Specer Hawes: Don't scare me like that

UW's Hawes to have knee surgery. I don't think I was the only fan whose heart paused momentarily upon reading this headline in the Seattle PI. I've feared this ever since we signed The Big Man. Fortunately, it looks like a minor scope job, and he is still expected to play in the opener.

As everyone knows, the Hawes family has long contributed to UW basketball. Beginning with his uncle, Steve Hawes, who averaged over 20 and 10 each of his 3 years at UW and went on to have a 10 year NBA career, and Spencer's dad, Jeff Hawes, Spencer now extends their legacy. Even with the dominant numbers Steve Hawes put up, it appears that Spencer has an even higher ceiling, and if it wasn't for a generational talent in Greg Oden, he would have unquestionably been the #1 center prospect in the nation last year (and maybe even the best center in college basketball this year). He is the second consecutive best of the west winner to go to UW (Brockman won it the year before - former winners include Paul Pierce and Jason Kidd), and given that our new small forward, Quicy Pondexter, was the #16 ranked recruit in the nation this year, one could argue that we have the most talented starting front line in the nation.

Hawes was fortunate to play for the U18 national team, coached by Lorenzo Romar himself, which happened to win their international championship this year. He was one of the best players on the team, filling it up with 24 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks in the final against Argentina. This summer he also played on the Seattle team at the Rucker Park tournament that lost in the finals, with the likes of Nate Rob, BRoy, Jamaal Williams, and Jamal Crawford (scoring 22 points and grabbing 18 boards in their 92-85 overtime semifinal victory). Needless to say, I can't wait to see him in husky purple and gold.

With the addition of Hawes, I wonder how this year's UW team plays. Romar has never had a true post presence before, and this will be the first time that he has a size advantage against opposing teams. Although I doubt we will slow it down, we now have the foundation for a solid half court offense, which will better equip us to deal with slow it down teams like the Cougs. As for numbers for Spencer this year, I really don't know. My guess is this:
13 points
8 rebounds
1 assist
2 turnovers
1.5 blocks