Illinois big Coleman Hawkins entered the transfer portal Tuesday while preparing for the upcoming NBA draft.The 6-foot-10 Hawkins could still choose to withdraw from the draft and use his fifth and final year of NCAA eligibility. Players have until Wednesday to enter the portal.”My intention is 100% to stay in the draft and I am fully focused on that process,” Hawkins wrote on social media Tuesday. “I wanted to make sure I take every opportunity to protect myself in case of injury or any other unforeseen circumstances down the road.”With the recent NCAA rule change regarding grad transfers, and the May 1 deadline approaching, entering the portal gives me the best chance to protect myself in those instances and maximize my opportunities as I go through the pre-draft process.”Hawkins scored a career-high 12.1 points per game while adding 6.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.5 blocks over 35 games (all starts) this past season. He shot a career-best 36.9 percent from 3-point range and was named an All-Big Ten honorable mention.
