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Welcome to “Good Morning, Illini Nation,” your daily source for college basketball insights from Illini beat writer and AP Top 25 voter Scott Richey. He provides updates every morning on Brad Underwood’s squad and the broader college basketball landscape:
Coleman Hawkins Trains in Champaign
Coleman Hawkins was in Champaign earlier this week for workouts at the Ubben Basketball Complex, wrapping up a busy summer following his stint in the NBA Summer League with the Golden State Warriors.
Summer Preparation
After arriving from Orlando, Florida, where he trained with former teammate Brandin Podziemski, Hawkins also honed his skills in Chicago, Sacramento, and with trainer Rico Hines in Los Angeles—all in preparation for his first season as a professional athlete.
Upcoming Workouts in Denver
Hawkins plans to briefly return to Sacramento before starting workouts with the Denver Nuggets from Sunday through September 12, ahead of training camp later this month and into early October.
Finding Comfort in Familiarity
“I’ve been all over the place,” Hawkins stated. “I thrive in discomfort and enjoy pushing my limits. I seek variety in my training and feedback from different coaches to improve.” Champaign feels like home to Hawkins, where he worked out alongside former Illinois player Terrence Shannon Jr.
Collegiate Achievements
During his four years at Illinois, Hawkins started 82 of 126 games and earned All-Big Ten Second-Team honors in the 2023-24 season. He concluded his college career with averages of 7.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.0 assists, peaking at 12.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in his final season before transferring to Kansas State.
NBA Journey and Future with Denver
Undrafted in June, Hawkins played for the Warriors in the Summer League, where he averaged 5.3 points and 4.3 rebounds. He decided to join Denver instead of waiting for a contract situation with Jonathan Kuminga at Golden State. “Denver has always shown interest in me, and I’m eager to get competitive experience,” he said, anticipating the G League will provide a realistic feel for the NBA game.
