Senior Guard/Forward Braylon Hawkins reached an incredible milestone in Saturday's 84-73, joining teammates AJ Williams and KJ Corder in the history books scoring his 1,000 point. Braylon, a 4 year player for Champion Christian College, scored every college point in a Tiger uniform, a major achievement for any player. Braylon didn't take the easy road though, and for some time thought he had no chance of even a bucket, let alone 1,000, giving up on basketball for some time.

Braylon Hawkins graduated from Jacksonville High School in Jacksonville, AR, and dreamed of playing college basketball. Unfortunately, out of high school Braylon was under recruited due to playing with multiple major college players on his team. He decided to attend nearby Philander Smith College in Little Rock, AR in hopes of walking on to the team there. Getting caught up in the wrong crowd after his basketball dreams failed to materialize, Hawkins ended up dropping out and started working. One day, a coach from Hot Springs, AR saw Braylon working and asked him to come try out at Champion Christian College. An opportunity to do what he loved again, Hawkins jumped at the opportunity to compete again, enrolling at Champion in 2019-2020. His first year with the team, Braylon spent his first semester working on his eligibility, getting his grades up to be able to compete. The second semester he was able to score 175 points, averaging right at 10 points per game on the number 1 ranked team in the country. His Sophomore year, Braylon took on a much larger role for the team, scoring 17 points a game, with a total of 223. In his junior year Braylon Hawkins continued his scorching scoring, going for a massive 423 points en route to a 17.5 points per game average. This year he is continuing his dominance on the hardwood, with 16.5 per game and 198 points and counting. 

Coach Mo had this to say about Braylon Hawkins time as a Tiger "If I had to describe Braylon's game in one word, it would be 'sneaky'. He's not necessarily super tall or athletic. He's not a sniper, not super quick, not dancing with the ball, but whenever the game clock hits zero, it almost never fails... Braylon had 17 points and 11 rebounds! Its an anomaly! He is also extremely efficient. I'm so proud of his growth as a man as well. His spirit has taken a 180 degree turn, and I know Braylon's best days are ahead of him."

Coach Hatfield added "Braylon Hawkins has been a joy to be around since I came to Champion nearly 2 years ago. He can frustrate you sometimes, but he does his job and the work has showed. Bray has been a great asset to the program on and off the court, and I'm so proud of what he's been able to accomplish as a player. I know whatever he does in the future he will be successful as long as he puts his mind and effort into it."

Braylon Hawkins will be celebrated February 18th on Senior Night in the Champion Christian Community Center against Southwestern Adventist University at 8:30.