Former UConn men’s basketball star Jordan Hawkins signed a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls Monday, hoping to find a more permanent home after a whirlwind offseason.
The Maryland native’s offensive production and playing time were both cut in half during the 2025-26 season, and he did not feature in 21 games after New Year’s Day. His former coach, Dan Hurley, is confident that a change in scenery will provide Hawkins a chance to realize his first-round potential.
“The Hawk is finally free!!” Hurley wrote on X Tuesday. “This is the opportunity that he needs and must take advantage of.”
Hawkins earned Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year honors at basketball powerhouse DeMatha Catholic, blossomed into a four-star recruit and chose UConn over interest from Louisville and a bevy of Big East peers. The 6-foot-5 guard played a limited role off the bench as a freshman during the 2021-22 season before exploding onto NBA radars as a sophomore despite an early injury, scoring 16.2 points per game on 39% shooting from deep, helping Hurley win his first national title.
Before he was relegated to the bench in New Orleans during the 2025-26 season, Hawkins looked on track for a significant role within a rebuilding Pelicans franchise. Hawkins was the third-leading scorer among Pelicans who played in at least 50 games during the 2024-25 season, averaging 10.8 points in around 23.6 minutes per game off the bench.
