PAUL DAWKINS

Paul Dawkins was hidden among the many basketball standouts at Saginaw High School. But the 6-5, 190 pound forward finally got his chance his senior season (1974-75) when he averaged 13 points and 11 rebounds per game. For his efforts he was the Trojans’ MVP and landed All-Saginaw Valley League honors. Dawkins blossomed into one of the finest shooters in the nation when he attended Northern Illinois University. He capped his four-year collegiate career (1975-79) with a 26.7 points-per-game scoring average during his senior season which led the Mid-American Conference and fifth nationally. Dawkins, nicknamed “Doctor D” by the Huskies’ fans, was named MAC Player of the Year. The two-time Northern Illinois MVP held seven school records when he graduated, including  most single-season points (695), most career points (1,749), most single-season field goals (291), most career field goals (751) and best single-season scoring average (26.7).  The left-handed Dawkins broke the 30-point barrier eight times in his final collegiate season with a career-high 47 versus Western Michigan. Dawkins was drafted by the Utah Jazz in 1979 and played one year in the NBA, averaging 5.5 points in 57 games. He set a Jazz scoring record for most points in a half by posting 30 points against the Portland Trail Blazers. After suffering a knee injury the next season he wound up playing with the Anchorage Northern Knights of the Continental Basketball Association before playing nine seasons in a professional league in Turkey. He led his team to three consecutive championships during that tenure. Dawkins was inducted into Northern Illinois University’s Hall of Fame in 1995, and was also named to the Chick Evans All-Time team as NIU’s best in basketball from 1957-96.