On Monday it was learned that Boston College will be without a player who would have been a key option in the team’s front court next season, as it was announced by Imperial Sports Management that forward Deontae Hawkins has signed with the agency and will begin his professional career. Hawkins is the second Boston College player to forego his remaining eligibility since the end of the 2017-18 season, as leading scorer Jerome Robinson decided to remain in the 2018 NBA Draft.
Hawkins played in just eight games last season due to a knee injury, resulting in his being awarded a sixth season of eligibility. In those eight games Hawkins averaged 12.4 points and 9.1 rebounds per game, shooting 46.4 percent from the field, 34.8 percent from three and 81.3 percent from the foul line.
With Hawkins already being 24 years of age, it isn’t all that surprising that he would want to get his professional career started as opposed to spending another year playing college basketball.
The loss of Hawkins hurts in that Boston College will be without an experienced front court option who had a noticeable impact while on the court, but the cupboard isn’t bare either. Nik Popovic, who averaged 9.9 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, and Steffon Mitchell are among the front court returnees for Jim Christian’s team. Mitchell is the team’s leading returning rebounder, as he averaged 8.3 rebounds per game last season.
Among the other players who will fight for minutes next season are reserves Johncarlos Reyes, Vin Baker Jr. and Luka Kraljevic.