Illinois transfer Coleman Hawkins embracing ‘quarterback’ role for K-State basketball

Coleman Hawkins is one of the highest-paid players in all of college basketball.

He is also an outgoing 6-foot-10 senior forward with a big smile who is majoring in sociology at Kansas State. Ask him what he is most looking forward to about his debut season with the Wildcats and he doesn’t mention anything about the $2 million he is set to earn in NIL money.

Believe it or not, he sounds like an unheralded freshman when he talks about playing his first game inside Bramlage Coliseum.

“I really want to see the Wabash,” Hawkins said in reference to K-State’s fan tradition of swaying back and forth to the tune of Wabash Cannonball. “I have no idea when they do it during games. Maybe it’s after the games. I don’t know. But I want to see the Wabash when our arena is filled up and we get a big win. That is definitely the biggest thing I’m looking forward to.”

All eyes will be on Hawkins this season as he tries to lead the Wildcats back to the NCAA Tournament.

Not only did he receive a record NIL deal when he signed with K-State, he is a decorated college basketball player who helped Illinois win a boatload of games over the past four seasons. Hawkins was at his best last year when he averaged 12.1 points and 6.1 rebounds for a Fighting Illini team that made it all the way to the Elite Eight.

K-State fans are hoping for similar results now that he has transferred to Manhattan.

Will he be worth the money? Hawkins isn’t worried about that.

“There is no extra pressure on me or anything like that,” Hawkins said. “It’s not really something I think about. If I was a pro, everyone would know what I’m making. It’s not something I brag about. I just don’t want my teammates to feel any type of type of way, because I’m an unselfish person. I wouldn’t want that to be a distraction for any of my teammates. I don’t care what people think or what people say. As long as it’s not affecting my team or the way my teammates view me then I’m happy.”

So far, that doesn’t seem to be an issue.

K-State guard Max Jones gave Hawkins a major compliment after playing with him for a few months in preseason practices and seeing how he can lead the Wildcats in the frontcourt. Hawkins can play small forward, power forward or center on any given possession like a mismatch nightmare.

“He is the quarterback of the offense,” Jones said. “When you give the ball inside he can see everything. He’s an amazing passer. He is also one of the funniest guys I’ve met. He brings a different type of competitiveness to the team.”

Head coach Jerome Tang thinks Hawkins is one of the best passers he has ever coached, at least when it comes to big men. Hawkins could be dangerous as the five man in smaller lineups this season.

Tang went so far as to compare him to Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green.

“It gives him great joy to see his teammates score,” Tang said. “It’s the thing that gets him going. With some guys, a dunk gets them going or a 3-pointer gets them going. For Coleman, it’s delivering a good pass to a teammate who goes and scores. That gets him excited and going, his energy level up. I just love that.”

Of course, Hawkins can do more than pass.

He is also a capable 3-point shooter and a competitive rebounder. When Tang was recruiting him out of the transfer portal he presented Hawkins with all sorts of information that could help him improve his game.

The plan is to use Hawkins off ball screens, put him in situations where he can distribute the ball to his teammates and to shoot more than he ever did at Illinois.

Hawkins has been busy preparing for his new role and his new team. Not the money he will make this season.