"My intention is 100% to stay in the draft and
I am fully focused on that process," Hawkins wrote on social
media Tuesday. "I wanted to make sure I take every opportunity
to protect myself in case of injury or any other unforeseen
circumstances down the road.
"With the recent NCAA rule change regarding grad transfers, and
the May 1 deadline approaching, entering the portal gives me the
best chance to protect myself in those instances and maximize my
opportunities as I go through the pre-draft process."
Hawkins scored a career-high 12.1 points per game while adding
6.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.5 blocks over 35 games (all
starts) this past season. He shot a career-best 36.9 percent
from 3-point range and was named an All-Big Ten honorable
mention.
In 126 games (82 starts) for Illinois over four seasons, Hawkins
has contributed 7.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists per
game.
Also Tuesday, Illinois secured a transfer commitment from
Evansville forward Ben Humrichous. In his first season of
Division I basketball, Humrichous put up 14.7 points and 4.7
rebounds per game while shooting 41.4 percent from deep.
--Field Level Media
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