MP3 clip: Coach Williams on Jeff's injury vs. Washburn (11-12-02) play Hawkins still adjusting to college game (12-24-02) Jeff Hawkins hits a three-pointer, the bench's only basket. (12-21-02) Hawkins could have picked UCLA (12-21-02) 6Sports video: Jeff Hawkins improves steadily this year (12-17-02) Kansas Basketball Notebook: Hawkins says he's all right (11-13-02) Hawkins 'overwhelmed' during KU debut (11-6-02) KU was Hawkins' destiny (11-4-02) 6Sports video: Jeff Hawkins is ready to play (10-24-02)

Gary Bedore's thoughts: The Kansas City Sumner product grew up wanting to be a Jayhawk and accepted a KU offer contingent on him walking-on and accepting academic aid, not scholarship aid, his freshman year.

He was out of the public eye last year, but has said he learned a lot just from guarding Kirk Hinrich at practice and watching how hard Hinrich worked every day.

Hawkins is always practicing his jump shooting. He's already a decent to good defender, passer and ball handler. He actually is a fierce dunker for a guy his size, though he might be reluctant to try those slams in games. Hawkins is expected to contribute immediately and should be a fan favorite, considering his bubbly personality and love of KU. He proudly admits his nickname is J-Hawk.

More on Hawkins

Full name: Jeff Hawkins. Favorite Food: Chicken fingers. Favorite TV Show: 106 and Park; MTV Cribs. What's in My CD Player Now: Eminem (The Eminem Show). Nickname: J-Hawk. Most Interesting Thing I Did Last Summer: Working camps and attending summer school.

If I Could Have Dinner With Anyone in the World It'd Be: Nia Long. After College I Plan On: Doing real estate or owning some businesses. My Favorite Hobby Other Than Basketball: Playing video games or singing. Superstitions: Never split poles. Favorite Actor And/Or Actress: Nia Long.

I Try To Mold My Game After: Mike Bibby/Jason Kidd. If I Were A Wrestler My Nickname Would Be: Uhh, uhh, uhh, Eagle Man! I Chose My Jersey Number Because: Aaron Miles took the number I wanted. My Favorite Vacation Spot Is: Maui. My Favorite TV Sports Personality Is: Charles Barkley. My Favorite NBA Team: Kings.

My Favorite NBA Player: Mike Bibby. Following Actor Would Play Me in a Movie About My Life: Chris Tucker. Thing I Like Most About Coach Williams: How he believes in us and pushes us to the next level. Favorite Movie: Friday. Best Player I've Ever Faced: Kirk Hinrich.

Favorite Non Basketball Pro Athlete: Tiger Woods; Muhammad Ali. Favorite Non Basketball Pro Team: Yankees. Friends on Other Div. I Teams: Victor Williams, Oklahoma State.

Highlights: Red-shirted last season. ... in high school, carried KC Sumner to the class 4A state title as a junior, averaging 17.7 points and 3.0 steals ... upped his numbers to 19.6 points, 4.5 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game his senior year, as he led Sumner to a 19-7 record and an appearance in the class 4A state semifinals, where he scored 35 points in a loss to Topeka Hayden ... lettered one year each in track and cross country.