A player like Roderick Hawkins comes along once in a decade. Make that once every few decades. Hawkins became just the third player in Chico State men’s basketball history to amass career totals of more than 1,000 points and 500 rebounds when he crossed the 1,000-point plateau Friday in the final regular-season game of his career. He joins Jim Schreiner (1974-78) and Aaron Martella (1990-94) on that very short list.
Hawkins averaged 16.5 points, eight rebounds, and 1.5 steals as the Wildcats beat Cal State Monterey Bay 68-66 on Thursday night and then lost in overtime at San Francisco State 64-62 Friday. He shot 75 percent from the field in the process.
Hawkins will lead the Wildcats into the opening round of the California Collegiate Athletic Association Men’s Basketball Championship Tournament at Cal State Dominguez Hills Tuesday night hoping to stretch his career at least one game longer. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 PM.
Hawkins needed just three points Friday to reach 1,000 and hit the number on a jump shot assisted by long-time teammate Zach Graves at the 10:46 mark of the first half. In doing so, he became the 11th player in Chico State history with 1,000 career points. His eight rebounds that night gave him 550 in his career, enough to move past Rich Hogan (1987-89) into eighth place in school history.
Hawkins already ranks second in Chico State career history with 327 made free throws and stands just eight steals shy of breaking into the top 10 with 77.