He played five other sports in high school for at least two years: track and field, soccer, baseball, football and cross country.

[3] After redshirting his first year at Northwest Missouri State, in which the team won the NCAA Division II national title, Hawkins averaged 5.4 points and 3.5 rebounds per game as a freshman.

[4] Hawkins averaged 13.9 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, earning Second Team All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) and Defensive Player of the Year honors.

[6] As a junior, he averaged 22.7 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game, and received First Team All-MIAA and Defensive Player of the Year recognition.

[7] On March 5, 2021, during his senior season, Hawkins posted the first triple-double in MIAA Tournament history, contributing 30 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in a 104–72 semifinal win over Central Oklahoma.