Hawkins Gives Terps an Inside Force

Tianna Hawkins, a junior forward for the women's basketball team at the University of Maryland, had a very busy summer. And not all of her time was spent with hoops.

During the day, the 2009 Riverdale Baptist graduate would take the Metro to downtown Washington for an internship with the U.S. Secret Service from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Then, she would head to the Comcast Center at College Park to work out with some of her basketball teammates, and go to a summer job in the evening at The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission in Riverdale. This schedule went on for six weeks this past summer, said Hawkins, who would like to one day be a federal agent.

Hawkins was one of the top players in the area as a senior at Riverdale Baptist in Upper Marlboro. The time she spent lifting weights and working on her inside play should pay off this season for the Maryland Terps.

"We are all confident we will do good this season," Hawkins said. "We are really coming together."

Brenda Frese, the head coach at Maryland, has high hopes this season for Hawkins.

"Now as an upperclassman, we expect to see even more improvements, and a great junior campaign with Tianna really making a name for herself in the ACC," Frese said in a statement. "She's not shy when her opponent wants to get physical. She'll play a very important role on our team this year both offensively and defensively. Give her credit for how hard she's worked to reshape her body."

Hawkins averaged 7.4 points and 5.4 rebounds last season as a sophomore. As a freshman, she averaged 9.2 points and 7.5 rebounds per contest.

"I feel I am pretty tough" on the boards, said Hawkins, who also considered Georgetown, George Washington, Virginia, Delaware State and Miami coming out of Riverdale Baptist.

She should form a strong inside duo this season with senior center Lynetta Kizer, a first-team pre-season player in the Atlantic Coast Conference and one of the top players in the country.

“She crashes the boards so hard. She just works so hard,” Kizer said of Hawkins. “She is a phenomenal player.”

Maryland has its first exhibition game at home on Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. against Messiah, a Division III program in Grantham, PA. The Terps begin regular-season play at home Nov. 11 against Loyola of Baltimore.

Wise High keeps winning

The football team at Henry A. Wise, Jr. High is 7-1 overall following a 47-0 win Saturday against Laurel.

The Pumas, who play Flowers this Saturday, are ranked No. 9 in The Washington Post this week.

Largo High grads part of title team

Howard University honored its 1996 football team during homecoming events Saturday at the school. That team won the black national championship and its roster included two Largo High graduates: sophomore defensive back Chris Rodgers and senior offensive tackle Anthony Heyward.