Hannan senior Drew Timmons signed to continue his basketball career at the Naval Academy on Nov. 13, but it was more than that.
It added a new chapter to a family history of playing college basketball.
“The Academy has so much to offer such as providing insurance and an allowance as well as providing an excellent educational experience and a chance to serve my country,” Timmons said. “It was just a perfect fit.”
Last season, the 6-foot-6 Timmons averaged 22.4 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.4 steals and 2.2 assists per game for the state quarterfinalists despite missing 12 games with an ankle injury.
Timmons said now that his college future has been decided, he’s ready to focus on the prep season that has recently started.
“As for this year’s Hawks team, I’m looking forward to this season. We have a lot of experience, and I think we will do well,” Timmons said.
“My brother chose to come to Hannan, so I kind of had to follow him. This is my fifth year, and the basketball program has really improved under coach (Errol) Gauff.”
Timmons wasn’t the only one celebrating the day as his parents, Eddie and Simone Timmons, said it was a moment many years in the making.
“We are really proud of him,” said Eddie, who played at Salmen and spent four years at Spring Hill College.
“All of our kids play basketball, and certainly, Drew is a much better player than I ever was, so it’s nice to see his success. The Academy started recruiting him a year ago, and we did a couple of visits last summer. After the first visit, I think he felt right at home and knew that this was the place where he could go in and get a great education as well as serve his country and play competitive Division I basketball.”
Simone agreed: “It’s a dream come true. I’ve been watching Drew play since he was five years old, and it’s always been a dream of his to play after high school. This is an opportunity that I could never have imagined.”
Hannan coach Errol Gauff said Timmons’ hard work sets him apart.
“When you see student athletes fulfill their dreams, and you know how hard they worked and the sacrifices they made to get there, it is a testament to their character,” said Gauff. “His legacy will be to show what a true student athlete is.”
