One of the better prospects in Arizona's 2019 class of prospects is 6-foot-6 rising junior wing Dana "DJ" Hawkins. A very skilled prospect with a tremendous family basketball pedigree, Hawkins is looking to work hard to make a name for himself among college basketball coaches and basketball enthusiasts in Arizona.
Hawkins is the son of Dana Hawkins, a former accomplished pro and college basketball player and also a well accomplished coach at many different levels. Hawkins is a strong developer of basketball talent for boys and girls basketball prospects, and developed his two wonderful daughters, Arnecia and Armani Hawkins. Dana Hawkins is responsible for developing many of the top boys and girls basketball prospects in the state. His girls' program was regarded as one of the top programs in the country.
Arnecia Hawkins had a terrific career at Arizona State University, where she played in 132 games and emerged as one of the program's top players throughout her career. Sister Armani Hawkins also played at Arizona State her freshman season, and was regarded as one of the top overall high school basketball prospects in America by ESPN. Armani recently transferred to North Carolina State, where she is now regarded as one of the programs top players for this up-and-coming season.
While being a member of such a storied basketball family, DJ Hawkins has amazing basketball bloodlines and is expected to follow in the same footsteps. For DJ, he would like to blaze his own basketball trail and make a name for himself. As a result, DJ is working extremely hard on his body and his craft to maximize his potential as a player and become one of the top prospects in the class.
Recently, DJ decided to change schools, leaving Gilbert High School and transferring to AZ Compass Prep, where he will pick up his junior season and play for head coach Ray Weathers and his staff. Hawkins will join a team at AZ Compass Prep next season, which will have numerous transfers on the team and will look to also blaze a trail for themselves, while developing as young men - spiritually, mentally and physically.
Currently, DJ is a skilled wing prospect that has a very good feel and understanding for the game. He is a very good ball handler and passer with a good perimeter shooting stroke with range on his shot. He is a good mid-range player that is still developing physically, but is able to make plays off the dribble for himself and get to the basket, where he is a solid finisher. He is still growing physically a great deal, so his continued maturity will benefit him very nicely over time, as he looks to become quicker and more explosive. Hawkins is currently working in the weight room hard and also working on his advanced skillset to become a more complete and well-rounded performer.
While he has played much of his career as a post prospect, Hawkins is currently working hard to develop as a perimeter player - his natural position and an area of the floor where everyone in his family has excelled. Hawkins should develop over the next two years into a 2, 3 prospect with a nice feel and a strong motor on both ends of the floor. He has very good upside now and has excellent potential as a player.
Hawkins has excellent work ethic, one of his best attributes as a player, and is willing to put the time in on and off the court, which will benefit him nicely over time and in the future. He is also a fine young man and a student that will make any coach happy.
I will continue to follow Hawkin's progress as a college prospect over time, and bring you any recruiting and development updates on him as a player over time, as his college recruitment begins to unfold.