Hawkins brings versatility and refinement to KSU for the 2024-25 season
Kansas State coaches made their most impressive transfer portal acquisition with Illinois’ Coleman Hawkins. The 6-foot-10 versatile forward was a consensus top-20 player in the transfer portal and has the potential to be the best player for the Wildcats next season.
Hawkins was named third team All-Big 10 last season at Illinois and went through the draft process before withdrawing from the NBA Draft just before the May 29 deadline. With his skill set and potential, Hawkins could be the key player that enables K-State to compete with teams like Kansas, Houston, Baylor, and Arizona for a Big 12 title this coming season.
What the stats say
Hawkins has improved his stats and efficiency each year at Illinois, with his senior season being his best.
For the first time in his career, he averaged double figures as a senior, significantly enhancing his 2-point, 3-point, and free-throw percentages. He posted averages of 12.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.1 blocks, and 1.5 steals per game, shooting 53.5% from 2-point range, 36.9% from 3-point range, and 79.2% from the free-throw line.
This season, Hawkins had five games with at least 20 points and ten games with at least 15 points. In those ten games where he scored 15 or more points, he shot 64.7% from the field and 53.5% from three, with eight of those games against Power 4 teams.
According to Bart Torvik’s analytical site, Hawkins had a 120.0 offensive rating with an 18.4% usage rate. He also posted a 15% assist rate, a 2.6% steal rate, a 3.0% block rate, and a 15.7% defensive rebounding rate. He excelled at finishing at the rim, making 65% of his 102 attempts. His 3-point shooting improved by nearly nine percentage points from his junior year, and he attempted 28 more 3-pointers this season. In conference play, he was even more efficient, shooting 40.5% from 3-point range and 83.6% from the free-throw line over 20 games.
Hawkins’ standout game this season was against Iowa, where he scored 30 points, with two rebounds, five assists, and five steals, shooting 81.8% from the field, 60% from 3-point range, and 81.8% from the free-throw line in late February.
What the film says
The film showcases a player who excels in multiple areas and will likely be the most versatile member of K-State’s roster. Hawkins demonstrated the ability to switch onto guards and wings at Illinois, particularly in pick-and-roll situations. At 6-foot-10, he moves his feet well and adeptly disrupts passing lanes.
Last season, Hawkins averaged one block and one steal per game, highlighting his defensive impact. He will play on the wing for K-State, and there is ample footage of him successfully defending guards. Notably, he was switched onto two-time first-team All-Big Ten guard Boo Buie of Northwestern, managed to stay in front of him, and ultimately blocked his shot at the rim.
Offensively, Hawkins excelled in transition and spot-up scoring. He scored 1.03 points per possession on spot-up shots, placing him in the 71st percentile, with spot-ups accounting for 29% of his points. In transition, he scored 1.28 points per possession, placing him in the 82nd percentile, and utilized this 15% of the time.
However, Hawkins struggled as the pop man in pick-and-pop situations, scoring 0.92 points per possession (41st percentile) and faced challenges with post-ups, scoring 0.69 points per possession (32nd percentile), which made up only 8% of his possessions.
Hawkins will be expected to handle the ball, shoot 3s, guard opposing wings and guards, and get out in transition at K-State. He likely won’t be asked to post up frequently, especially if Coach Tang opts for a five-out offense when he’s on the floor.
In conclusion, the film reveals a player with diverse skills who improved his efficiency this year, excelling particularly in transition.
What Tang says
“We’re excited to welcome Coleman and his family to K-State,” head coach Jerome Tang said in a written statement. “He is a winner. He has won everywhere he has been whether it’s a national championship in high school to winning four Big Ten titles and going to four NCAA Tournaments, including the Elite Eight this past season, at Illinois. He obviously can score but he impacts winning in a variety of ways. He is a terrific teammate who is very smart and only makes his teammates better. He plays with joy and passion and has an engaging personality that I know our fans are going to love.”
The fit with K-State
The fit is intriguing because K-State already has four players who play the four or five positions: David N’Guessan, Achor Achor, Ugonna Onyenso, and Baye Fall. Hawkins, who played as a stretch four or five at Illinois, operated more on the wing this season. The more film I watch, the more I’m convinced he can play the three or four positions for K-State, which aligns with how the coaches seem to envision his role. He can stretch the floor with his 3-point shot, his playmaking skills are underrated, and he excels at switching onto smaller players.
Hawkins is the most talented and best player Jerome Tang has secured through the transfer portal since becoming coach. Every major recruiting service ranked Hawkins in the top 25 of transfers this offseason, and he was the best remaining target when he committed to K-State. He has an NBA-caliber skill set and has impressed during NBA combine workouts.
The Illinois transfer has the potential to have a standout super-senior season with K-State, and the pieces are in place for the Wildcats to be nationally relevant again in 2024-25.
