Another player leaves Wichita State

[Da Coach]

A.J. Hawkins, a 6'5" wing player who transferred to WSU from St. Bonaventure, has announced he is leaving Wichita State.

http://www.goshockers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=7500&ATCLID=3714876

He played in all 34 games, and started 29 of them last year. He averaged 6.6 ppg, and would have been their 4th leading returning scorer next year if he had stayed. When he transferred to WSU, Mark Turgeon was still head coach.

stats-

https://admin.xosn.com/fls/7500/stats/mbasketball/2008/TEAMCUME.HTM?ATCLID=654066&SPSID=61182&SPID=2851&DB_OEM_ID=7500

[tornado]

The ISU beat writer discusses roster changes in the Valley...

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2009/04/08/usports/doc49dd359aaf6b5597052944.txt

but he doesn't mention AJ Hawkins leaving Wichita and he also makes no mention of the newest Missouri State pick-up from last week, Michael Porter
(and also another MSU departure - John Hayward-Mayhew)

http://bradleyfans.com/vb/showthread.php?t=11986

and UNI just picked up BJ Ray, one of the top Mizzou players....who is ranked ahead of ISU's Jon Ekey and Missouri State's Jerome Jones-
Ray is going to try to be a 2-sport athlete and play football.

http://iowapreps.rivals.com/barrier_noentry.asp?ReturnTo=&sid=&script=content.asp&cid=932456&fid=&tid=&mid=&rid=

http://mosports.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=932827

Missouri just named their All State Teams...

Class 5 First Team
Ivo Baltic, 6-8, sr., Park Hill South (committed to Ohio)
Bradley Beal, 6-3, soph., Chaminade (one of the nation's top uncommitted players)
Alec Burks, 6-5, sr., Grandview (Colorado commit)
Justin Clark, 6-5, sr., William Chrisman (ISU signee)
Michael Dixon, 6-1, sr., Lee's Summit West (Missouri commit)
Jordan Dressler, 6-8, sr., Rock Bridge (Toledo commit)
Tyler Griffey, 6-8, sr., Lafayette (Illinois signee)
Brandon Lockhart, 6-1, sr., Chaminade (uncommitted)
Keith Pickens, 6-3, sr., Oakville (Missouri State signee)
Mike Wiebe, 6-6, sr., Branson (uncommitted)

(the other ISU signee Jon Ekey not named to either the 10-man first team nor 10-man 2nd team)

Class 4
First Team includes
Jerome Jones, 6-5, sr., Miller Career (Missouri State signee)

[Bravesfan]

Bad for the Valley, but good for us. As long as we can hold off WSU and SIU, we'll have a chance to finish strong next year.

[WuDrWu]

A.J. Hawkins, a 6'5" wing player who transferred to WSU from St. Bonaventure, has announced he is leaving Wichita State.

http://www.goshockers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=7500&ATCLID=3714876

He played in all 34 games, and started 29 of them last year. He averaged 6.6 ppg, and would have been their 4th leading returning scorer next year if he had stayed. When he transferred to WSU, Mark Turgeon was still head coach.

stats-
https://admin.xosn.com/fls/7500/stat...DB_OEM_ID=7500

Not a big deal, but Gregg and his staff recruited AJ from St Bonny....Mark had absolutely nothing to do with him. AJ married last summer and his focus has not been on basketball since. Everyone wishes him well but he was going to see very little floor time next year.

[Da Coach]

That may be true, but when he came to Wichita State, many WSU fans were boasting about his skills and athleticism and had some pretty high expectations for him. Since when is it "not a big deal" to lose a regular starter with a couple years of eligibility?

[dogsrus]

That may be true, but when he came to Wichita State, many WSU fans were boasting about his skills and athleticism and had some pretty high expectations for him. Since when is it "not a big deal" to lose a regular starter with a couple years of eligibility?

Kinda like BU and losing Tyrone Cole-Scott. Granted he wasn't a starter but after his Red n White I recall "boasting" about NOY and All conference honors. I think losing AJ would have been a big deal had they been counting on him but obviously they weren't.

Its getting to be common place for kids to leave.....again he was a starter but it sounds like it was best for him AND WSU.

[tornado]

Kinda like BU and losing Tyrone Cole-Scott....

dogs...I don't think it's all that close of a comparison to TCS....since it was pointed out that AJ Hawkins was a guy who started virtually every game....he started and played as much as Chris Roberts did for Bradley.
He'd have been their 3rd leading returning scorer with numbers not too unlike Chris Roberts.
By contrast, Cole-Scott was a deep sub who never once started and wasn't even getting into most games, and who played only a third of the minutes Hawkins played.
Especially when you consider that a lot of the frontcourt minutes with Clemente, and now Hawkins are gone, then Wichita State will really struggle with lack of experience in the front court. TCS' departure definitely did NOT leave BU with a backcourt void as a result.

[PTTB]

From a UNI perspective, BJ Ray signed with UNI football this February. He was Offensive POY in 2007 and Defensive POY in 2008 in Missouri Class 4A (?) for football. He's supposedly a really solid get for UNI football. He's going to join basketball after football is over...so hopefully the beginning of January!

[dogsrus]

dogs...I don't think it's all that close of a comparison to TCS....since it was pointed out that AJ Hawkins was a guy who started virtually every game....he started and played as much as Chris Roberts did for Bradley.
He'd have been their 3rd leading returning scorer with numbers not too unlike Chris Roberts.
By contrast, Cole-Scott was a deep sub who never once started and wasn't even getting into most games, and who played only a third of the minutes Hawkins played.
Especially when you consider that a lot of the frontcourt minutes with Clemente, and now Hawkins are gone, then Wichita State will really struggle with lack of experience in the front court. TCS' departure definitely did NOT leave BU with a backcourt void as a result.

I was comparing the PRE SEASON hype by some fans of BOTH players. My post CLEARLY pointed out the distinction between the starter V NON starter factor.

Also I think BU fans would be stunned...shocked and devastated if we lost Roberts where WSU fans seem to understand and not feel the program lost all that much considering the circumstances.

MANY times, when a player leaves, it just creates an opp for another possibly better player waiting in the wings. And if a player doesn't want to be there and isn't in to it its addition by subtraction.

AND...if I'm not mistaken....AJ lost his starting job by seasons end so its clear they were not TOO high on him.

[WuDrWu]

That may be true, but when he came to Wichita State, many WSU fans were boasting about his skills and athleticism and had some pretty high expectations for him. Since when is it "not a big deal" to lose a regular starter with a couple years of eligibility?

My "not a big deal" was in reference to whether or not AJ was a product of Mark or Gregg's regime. I was not making a comment on whether or not he would be missed or how big a loss he would be.


If by many WSU fans you mean 'Cold, then you are right. ALL of us, Brave fans included, regularly and hugely over-hype recruits. It is the nature of the beast. If you listen to fans, every school in the country would win the national championship 3 years from now with the guys they have coming in.

Hell, Drake fans think they are going back to the dance in a couple of years!

AJ provided a little size and a lot of athleticism that we did not have this year at many other positions. Unfortunately, his mind and heart haven't been in basketball since late in his transfer year.

Even 90% focus isn't going to cut it with our coach....and AJ wasn't near that number. He had 1 year left, he was mostly not starting at the end of the year and his minutes had been reduced drastically, taken mostly by a slow footed, unathletic, poor shooting but supremely hard working 24 year old mormon. He'll be missed, but before it's all over, it will be addition by subtraction.

[shaunguth]

I was comparing the PRE SEASON hype by some fans of BOTH players. My post CLEARLY pointed out the distinction between the starter V NON starter factor.

Also I think BU fans would be stunned...shocked and devastated if we lost Roberts where WSU fans seem to understand and not feel the program lost all that much considering the circumstances.

MANY times, when a player leaves, it just creates an opp for another possibly better player waiting in the wings. And if a player doesn't want to be there and isn't in to it its addition by subtraction.

AND...if I'm not mistaken....AJ lost his starting job by seasons end so its clear they were not TOO high on him.

Hmmmm......interesting point!

[dogsrus]

My "not a big deal" was in reference to whether or not AJ was a product of Mark or Gregg's regime. I was not making a comment on whether or not he would be missed or how big a loss he would be.


If by many WSU fans you mean 'Cold, then you are right. ALL of us, Brave fans included, regularly and hugely over-hype recruits. It is the nature of the beast. If you listen to fans, every school in the country would win the national championship 3 years from now with the guys they have coming in.

Hell, Drake fans think they are going back to the dance in a couple of years!

AJ provided a little size and a lot of athleticism that we did not have this year at many other positions. Unfortunately, his mind and heart haven't been in basketball since late in his transfer year.

Even 90% focus isn't going to cut it with our coach....and AJ wasn't near that number. He had 1 year left, he was mostly not starting at the end of the year and his minutes had been reduced drastically, taken mostly by a slow footed, unathletic, poor shooting but supremely hard working 24 year old mormon. He'll be missed, but before it's all over, it will be addition by subtraction.

Thanks...I THOUGHT he wasn't a starter by years end. While OUR Roberts was clearly getting better and becoming more and more valuable for next year it was evident AJ was heading the opposite direction.

I think it was stated he has his degree in hand...if so good for him.

[DUBulldog]

Hell, Drake fans think they are going back to the dance in a couple of years!

Not sure where you pulled that one out of....well I do, but this is a family friendly board. You obviously haven't been reading Drakenation.