DENVER ? New Mexico State senior guard/forward Justin Hawkins has been named the Western Athletic Conference men’s basketball player of the week for Mar. 3-9. This is the second career WAC Player of the Week honor for the senior. This is the final Player of the Week of the season.
Hawkins, a senior from Anaheim, Calif. (Utah), had a career-high 37 points in the 106-71 win over Hawai?i on senior night, March 8 in Las Cruces. Hawkins’ previous best mark was 29 points, which he had recorded twice in his career. He also added 10 rebounds and that gives Hawkins seven double-doubles this season. The 37 points was the most scored by a WAC player this season.
In the final two regular season home games for the Anaheim, Calif., native, Hawkins averaged 27.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. He shot 52.4 percent from the field and 77.8 percent from the free-throw line. Against San Jose State, March 6, Hawkins had a team-high 18 points. The wins this week helped the Aggies secure a share of the WAC title.
The other nominations were sophomore guard Kyle Gibson, Louisiana Tech; senior guard Marcelus Kemp, Nevada and senior guard Jaycee Carroll, Utah State.