University of Connecticut Athletics
Hawkins Chosen By New Orleans As NBA Lottery Pick
6/23/2023 1:05:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jackson Goes To Bucks In Second Round, Sanogo Signs Two-Way With Bulls
UConn Athletic Communications / June 23, 2023
NEW YORK – Sharpshooting guard Jordan Hawkins became the 15th NBA lottery pick in UConn basketball history Thursday night when he was selected as the No.14 overall pick by the New Orleans Pelicans during the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft.
Hawkins, the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA West Regional and an All-Final Four pick as UConn rolled to the 2023 NCAA National Championship, is the 21st first-round selection out of UConn.
In the second round, with the No. 36 overall selection, the Orlando Magic picked UConn guard Andre Jackson Jr., as a pick that will be traded to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Hawkins and Jackson became the 46th and 47th UConn players drafted since 1965. It is the first time since 2014 that UConn had multiple players selected in the NBA Draft. UConn co-captain Adama Sanogo, the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four, was not selected in the draft, but has signed a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls. Â Â
"It's just a whole lot of emotions," Hawkins said to the media following his selection. "It was a really cool experience. I feel like I'm the best shooter in the draft, a championship player, a guy that can space the floor for Zion (New Orleans star Williamson)." Â Â Â Â
The 6-foot-5 guard (Gaithersburg Md.), known for his lightning-quick release and his ability to come off screens ready to fire, was UConn's second-leading scorer this season at 16.2 points per game, to go with 3.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists. He shot .409 overall, .388 from three-point range, and led the Huskies with an .887 free throw percentage. His 109 three-pointers made this season is the second highest in UConn history, behind only Ray Allen's 115 in 1995-96.
In the six games of the NCAA Tournament, Hawkins averaged 16.3 ppg, 3.2 rebounds, shot .435 overall, .500 from three-point range, and .920 from the foul line.
"I think Jordan is the most unique shooter that's come into the draft in the last couple of years," said UConn coach Dan Hurley -- who sat at Hawkins' table at the draft along with associate head coach Kimani Young at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. "He isn't just a toes-to-the-line, catch-and-shoot. The speed, the movement, and how quickly he gets into his three … he became better in terms of his shot-making at the different levels and he's a tough guy, very competitive.
"He's skinny, but he's going to eat well in New Orleans and he's going to put on enough weight I think to be a really high-level scorer."
Hawkins becomes the second UConn lottery pick in the past three years, following James Bouknight (No. 11 pick) in 2021. Last year, the Huskies had guard Tyrese Martin selected in the second round (No. 51 overall). UConn displays banners of its lottery picks on the wall of their practice gym at the Werth Center.
"They are going to see my face every single day," Hawkins joked about his former UConn teammates.
Jackson (Amsterdam, N.Y.) was the team leader and the driving force behind UConn's march to the NCAA crown. The 6-6 guard did not have gaudy statistic numbers, but his all-around versatility and outstanding athletic ability made him attractive to many NBA scouts. He averaged 6.7 ppg, 6.2 rebounds, and 4.7 assists during the Huskies' 31-8 season. In the NCAA Tournament, he averaged 6.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 6.8 assists.  Â
Hawkins, a First Team All-BIG EAST selection, was the first player picked from the league, which also had Villanova's Cam Whitmore (No. 20 to Houston) and Marquette's Olivier-Maxence Prosper (No. 24 to Sacramento, traded to Dallas) selected in the first round. Â Â Â Â
Hawkins becomes the second UConn lottery pick in the past three years, following James Bouknight (No. 11 pick by Charlotte) in 2021. Last year, the Huskies had guard Tyrese Martin selected in the second round (No. 51 overall by Atlanta).
