'I made it': Former JV player Russell Hawkins walks on to UNC men's basketball team

For most players on the UNC men’s basketball team, the path to the varsity roster starts long before they arrive in Chapel Hill. But for sophomore Russell Hawkins, that moment came only this summer, following a year on the JV team.

Hawkins spent this summer in Chapel Hill taking classes when he reached out to assistant coach Marcus Paige online who invited him to workout with the UNC’s men’s basketball team. The invites grew more and more frequent. 

Soon, head coach Hubert Davis called Hawkins into his office. 

“I didn’t know if I’d ever actually have the opportunity to play here, but God is good.” Russell said. “I’m here now. I made it.”

When UNC announced its roster in early September, Hawkins name was on it. The guard has a full-time spot on the varsity roster. At Mallard Creek high school in Charlotte, Russell averaged 9.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. In addition to serving as a solid practice player, the sophomore will now get to enjoy all the perks that come with being a Division I varsity player. 

Hawkins was introduced to basketball at a young age, but the sport didn’t become meaningful for him until later on. 

In seventh grade, Russell was one of the last players to be dropped from his middle school team, and it cut deep. Knowing he never wanted his abilities to be in question again, he began to take his training more seriously.

"It was at that point where he really demonstrated that this was something that he felt he wanted to excel at," William Hawkins, Russell's dad, said. 

Russell returned in eighth grade to claim his spot on the team as a starter, and his passion for the sport continued into high school. 

In high school, Russell competed against steep competition, including Duke’s Isaiah Evans. Playing against such strong opponents pushed Russell to improve his game, and he became a standout on his AAU Teams, Team United and the Charlotte Royals. 

Though he was recruited by several Division III schools, Russell prioritized academics. 

“You really have to grind and work your way out of it.” Russell said. “And I would love to bet on myself, but I'm not a gambler. I like to be a little more secure in my future.”

Russell’s connection to UNC runs deep. His parents are both North Carolina alumni, and his sister graduated from UNC in 2023. 

“He was a Carolina fan, but because we had already been there, he wanted something different,” Ivori Hawkins, Russell's mom, said. 

Although he initially considered breaking away from the North Carolina tradition, the chance to play on the JV team while pursuing a UNC education solidified his decision.

Then came the locker in the Dean E. Smith Center, the free basketball gear and the phone numbers of every single player when he made the move to varsity. 

Russell’s transition to varsity’s full-time schedule has been an adjustment. The JV game schedule and practices were more relaxed, but varsity demands intense practices, weight training and a challenging game schedule.

His teammates have already noticed the impact Hawkins brings to the team. Known for his speed, energy and ability to push the ball up the court, he’s become essential to the fast-pace environment UNC is working to establish this season. 

“He’s always helping guys out, being able to get downhill and make good runs out of the pick and roll," first-year forward James Brown said.

He steps into this upcoming season with two goals. First, he wants to take advantage of the resources the UNC basketball program has to offer in order to set a strong baseline for himself.

Second, he plans on soaking in every moment of this experience. 

“I'm most looking forward to traveling and seeing all the incredible arenas and getting to play all these fantastic, competitive teams,” Russell said. “I'm ready to be in the environment.”

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