Spencer Hawes is arguably the most highly touted big man to ever come out of Seattle. Spencer went to Seattle Prep and was two years behind Martell Webster who was the sixth pick in the NBA draft out of high school. However it was not until 2005-2006, the year after Martell left, that Spencer Hawes lead Seattle Prep to a State Championship and was named Tournament MVP. There are very few seven footers with the skill and shooting touch that Hawes possesses. Spencer was able to harness his talents as a youngster playing for one of the best elite traveling teams from Seattle named Friends of Hoop. Spencer played with Martell Webster and Jon Brockman on Friends of Hoop. This enabled them all to showcase their talents on the national level. As a senior in high school Spencer Hawes was named both Mcdonald’s and Parade All American. Spencer was also given the honor to represent his country by being named to the U 18 USA Team. The USA team was coached by Lorenzo Romar who cultivated that relationship into a college commitment later on. In the gold medal game against Argentina, Spencer Hawes lead all scorers with 24 points and added 10 rebounds. Spencer Hawes was rated the top prospect on the west coast and would have entered the NBA draft out of high school had a rule not just been put in place stopping that.
Spencer decided on University of Washington over North Carolina and immediately became the most prominent recruit in Husky history. Staying close to home and his relationships with Lorenzo Romar is what weighted Spencer’s decision. In his freshman year Spencer lead the Huskies in scoring and was second in rebounding behind his former teammate on Friends of Hoop, Jon Brockman. Spencer Hawes set the all time scoring record for Freshman although that was erased later when Isaiah Thomas stepped on campus. Spencer also blocked 54 shots which is a freshman record and fourth all time for the Huskies. Spencer Hawes was one and done with college and was drafted tenth overall by the Sacramento Kings in the 2007 NBA Draft.
At just 19 years old Spencer Hawes struggled as expected in the NBA and only averaged 13 minutes a game. During that off season Spencer was able to add more strength to his frame and he was rewarded nicely with more playing time. Spencer started 51 games in his second season and his stats went up to eleven points and seven rebounds a game. In his third season although continuing to improve skill wise, his minutes became more congested as the team began adding depth. He started 59 games last season but his average minutes per game dropped by three. This was the first sign of the Sacramento Kings heading in a different direction. The Sacramento Kings made a blockbuster trade this off season sending Spencer Hawes along with Andres Nocioni to the Philadelphia 76ers in return for Samuel Dalembert. Spencer has to be very optimistic about this move as he will now be a major piece, for a young talented team, on a storied franchise. It will be fun to watch as Spencer is poised to have a breakout year for the 76ers in what will surely be a long NBA career.
Check out this video of Spencer Hawes and Nate Robinson going crazy on the sideline after UW beat USC in football last year:
