Xavier University Athletics
Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2020
- Class:
- 1995
Michael Hawkins, a member of the 1991-92 Midwestern Collegiate Conference All-Newcomer Team and the 1994-95 All-Midwestern Collegiate Conference Second Team, helped Xavier reach two NCAA Tournaments and one NIT Quarterfinal during his four-year career. The 1994-95 Musketeers finished 14-0 as champions of the Midwestern Collegiate Conference, XU's final season in the MCC.
Hawkins, who ranks 54th on Xavier's All-Time scoring list with 1,029 points, played three different positions early in his career, but was firmly planted in his natural position of point guard during his senior season by the late Skip Prosser, who was then the first-year head coach at Xavier. Hawkins blossomed after being given the reigns by Prosser. Hawkins led the Musketeers in assists at 5.8 per game as a senior, ranking second in the MCC, including a career-high 13 at Cleveland State. He was second on the team in scoring at 14.1 points per game, which ranked 14th in the MCC. Hawkins led the Musketeers in assists in three of his four seasons at Xavier and ranks ninth on Xavier's all-time assist leaderboard with 448. He connected on 154 three-point field goals in his career, which tied a school record set by Jamie Gladden that was later broken.
Hawkins played professional basketball and represented Team USA after his graduation. Hawkins spent four seasons in the NBA, including stops in Charlotte, Sacramento, Cleveland and Boston. Hawkins was a key member of Team USA for two straight summers, including winning a Bronze Medal during the 1998 World Championship Games. Hawkins is the only Xavier player to ever play more than one year for USA Basketball. In total, Hawkins played 11 years professionally, including two years in the CBA, four years in the NBA and five years Europe.
