Get ‘em while they’re young.

That seems to be the mantra of collegiate athletics when it comes to recruiting these days.

Though he is just weeks into his junior year of high school, Goodyear Estrella Foothills basketball player Corey Hawkins has given his commitment to play at ASU.

“It’s a win-win situation for both parties involved,” Estrella Foothills coach Ty Amundson said.

If Hawkins’ bloodline is any indication, ASU coach Herb Sendek has recruited more top-flight talent.

Corey’s father, Hersey, starred at Bradley University from 1984-1988. The Associated Press named him 1987-1988 NCAA player of the year after he averaged over 36 points per game.

Hersey’s collegiate achievements made him the No. 6 overall pick in the 1988 NBA Draft, which began a 13-year career in the league.

Though he admires his father, Corey said he is set on making a name for himself.

“I love my dad to death,” he said. “But I don’t want to be known as Hersey Hawkins’ son.

“I want to be known as Corey Hawkins.”

Corey’s brother, Brandon, was also a star on the Estrella Foothills team before he graduated earlier this year. Brandon is currently playing for the University of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif.

When asked who would win a one-on-one family tournament, Corey showed no hesitation.

“Me, definitely,” he said. “No doubt.”

Whether it’s bravado or truth, there’s no doubting Hawkins’ ability.
Still, at such a young age, Corey has much to improve on.

“He needs to work on his strength and all the little things to make him a well-rounded player,” Amundson said. “But he’s going to make me look real good over the next two years.”

Amundson added that Corey is more of a “bruiser” than his father was, and that Corey seeks out contact when he’s driving in the lane.

It will be interesting to see if Corey can improve on his stellar high school career over the two seasons. As a sophomore, he averaged 22.2 points and 7.6 rebounds per game last year.

Though the Hawkins’ now live in the Valley, they have had somewhat of a nomadic past, as Hersey played in four different cities during his professional career.

In fact, Corey befriended current ASU point guard Jamelle McMillan, while Hersey played with Jamelle’s father, Nate, in Seattle from 1995-99. Corey said that he and Jamelle are still pretty good friends.

Corey took two unofficial visits to ASU, and said that the second visit in mid-August really sealed the deal for him, noting the attitude of Sendek and his staff.

Senior forward Jeff Pendergraph said he met Corey during one of his visits and called his father “the man.”

Corey said he got to meet a lot of the ASU players and specifically mentioned that he forged a relationship with junior guard Derek Glasser.

“Once I got to look at the campus and meet everybody, I knew this was a good fit,” Hawkins said.

Reach the reporter at alex.espinoza@asu.edu.