University of Connecticut star and Gaithersburg native Jordan Hawkins was selected 14th in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft by the New Orleans Pelicans. Hawkins, a 6’5″ shooting guard, averaged 16.2 points per game last season helping lead UConn to the NCAA national championship.
Hawkins, 20, told ESPN “just to hear my name, it’s a true blessing.”
With the 14th pick in the #NBADraft, the #Pelicans select Jordan Hawkins (@golive23) from @UConnMBB! #PelicansDraft pic.twitter.com/7U87BOUxUr
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) June 23, 2023
Last season, Hawkins made 109 three-pointers, the second most in school history. Only Ray Allen, one of the greatest outside shooters in basketball history, had more in one season.
Hawkins played at Gaithersburg High School for two years, averaging 20.2 points per game his sophomore season, then transferred to DeMatha for his final two years of high school. In the 2020-21 season, Hawkins averaged 19.7 points and 11.4 rebounds per game for the Stags and was named Gatorade Maryland Player of the Year.
A few hours before the Draft, Hawkins’ cousin Angel Reese, star center for LSU, predicted that New Orleans would draft Hawkins
Bayou Barbie called it 🫡 https://t.co/OPc0Q700Py pic.twitter.com/XopqsLbQRo
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) June 23, 2023
