By Nick Gray | Sports editor

ngray@kykernel.com

UK’s recruiting class includes five 5-star recruits and six top-50 players, according to ESPN.

But Dominique Hawkins, the final and lowest-rated commitment, is the only one to play at Rupp Arena and win a championship.

While playing for Madison Central High School at Rupp Arena in March, freshman guard Hawkins averaged 27 points per game as a point guard. In front of UK head coach John Calipari and his assistants, Hawkins led the team to three comeback victories en route to winning the state championship on March 10.

The Richmond native played against future teammates Aaron and Andrew Harrison at the Marshall County Hoop Fest in December 2012 and was effective offensively, scoring 29 points and adding six rebounds against Travis High School (Texas).

Hawkins was named Kentucky Mr. Basketball on March 29 after his state tournament run.

A UK fan since childhood, Hawkins had offers from a small group of mid-major programs prior to the Kentucky Sweet Sixteen, like Morehead State University, Western Kentucky University and Tennessee Tech University, as well as the SEC program the University of South Carolina.

But Hawkins did not have an offer from UK. Meanwhile, his future team was struggling, losing in the second round of the SEC Tournament to Vanderbilt five days after his state championship victory.

“We don’t talk about (last year),” Hawkins said. “As a fan, I just knew that wasn’t a real Kentucky team. I know that next year is going to be much better.”

After his championship-winning performance in Rupp Arena, the 6-foot, 193-pound guard received an offer from Purdue, but no other offers were reported, not even from Calipari and his staff. One month after he won the state championship, Hawkins announced he would attend UK, selecting the Cats’ hat over South Carolina and WKU. He also revealed he received a scholarship offer from UK after the state tournament.

Now, Hawkins will fight again for playing time. Freshman guard Aaron Harrison, one of the five 5-star players, is expected to start at point guard, leaving senior guard Jarrod Polson and Hawkins to battle for the chance to be Harrison’s backup.

Polson has been a leader during summer workouts, Hawkins said.

“He’s giving me some advice. When I mess up in a drill, he comes over and helps me, showing me how to do it,” Hawkins said. “So, he’s definitely been a leader.”

With three other 5-star guards, Hawkins believes the 2013 UK basketball class is the most talented ever assembled.

“Since I’m in this class, I’m definitely going to say yes. But really, I do think that this is the best class that’s been put together,” Hawkins said.

“You got the big men with Dakari (Johnson), who can do almost anything you need from a big man. Marcus Lee can jump out of the gym and defend real well. James Young can shoot the lights out and he is so athletic. The twins can shoot the ball and get to the rack real easy. Julius Randle is just a beast and I don’t know who is going to stop him.

“And there’s me,” Hawkins said. “I just try to be myself and not anyone else.”

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