Illinois forward Coleman Hawkins makes decision to return to Fighting Illini for 2023-24

Illinois Fighting Illini forward Coleman Hawkins has made his decision regarding his future in the game of basketball. Hawkins will be returning to Illinois, according to Jon Rothstein.

Over the past three seasons with the Fighting Illini, Hawkins has become one of the main leaders on Illinois. Last season, Hawkins averaged 9.9 points and 3.0 assists per game for Illinois, career-best marks for the forward.

Coleman Hawkins is a former three-star recruit out of Prolific Prep (CA) who was the No. 150 recruit in the nation as part of the 2020 recruiting cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

More on the 2023 NBA Draft

The 2023 NBA Draft is set to take place on Thursday, June 22, 2023, in Brooklyn at Barclays Center. Round 1 of the draft will be announced by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, while Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum is expected to handle the second round of picks.

To be eligible for the NBA Draft, players must be at least 19 years in age during the calendar year that the draft is held and at least one NBA season from their high school graduation date, or the date that would have been if they are not graduated. It is not required that player spend that one year playing college basketball, though. Players can play in either college, abroad, or the G League Ignite if they choose so.

While this is a significant change from what the rules once were, players are eligible to enter their names into the NBA Draft pool and explore their options by hiring an agent to go through the process, while still keeping their college eligibility. The deadline to make that move is on April 23 beginning at 11:59 p.m. ET. Players have until June 12 at 5 p.m. ET to withdraw their name from the pool and return to college.

The NBA Draft Lottery will be held on May 16, which is also the start of the NBA Conference Finals.