted skill in the NBA that teams can never get enough of to space the floor for their star players. It’s also a skill that translates well over to the NBA from the collegiate level.
He is also a good defender and even better than his 0.7 steals last season suggests. The former Connecticut guard is agile and reacts quickly. He moves his feet well and often stays in front of his defender on the perimeter. With his 6-foot-5 frame, Hawkins also has solid enough size to hold his own against NBA shooting guards at the next level.
Because of his 3-and-D skill set, teams will be intrigued by Hawkins as a relatively “safe pick” and an ideal complementary piece. He has a high floor because his strengths of shooting and defense are highly coveted skills in the NBA. He could seamlessly be implemented in just about any NBA system. Hawkins is excellent at coming off screens and shooting, as Klay Thompson does with the Golden State Warriors.
One area of his game that Hawkins has improved is his ability to score for himself. In his sophomore season, Hawkins became less reliant on teammates to create opportunities for himself. He showcased his potential to become an effective scorer at the next level.
With his shooting, defense, and intangibles, it’s easy to see how Hawkins impacts winning, as evidenced by his National Championship with Connecticut.
Weaknesses
Playmaking is a significant area of improvement for Hawkins. His ceiling may be capped if he can’t become a better playmaker and distributor at the next level. In his sophomore season, Hawkins had nearly a one-to-one assist-to-turnover ratio. He averaged 1.3 assists and 1.4 turnovers.
In general, he’s a good decision-maker, but Hawkins needs to become better at creating opportunities and open looks for his teammates. If Hawkins can’t become a playmaker, he’ll be limited in his potential and likely be a 3-and-D role player. Teams with a lottery pick might view Hawkins as having less upside than the other prospects because he’s 21 years old and already has had an extra year of developing at the collegiate level. In his sophomore campaign, you would have liked Hawkins to showcase his offensive versatility more.
While Hawkins is a sharpshooter from deep and from the free throw line, 41 percent shooting from the field isn’t efficient enough. He’ll have to do a better job of creating space and open looks for himself at the next level. It’s also fair to wonder if Hawkins can consistently get to the rim (and subsequently fouled) in the NBA. If he can’t become a better shot-creator and playmaker, Hawkins may be limited to having the ceiling of a role player.
NBA Player Comparison
Alec Burks. Burks was the 12th overall pick in the 2011 draft, right around where Hawkins is also expected to be selected. Both are sharpshooters with solid size for their position; Hawkins is 6-foot-5, while Burks is 6-foot-6.
This season, Burks averaged 12.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 0.7 steals on 44/41/81 shooting splits. Hawkins is a better free throw shooter, but the two players share remarkably similar traits.
Burks is also a better playmaker, as he sometimes plays point guard for the Pistons. But Burks entered the league averaging less than an assist per game his rookie season. Like Burks, Hawkins must continue developing his playmaking ability to prove that he’s more than just a 3-and-D role player at the next level. Hawkins has done a great job of improving his shot creation off the dribble. So, his playmaking will surely follow.
Burks has had an underrated career. Hawkins may not be underrated anymore after winning the National Championship with UConn. But, like Burks, he could have undervalued productivity at the next level. Both are viewed as 3-and-D players but can offer more offensively in other aspects beyond just stretching the floor.
NBA Draft Projection
Lottery/mid-first-round.
