Hawkins signs with Texas State University — San Marcos
Published or Revised July 17, 2012
Washington, D.C., native Phil Hawkins is all smiles as he signs to continue his basketball career at Texas State University at San Marcos as Paris Junior College Head Basketball Coach Chuck Taylor looks on. Hawkins helped PJC finish the regular season with a top seed record of 23-7 and 15-4 in conference, and received many individual recognitions and honors.
Paris Junior College Dragons basketball player Phillip Hawkins of Washington, D.C., has signed to continue his playing career at Texas State University at San Marcos.
The graduate of Eastern High School averaged 10.8 points per game, 84 percent shooting from the free throw line and two turnovers per game for the Dragons, which led NJCAA Region XIV with a record of 23-6 and 15-4 in conference play. The team advanced to the regional tournament as the No. 1 overall seed and finished the season with a national ranking of 22 in the NJCAA polls.
"I'm really highly excited," said Hawkins. "I just feel like it's going to be a great experience. The style of play there, the team. When I visited, the teammates treated me like I'm one of them already. It'll be two different conferences, too. The first year it will be the NCAA Western Athletic Conference and then the Sun Belt Conference the second year."
"This was my best year academically and on the court," Hawkins reflected of his time at PJC. "I wish I'd been here my first year. I feel like I've got a second family here. The teachers take care of you, the community cares about you. I feel like I've got another home."
"This has been a long road for Phil," said PJC Basketball Coach Chuck Taylor. "His recruiting has had a lot of ups and downs, but in the end he found a spot at Texas State University-San Marcos that will serve him well. Their staff did a tremendous job in recruiting him."
"My hat goes off to Phil for the job he's done in the classroom. He's got the skills on the court, but he'll graduate in a few weeks, and he's gone above and beyond to get things done. It will help him at Texas State. I'm more proud of him off the court than I am of him on and he's a multiple award winner."
In his one season with PJC, Hawkins was named an NJCAA Region XIV Player of the Week, All-Region XIV Third Team and All-Conference Region XIV North Zone First Team. He was also named a co-winner of the PJC Carroll Dawson Cup for men's basketball MVP.
