Nov. 6, 2008

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Courtney Hawkins, last year's leading scorer in the Atlantic Sun Conference, was recently named to the pre-season A-Sun All-Conference team. The junior hailing from Greer, S.C., will return this season in the shooting guard position after serving as the team's point guard for the final 14 games of the 2007-08 season.

Hawkins posted some phenomenal numbers during her past sophomore season, average 16.4 points per game, more than any other player in the conference. She was also ranked in many other categories, including being 14th in assists (2.52), sixth in free throw percentage (.790), second in steals (2.34), fifth in 3-point field goal percentage (.358), eighth in 3-point field goals made (1.48). Hawkins posted the only two 30-point games in the A-Sun last season, both against Campbell University. Her career-high 35 points on 12-of-17 shooting from the floor and 8-for-9 performance at the free throw line at Campbell put her second-best in the Upstate record books. Her performance was just the second 30-point game on the road in program history. Hawkins also notched 23 double-digit scoring efforts (of 29 games) and added three or more steals 14 times.

She started 13 games as a freshman and appeared in 24. She scored 20 or more points three times, including her season-best 25 at Armstrong Atlantic State.

Recently, Hawkins sat down with upstatespartans.com and discussed her expectations for the upcoming 2008-09 season and her ambitions of being a radio host.

After playing your first scrimmage this past weekend, what can we expect from you and the Upstate women's basketball team this season?
I think we can all expect more wins. We're a much better team this year and bring more talent individually as well. We're communicating well on the court and we hope to produce better results this season.

From your playing experience last season, what conference team do you see as being the most competitive this season?
I think ETSU is a big threat and Kennesaw State is a talented team as well. I think the conference as a whole is competitive and we can't wait to show off our talent.

You scored 30 points against Campbell on two occasions last season. Are you mentally a little more psyched up for that game this season and do you think they will have made adjustments to guard you and stop your penetration?
Yes, I'm definitely looking forward to it. I take one game at a time. I do see Campbell making adjustments against me, but what they don't know is that our team on the court is much more talented as a whole this year, so I'm not worried about that at all.

If things aren't going your way and your shots just aren't falling, how do you mentally and physically motivate yourself or pick yourself up?
I tell myself that there are many people who would love to be in my shoes. I know that I'm playing basketball here for a purpose, for the little girls growing up who look up to me. I tell myself to refocus on the game itself and take it one game at a time. I've been doing this for years now so I keep my confidence up.

What is it about being a radio host that excites you?
Well, I like any type of music they play on the radio these days and I really enjoy talking with the people. Being involved with music, traveling, and interacting with the fans and public is something that I definitely want to strive towards, and being a radio host enables me to do all that.

Do you ever see yourself in the coaching atmosphere after graduation?
I could see myself coaching after graduation, but first and foremost, I want to get started on my career and put my name out there for media positions. I would enjoy helping out in any recreational leagues or programs with younger children to be a coach, mentor, and role model to them.

Are you a loyal fan of the WNBA? Is there a player who you see as a role model in the league?
Yes, I am. I like Tamika Catchings from the Indiana Fever. She's physically built, mentally tough, competitive and wants to win. She played college basketball at Tennessee under Pat Summit, which in itself is respectable. I look up to her because when her team looks for her to take the game over, she can really step up.

What has been your best travel experience at USC Upstate so far?
My best travel experience has been going to Kentucky last season. We walked into the basketball gym and saw bright lights everywhere and I thought to myself, "This is where I want to be." When I was 12 years old, I went to a basketball camp at Georgia Tech and got the opportunity to play at Kentucky, and from then on, I grew up telling myself I wanted to return to the court and I did.

What do you do and/or what kind of music do you listen to to get pumped up before a big game?
The music I listen to really depends on what I'm in the mood for that day. Jay-Z is my favorite artist to listen to before a game and get hyped up to. As far as other pregame rituals, I always get my ankles taped every game. It's a precautionary superstition now because I hurt my ankles during my freshman and sophomore seasons.

The men's and women's basketball recently teams had "Midnight Madness" on October 21. Was it exciting to be back in the swing of things and be introduced on the court along with the men's team in front of all the home fans?
It was very exciting because the people here at Upstate want to see and support the basketball teams. Since we don't have a football team, basketball probably takes its place as the "social gathering" sport to watch. I'm a local and I was happy to see my family and friends come out for `Midnight Madness.' We want the school to recognize us too, and we want for the students to be able to come out and enjoy the games and see us play, and I think Midnight Madness helped them see that.