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Despite recent on-court struggles, Hawkins is finding balance
Freshman guard has figured out how to successfully juggle life as a college freshman
Sam Morris / Las Vegas Sun
UNLV guard Justin Hawkins glides in for a basket against Holy Cross during the second half of the team’s Nov. 25 game at the Thomas & Mack Center. UNLV won, 80-59, as Hawkins tallied 12 points.
Saturday, Dec. 19, 2009 | 2:30 a.m.
UNLV vs. South Carolina Upstate
No. 18 UNLV Rebels (9-1) vs South Carolina Upstate Spartans (1-8)
Where: Thomas & Mack Center
When: 7 p.m.
Coaches: Lon Kruger is 121-54 in his six seasons at UNLV and 439-287 in 24 overall seasons; Eddie Payne is 101-85 in his eighth season at USCU and 370-339 in 24 overall seasons.
Series: First meeting
Last time: N/A
Line: N/A
TV/Radio: None/ESPN Radio 1100-AM
THE REBELS
G Oscar Bellfield (6-2, 180) 10.8 ppg, 4.0 apg, 3.1 rpg
G Derrick Jasper (6-6, 215) 7.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.3 apg
G Kendall Wallace (6-4, 190) 6.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg
F Chace Stanback (6-8, 210) 8.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg
F Matt Shaw (6-8, 240) 6.7 ppg, 2.9 rpg
Bench: G Tre'Von Willis (6-4, 195) 16.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.5 apg; F Darris Santee (6-8, 225) 6.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg; G Justin Hawkins (6-3, 190) 4.1 ppg; F Brice Massamba (6-10, 240) 4.9 ppg, 2.3 rpg; G Anthony Marshall (6-3, 200) 5.2 ppg; G Steve Jones (6-1, 220) 1.9 ppg.
What to watch: Following their first loss of the season, the Rebels have gradually picked up momentum over the course of two games this week. For the first time this season, they provided 40 full minutes of energy against Weber State. Can that kind of effort carry over? Or will they be looking forward to Sunday's flight to Hawaii?
THE SPARTANS
G Josh Chaivs (5-9, 170) 10.6 ppg, 2.3 apg, 2.1 rpg
G Carter Cook (6-5, 220) 7.2 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.1 apg
G Pat Posey (6-5, 200) 5.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg
F Mezie Uzochukwu (6-5, 215) 7.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg
C Nick Schneiders (7-3, 260) 11.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 3.6 bpg
Bench: G Ryan LeGates (6-3, 165) 4.8 ppg, 1.8 rpg; G De'Marion Gordon (6-1, 170) 4.2 ppg, 1.4 rpg; FG Sharrod Minus (6-2, 170) 3.9 ppg, 1.2 rpg; F Caleb Palkert (6-9, 200) 3.0 ppg, 2.2 rpg.
What to watch: If the Spartans have a chance of hanging around, 7-foot-3 Nick Schneiders will have to play like the game-changer he's capable of being. His 3.6 blocks per game are mighty impressive.
Related Sun Content
- Box Score: UNLV 72, Weber State 63
- UNLV methodically downs Weber State, 72-63
- Notebook: Willis pushes on despite ankle turn
- In new role, Massamba provides energy with monster dunk
- Live Game Blog: UNLV uses consistency to get by Weber State, 72-63
- 2009-10 UNLV Schedule/Results
- All Sun UNLV men's basketball coverage
Sure, part of it has to do with the mental effect of a minor shooting slump.
But the stronger force behind UNLV freshman guard Justin Hawkins' recent struggles on the floor involves the other part of the freshman introduction into college life.
Like any newbie on campus, he's dealt with figuring out how to successfully balance his priorities as both a key contributor off the bench and a diligent student in the classroom.
Only Hawkins' learning curve is more visible than that of most college freshmen, given his status as a member of the school's most publicized athletic program.
"I kind of got flustered, kind of got my priorities not mixed up, but there was a lot going on," he said. "I was cramming for finals, and I also had to be in the gym at the same time. You could say time-management issues."
Hawkins surprised many with his early contributions.
In UNLV's first five games of the season, he was on the floor 17.8 minutes per contest, averaging 7.8 points on 12-of-26 shooting and 2.8 rebounds.
Against Arizona on Dec. 2 — his first time playing in front of a hostile crowd on the road as a Rebel — Hawkins was scoreless in eight minutes.
Since then, he hasn't quite rediscovered his footing in terms of production. In that five-game stretch, he has played nine minutes a game, shot just 1-of-6 from the floor and grabbed only two rebounds.
"Well, his confidence offensively hasn't been what it was earlier," UNLV coach Lon Kruger said. "But he'll bounce back. It's just a matter of time.
"I think, typically, it's a matter of shots not going in, but making a couple takes care of that quickly."
Those opportunities to hit shots will continue to come, Kruger said, as the recent struggles have not buried Hawkins in the depths of any kind of set rotation.
That knowledge has had Hawkins in the gym after practice regularly hoisting extra shots.
Now that he has the time, of course. His hectic week of final exams wrapped up Wednesday, lifting a weight from his shoulders.
"I'm starting to get more confident," he said. "Since finals were over with, I'm in the gym a lot more. For next semester, I 'll know how to balance it between studying and playing basketball.
"I can't say I studied too much, but I think the times I did study were maybe the wrong times."
It's a good thing he's figured out how to balance his time after just one semester, because he's about to become a double major. His original plan was to get a business administration degree, but now he's going for another in hotel management.
And despite the struggles managing his schedule in the first semester, he still carried a 3.1 GPA.
On top of that, he learned a valuable lesson on the court, too.
"With this team, we're so competitive that if you have a little drop-off, you can go from sixth man to tenth man in a matter of days," he said. "So it's just crazy. But I think me being a freshman, time management is the biggest issue."
Willis sits out of practice, could sit out today
Hawkins may receive more minutes than usual today with South Carolina Upstate (1-8) visiting the Thomas & Mack Center for a 7 p.m. tipoff against UNLV (9-1).
Junior guard Tre'Von Willis — the Rebels' leading scorer this season with a 16.1 ppg average — sat out Friday morning's practice with an ankle injury.
He twisted his left ankle toward the end of the first half in Thursday's 72-63 victory over Weber State but still managed to play 11 minutes after the intermission. However, he limped out of the arena afterward and was walking gingerly Friday as his teammates ran drills.
"I don't think the back is as much of a worry to him right now, because the ankle's pretty sore," Kruger said of Willis, who has experienced mild back soreness in the last week. "He wasn't full speed in the second half, but I thought he battled it pretty well. It was stiff this morning.
"We'll see how he feels. If he can play, he'll play. If he can't, then of course he won't. But I have no idea."
Regardless, Kruger said he'll go with the same starting lineup — Oscar Bellfield, Kendall Wallace, Derrick Jasper, Chace Stanback and Matt Shaw — for the third consecutive game.
Yes, another potential transfer: Gordon visits today
UNLV has become a haven for those who couldn't quite find their niche at bigger programs in recent years.
Now, Kruger may have another name to add to that list, which already includes Willis, Jasper, Stanback, Quintrell Thomas and, of course, his son, Kevin Kruger.
Drew Gordon, a 6-foot-8, 235-pound sophomore forward out of Archbishop Mitty High in San Jose, Calif., will visit the Mack tonight.
He left Ben Howland's team at UCLA following a Nov. 29 loss to Long Beach State, with the two not seeing eye-to-eye. At that point, he was averaging 11.2 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.
Coming out of high school, Gordon was ranked by Rivals.com as the No. 45-overall prospect in his class.
He has already taken visits to New Mexico and Notre Dame in what is a whirlwind recruiting process. He's also thought to be looking seriously at San Diego State.
He's apparently making an effort to enroll at his next destination in time for the spring semester, which would make him eligible for more than half of the 2010-11 season.
Discussion: 15 comments so far…
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I like Marshall a lot, and I think he will be huge in the coming years. Still can't believe he's only a freshman. He's been playing well.
Keep the recruits coming! When "W's" line up, kids come calling! See everyone tomorrow night at the game!
Your dead on about Marshall. I am amazed by the way he conducts himself on the court. And those blocks are ridiculous.
Hawkins will find his groove again, he just needs to sink a couple of jumpers to gain some confidence. These two freshman will be a great foundation for the future rebel teams.
Cant wait for tomorrow night.
REEEBELLLLLLS !
yea, when Tre and D-Jas and Co graduate..the team will belong to Chace, Oscar, and Marshall.
The starting 5 could be (in 2011-2012):
Marshall(Jr), Oscar(Sr), Chace(Sr), Thomas(Jr), Lopez(soph)
Still would have Hawkins(Jr), Massamba(Sr) off the bench as well. Imagine having Dwayne Polee in there too. That would be great!
That would be 7 very good players, and not even counting the recruits that will be coming in that I bet will be stellar. Of course this is all just speculation though.
It is a good time to be a Runnin Rebel.
When UNLV plays a softer opponent, such as tonight's game, Kruger needs to allow Hawkins ALL the extra minutes to gain experience and confidence, and not waste away those minutes to Chopper Jones. Chop is a senior walk-on with a very low ceiling, while Hawkins is a freshman recruit with tremendous potential to produce bigtme.
I kinda see where you're going with that Doc, but to completely diminish Chop is foolish.
Ryan, how about changing the phrase 'bigger' programs to 'other' programs. A lot more accurate in my opinion.
As for Hawkins, my man, you need to catch up with your wonder twin Anthony Marshall. You guys are strongest as a duo but his growth is accelerating at a faster pace than you right now..
This isn't church ball league. There's no need for Chop to be playing in games. That's why in the two years he has been here UNLV has never offered him a scholarship.
If the idea is to develop Hawkins' athletic ability then get him on the court at every reasonable opportunity.
Thank you Grayback, the reality is UNLV let things slip since the early 90s and are no longer at that level. There are programs bigger than UNLV. Just like Roy Williams left Kansas for a bigger program in Carolina. KU won a title a few years back now they're considered one of the "big" programs. UNLV needs to make a final four or two and win another title, then they'll be back on that level.
Maybe Chace can put in a good word for us to Gordon, just as Willis did for Jasper, Shaw did for Stanback, etc. True, Gordon had a good time at UNM, but who wants to live in NM..we are a big time program, and although this game won't have the excitement of a Louisville game, we still need to show him what UNLV is all about!
Doc, there is EVERY reason for Chop to be playing -- he is OUTWORKING Justin Hawkins, and this article proves it. Sorry, but this isn't Billy Bayno's program where you whine for PT and get it like a baby when it screams for a pacifier. You actually have to work for it in Lon's system.
Lenny, thanks for the sarcasm. Act as if, man. Act as if. We're #23 (ranked as Runnin' Rebels should be), how about acting like it. I swear, rebelrobert has sure rubbed off on a lot of you dudes here. It's a damn shame, too.
Grayback4Life, if you call outworking being the most unproductive player per minutes a game, then yes, Chop is certainly outworking everyone and should play a full 40 minutes. I don't agree with you, plain and simple.
Sorry but I never said a player should whine for minutes.
Justin is one of my favorite players on the team and I wish him well. A 3.1 his first semester is pretty darn good and he will only continue to improve this year both on and off the court.
Actually the sarcasm was direct at Greene and Kansas, grayback. I was thanking you for asking him to say "other" rather than "bigger" programs. And don't you ever EVER compare me to Sufferin Robert again, that was way below the belt.
Lol @ Lenny! Ok man, dually noted :-)
Doc, seriously? If he's not productive then why does he play? You don't have to be a scorer to produce positive results on the basketball court. My point was, if Chop was on Bayno's squad he'd never see the light of day. Probably the same reason Billy never won an NCAA tourney game or coached his top-20 talent into the top-20.
Hawkins missed a ton of shots AGAIN, so where's your harsh criticism for him? Keep it fair...
Yeah I know. Hawkins isn't good enough yet either. I can see you and I aren't even on the same page so this is pointless. My entire point is he's a true, athletic freshman on scholarship who needs minutes to develop his potential... Not a fifth year senior walk-on who can't do jack.
Did Rudy ever play at Notre Dame even though he was the 'hardest working' player? No, because he was 5-foot nothing, a hundred and nothing, and not a speck of athletic ability in him... Chop doesn't bring anything special when he's on the floor. In fact, he doesn't bring anything at all. Look at his friggin' stats. He doesn't have any, and he plays a ton. You could play anybody over him and you'd be better off. Hell, I'll beat Chop 1-on-1... just tell me when and where.