In a gym full of people eager to witness highlight plays from star guard Scoot Henderson, Joyful Hawkins made his presence known for Game Elite Big 5 (2022). Listed at 6-foot-8, Hawkins has tremendous size and the skill to go with it. He is long and athletic.  

Hawkins has seen his recruitment blow up this summer. He holds offers from Georgia, Georgia Tech, Auburn, Ole Miss, and Texas Tech just to name a few. After having to sit out his sophomore season of high school basketball due to transfer rules, Hawkins continued to work on his game and has taken full advantage this summer. 

Hawkins showed an improved shooting ability knocking down several three-pointers and step back jumpers in his games today. His shooting stroke looks smooth and fluid. He looked comfortable shooting it from anywhere on the court.

“I’ve been working on my shooting,” said Hawkins, a junior at Marietta (GA) Kell. “I want to show people that I can shoot too.”

Hawkins fits the standard of the modern stretch big man. He can shoot it from deep, get to the basket from the perimeter, and he rebounds and runs the floor. In what seemed like three strides to get down the floor, he finished a pretty alley-oop off a pass from Henderson in transition.

His shot blocking ability was on display, too. He has an impressive knack for timing shots. With his timing and long reach, he is extremely difficult to finish over. 

When asked if any college is standing out to him as of now, Hawkins said Auburn because of the family atmosphere.  

“Wherever I go, I don’t need a specific play style,” Hawkins said. “I’m going to go in and do what I gotta do and play my role.”

Before enrolling in college, Hawkins stated that he wants to get bigger and stronger. He also wants to improve on his handles, shooting, and rebounding.  

He will be joining AAU teammate Scoot Henderson at Kell High School this upcoming season. Only a junior, I fully expect Hawkins’ game to elevate even more with his work ethic. Even with his abundance of offers, I still feel like this kid is flying under the radar.