College Stock Watch: UConn's Jordan Hawkins

NBA teams like to see draft prospects perform well in a variety of settings. Whether it be against lower level competition in the preseason, rivalry games in conference play, or high stakes contests in the postseason, there's challenges each scenario can present.

During this time of year, there's still a handful of college teams that are in action. The NCAA Tournament is down to 16 teams while the NIT Tournament will be down to four by the end of today.

As the season goes on, some players showcase unique upside and NBA potential while others prove to need more time at the college level before making the jump. With postseason action underway, whose stock has risen? What about fallen?

This week, we look at the draft stock of Jordan Hawkins based on recent play.

Jordan Hawkins (UConn | Guard)

Stock: Rising

NCAA Tournament Stats: 12.5 PPG | 2.0 RPG | 58.3% 3PT

In terms of sophomore risers, perhaps none were better than Jordan Hawkins this season. He continued to improve as the season went on, showcasing defensive versatility and incredible 3-point shooting efficiency.

That offensive success from the perimeter has carried over into the NCAA Tournament, as Hawkins has helped carry the Huskies to a Sweet 16 appearance. He’s knocked down seven of his 16 attempts from deep which has earned him a 107 3PE in the tournament according to Cerebro Sports.

In the NBA it’s all about maximizing minutes and making an impact. Hawkins has improved in nearly every facet of the game this season as a sophomore, shooting 40.5% from the floor and 38.3% from deep while nearly tripling his scoring output and assist numbers. He emerged as a full-time starter and took the floor for almost 30 minutes per game in year two.

Defensively, the sophomore guard produced 23 steals and 17 blocks in the regular season. At 6-foot-5 with good length, he’s got good positional size which will be attractive to NBA teams.

At this point, Hawkins’ two-way upside could land him in the first-round of the 2023 NBA Draft. Especially if he continues to lead UConn to wins here in March, his stock will further increase. Either way, it’s been a positive season for him as it relates to draft stock all year along.

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