16B THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
BASKETBALL
FRIDAY. NOVEMBER 5. 2004
Hawkins sets priorities straight
BY JESSE NEWELL
jnewell@kansan.com
KANSAN'S SPORTSWINTER
Jeff Hawkins said his suspension earlier this season for off the court issues wasn't tough until he attended the first football game.
It was there he saw his basketball teammates on the video board playing at their exhibition trip in Canada. And it was then he decided somehow he had to work his way back onto the team.
"I watched a quarter and I said "I've got to go." Hawkins said. "I couldn't watch it because I was like 'Man, I want to be there.' I just had to leave."
A few weeks later, Hawkins was reinstated by coach Bill Self after proving he had his priorities in order.
"I basically just stepped up and "tried to be a man," Hawkins
said. "I took care of my res- sibilities off the court and tried to be as positive as I could."
And maybe the fact that Hawkins is back — back with the team, back in practice, back with his teammates — says more about him than anything else.
"The thing I would say for Jeff is that he is still here," senior guard Mike Lee said. "Despite all the ups and downs he's had, and times when he might have told me he didn't want to be here anymore and things were getting tough, he stuck it out."
It hasn't always been easy for the guard appropriately nicknamed "I-Hawk."
From Sumner Academy in Kansas City, Kan., Hawkins came to Kansas with high expectations after averaging 19.6 points and 4.5 assists per game his senior year.
After a redshirt season in
2001-02, Hawkins said he never regained the confidence he had in high school, averaging just 1.5 points and 7.4 minutes over the last two seasons.
Though more of a scorer in high school, Hawkins believes there are other ways he can contribute to this year's team.
"I feel I need to be positive, show a little more leadership, as well as play defense," Hawkins said.
Since coming to Kansas, defense has been a primary focus for Hawkins. Teammates said the guard has developed into one of the team's best perimeter defenders.
"I think the best thing that he brings to our team is being a defensive stopper," junior guard Stephen Vinson said. "He can really get down and guard people and use his quickness to his advantage."
Self is also optimistic that the junior guard can provide solid minutes off the bench, giving a defensive spark if the Jayhawks need it.
"Jeff is awfully quick and a great on-the-ball defender," Self said. "I think he's doing well in class and taking care of his business. Hopefully he'll be able to help us out."
He is still here.
After two long seasons, a long offseason and an especially long trip to Memorial Stadium, Hawkins can still take pride in the fact that he has persevered.
Lee said this alone was the most important.
"Jeff has had tough times here," Lee said. "With that, I want to say that Jeff is strong mentally. It got to him, but he was strong enough to keep on going."
—Edited by Ryan Greene
Kansan file photo
Junior guard Jeff Hawkins said he realized that he needed to change his priorities. "I feel I need to be positive, show a little more leadership," he said.
Walk-on might get to start
BY KELLI ROBINET
krobinett@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTSWITER
It's not often that a walk-on gets the opportunity to start for the No. 1 basketball team in the nation, but that is the opportunity in front of forward Christian Moody.
As the 2003-04 season progressed, Moody not only saw his minutes increase, he found himself on the court during crunch time in several games. Coach Bill Self was so impressed with the junior's play that he is considering starting Moody alongside senior forward Wayne Simien in the Kansas frontcourt this season.
"That's one of the most exciting things that anyone's ever told me," Moody said. "To even be on a team like this is a dream come true, but now that dream keeps getting better and better."
Last year's success drove Moody to improve his game during the offseason. Now that he has a chance to earn a starting spot, he is more motivated than ever.
Players and coaches have
pointed out that he is playing better than he ever has and looks great in practice.
"He's working hard," said sophomore guard Jeremy Case. "He has gotten more confident with his jump shot. He doesn't think about himself; he thinks about the team. He's a great teammate."
Moody started the first game of the team's exhibition tour in Canada, against British Columbia, and scored 11 points against Langara. He is the only returning big man other than Simien with significant experience.
Kansan file photo
That experience could give him an advantage in the race for the last starting spot because he has proven that he is fundamentally sound during games. But regardless of whether he starts, his main goal is to continue to help the team.
"Now that I'm a junior I want to contribute as much as I can," Moody said. "I'm working as hard as I can to boost my minutes, but that's Coach's decision."
Moody received a special one-year scholarship for his efforts last season, but this year he is back to
Junior Christian Moody is working hard for the last starting spot. walk-on status
"I felt really privileged last year that Coach put me on scholarship," Moody said. "This year, it just wasn't possible. We've got 13 guys on scholarship, so there's not an extra one. I'm still here, and I have just as good a possibility to contribute as anyone else."
Edited by Bill Cross
Sophomore guard progresses adjusts following injury
BY JESSE NEWELL
jnewell@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTSWINTER
Ask her teammates, and they'll tell you guard Sharita Smith is a goofy kind of person.
Ask Smith, and she'll tell you
she's gooey as well.
"That's pretty much the name the team gave me," Smith said with a smile. "I just laugh at everything."
Unfortunately for Smith, injuries made it difficult to joke around last year. She struggled through a tough first season as a Jayhawk.
year, I'm just looking to stay healthy and being able to contribute a lot to the team."
Highly recruited out of Lincoln High School in Dallas, Smith joined Kansas as a freshman last season looking to contribute immediately. Instead, A knee injury 'limited her playing time, and she was never at full strength, averaging just 2.1 points and 9.2 minutes in her 13 games plaved.
"It was more frustrating than anything," Smith said. "This
SMITH
guards on the team.
Smith said she was looking forward to the opportunity of having more time on the court.
"I know everybody will get a chance to play," Smith said. "Just knowing that I'm going to be able to play is real exciting, because I know they are going to need me."
Smith, a 5-foot-8 sophomore,
chose Kansas over Oklahoma,
Texas Christian, Missouri,
Stephen F. Austin and the
University of Nevada-Las Vegas.
She averaged 16 points, six
assists and four rebounds her
junior year, earning Street &
Smith All-America honorable mention.
Despite being a scorer in high school and scoring nine points in two games last season, Smith said she wanted most to bring enthusiasm and defense to the team.
She will also look to help the transition between coaches, as Bonnie Henrickson enters her first season as Kansas coach after Marian Washington's retirement from the position last spring.
"It's been a big adjustment, getting adjusted to their style of play," Smith said.
Hallman said she had seen progress from Smith during the last year.
"Sharita was hurt a lot last season, but she's really picking up the slack," Hallman said. "She's getting after it in individual workouts. We're actually in individuals together, so we get to compete a lot."
— Edited by Anna Clovis
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