Q&A with Elijah Hawkins

LUBBOCK – We sat down with Elijah Hawkins for a quick conversation after the second day of summer workouts. Hawkins signed with Texas Tech on May 3 after previously playing at Minnesota and Howard University. He arrives at Tech with 1,077 points and 589 assists through three seasons and 92 games played in his collegiate career. A Washington, D.C. native, Hawkins is coming off a season where he averaged 9.5 points, 7.5 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game in a season for the Gophers where he started 33 of 34 games. His 7.5 assists per game ranked second nationally and helped earn him All-Big Ten Conference Honorable Mention.

What do you love most about basketball?
"I love to win. That's the most important and fun part of basketball for me. Winning. There's not a better feeling in the world than winning a basketball game."

If you were going to create a music festival this summer, name your top-three artists you'd want:
"Lil Baby. Rod Wave. Lil Durk."

What are you most proud of about being from Washington D.C.?
"I feel like everyone who comes from where I do in D.C. has a competitive edge to them. Where we come from makes us who we are."

Is there a pro player you see shades of yourself in?
"I feel like there are multiple players who I share some similar games with. No one specific."

Is there a moment when you were young that you think changed the trajectory you were on to get to this level of college basketball?
"When I was 10 or 11 years old, I started to get consistent with working out and taking the game seriously. I was waking up early and going to the gym every day. I started going to camps, just playing every day and working for a purpose to get better at the game. I also played football but basketball was my love. I was young but I remember wanting to get up early and get to the gym as fast as possible to start playing again. I've always just wanted to play basketball."

What have you learned about yourself through playing basketball?
"I've learned a lot about myself. I've learned to never take anything for granted and to always work hard for what you want. Nothing gets taken lightly that I do. Whatever I'm doing, I want to win. I'm competitive on the court and have taken that to every aspect of my life. I learned that from the game."

What's a non-basketball skill you're proud of?
"I'm good at 2K. Love that game."

Who do you look up to?
"My mom. She works hard and has given me everything. She's a great example and always supports me in everything I do. She's everything to me."

Do you have a favorite nickname?
"My nickname is Eslimee. My friends gave it to me. I honestly don't even know where it came from. They started calling me that and it stuck. They just ran with it and I accepted it."

Do you have an all-time favorite show?
"Power Book II: Ghost. It's a show that is based kind of close to where I'm from and resembles what goes on. It's really interesting to me."

How do you spend your free time away from the gym?
"Video games and just hang out with friends. I'm good at bowling and like to bowl. Pretty simple."

What gives you confidence and drives you to be better?
"My family gives me confidence and has always inspired me to be the best I can be."

Caught up with @eslimee_ after the second day of summer workouts. #TTW

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— Texas Tech Basketball (@TexasTechMBB) June 4, 2024

Texas Tech University Athletics

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