Tianna Hawkins: from shy turtle to confident terp

Parents who believe their child has to begin a rigorous sports schedule in elementary school to someday play at a collegiate level might think twice after hearing Tianna’s story. She was 13 years old—almost in high school—when she picked up a basketball for the first time. And despite the late start, nothing stood in the way of Tianna and her sister playing with such passion that they both earned full scholarships to college.

Of course, Latanya Hawkins had no clue what was ahead when she took the girls to the game that day. All she knew was that her girls were begging her to sign them up for the league.

“We’d done swimming and tennis and cheerleading, so I signed them up and said they could play basketball,” she says. “But I told them as soon as it wasn’t fun anymore, that was it.”

That day has yet to come.

As her senior season begins in College Park, Tianna, 21, already has plenty to brag about.

The 6-foot-3 forward for the University of Maryland was the ACC player of the week two weeks in a row in February 2012 and was voted national player of the week the same month by members of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association. She was No. 1 in the NCAA with a field goal percentage of 62.3 last season, and was named to the All-ACC Tournament Team. And then there was the game on Jan. 19, 2012, against Wake Forest when Tianna broke the school record for most rebounds in a game with a total of 24.

“I guess you could say rebounding is my specialty,” she says modestly. “I like the physical play and to bang a lot, and rebounding helps my team get a second chance.”

Before they became teammates at Maryland, center Essence Townsend played against Hawkins on AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) teams. They’re friends now, but Townsend remembers clearly what it’s like to go up against T-Hawk — as her fans have dubbed her.

“Let me tell you, we went at it,” she recalls. “It doesn’t matter if she’s at practice or in a game — Tianna always gives 100 percent.”

Hawkins is a fierce competitor on the court, but away from the arena, a different person emerges: one who likes to joke around, who is humble, and who can’t stop giggling when she talks.

“I think I’m shy at first when I meet someone, and I can be really goofy and clumsy,” she laughs. “And I’m always smiling. People even say to me, ‘Why are you always smiling?’ But that’s who I am.”

It’s great to possess such as positive demeanor—except on team photo day.

“That’s always really hard for me because it takes like 10 or 20 minutes just to put a serious face on,” she says. “I guess I’m just a really happy person.”

But Hawkins will be the first to admit that the confidence she feels now both on and off the court were not there when she entered Maryland as a freshman.

“I was kind of in a shell back then. I was really shy and introverted and I kept to myself a lot,” she recalls of her first year in college. “It was hard for me to talk to people and that made me camera shy.”

One place in particular where that shyness manifested itself was before each game when players are announced to the crowd.

“When I was a freshman it used to make me feel so nervous, running out there in front of everyone,” she says, groaning at the memory. “But now I love it. It’s such an adrenaline boost. They call my name and it’s like show time! I give myself a few seconds to really enjoy it, then I put it aside and focus on playing.”