Minnesota guard Elijah Hawkins plans to enter NCAA transfer portal

Minnesota guard Elijah Hawkins plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal, according to On3’s Joe Tipton.

Hawkins re-enters the transfer portal following just one season with the Golden Gophers after spending the first two seasons of his college career at Howard.

In his lone season for Minnesota last year he earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention honors after tying Purdue’s Braden Smith with 7.5 assists per game to lead the conference and rank second in the nation. Setting program records for assists in a single season with 247, assists in a game with 17, and assists in a postseason game with 15 versus Butler in the NIT.

Hawkins also averaged 9.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, and a team leading 1.6 steals per game last season after starting in all 33 of his game appearances. Scoring in double-figures 18 times, assisting in double-figures eight times, and notching six double-doubles on the season.

Prior to his tenure with Minnesota Hawkins started in 55 of 59 his games for Howard, and a true freshman he averaged a career-high 13.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game along with 5.6 assists per contest. Named the MEAC Rookie of the Year after earning conference Rookie of the Week honors nine times during the 2021-2022 season along with earning All-MEAC Second Team honors.

In year two with the Bison, Hawkins helped lead Howard to their first NCAA Tournament appearance after securing the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title. Leading the team with 12.9 points, 6.0 assists, 1.7 steals per game.

Hawkins played high school basketball at prep powerhouse DeMatha Catholic in Washington, D.C. where he was an unrated, unranked prospect for the 2021 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

But the last time he entered the transfer portal he was rated as a three-star college prospect, the No. 26 point guard, and No. 128 overall player available in the portal according to On3’s 2023 College Basketball Transfer Portal Player Rankings.

Hawkins was a prolific playmaker last season and one of the best floor generals in college basketball, also showing efficient scoring ability with a 40.3% career field goal percentage and a 41.5% percentage from behind the three-point line in the last two seasons. As he now looks to elevate a new program once again ahead of the 2024-2025 season.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. 

The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.