Basketball: Former Mounties Player Takes Game To Germany

Courtesy Photo Aaron Hawley, former Rogers High basketball player, recently signed to play professional basketball in Germany.
Courtesy Photo Aaron Hawley, former Rogers High basketball player, recently signed to play professional basketball in Germany.

ROGERS -- Aaron Hawley never lost hope about extending his basketball career to the professional level.

That patience has paid off as the former Rogers High and Drake University player is getting paid to play the game he loves.

Profile

Aaron Hawley

Team: Giessen, Germany 46ers

Position: Forward

Height: 6-8

Weight: 197

Notable: Helped Rogers High to the Class 7A Championship Game in 2009. … Played college basketball at Drake University where he averaged 10.3 points and four rebounds a game his senior season. … Signed with Giessen last month and recently joined the team in Germany.

After a process that took months longer than he had hoped for, Hawley recently signed to play for the Giessen (Germany) 46ers in the Germany Pro A League. The Pro A League is the second-highest level of professional basketball in Germany, and there are 16 teams in the league.

"It has been a real blessing, and I am extremely excited for this opportunity to continue pursuing my love of basketball," he said in an email exchange. "I have no idea how long God has planned for me to play professional ball, but I am thrilled and thankful for whatever experiences lie ahead."

Hawley's agent told him in late November the 46ers were interested, and the former Mounties player left Dec. 28 for Germany. The season is at the halfway point, and the playoffs begin in April.

He drew some interest last spring from several teams in Spain but nothing materialized. Hawley, however, didn't give up hope, and he continued to work out in the gym and on the basketball court.

"I was told it would take some patience throughout the process," Hawley said. "But I never expected to it continue all the way until the end of December since the season usually begins in August or September depending on the country. It had been very mentally and physically exhausting at times. I continued working out, staying in shape and just wondering when the time would come, if it would even come."

Hawley (6-foot-8), an almost 50 percent 3-point shooter at Drake last season, was a regular starter his final season and he averaged 10.3 points and four rebounds a game while finishing as the team's second leading scorer. He said playing in Europe has always been a goal.

"I have always been intrigued by the style of ball in Europe, with the constant movement, communication and unselfishness of the team as a whole," Hawley said. "These aspects are obviously a part of a lot of teams in America, too. But it is even more prominent in the European style of basketball. I think this was very evident with the San Antonio Spurs last season as they are comprised of so many Europeans."

Former Rogers coach Marty Barnes coached Hawley in high school, and he said his former player has the skill to compete at the professional level in Germany. Barnes once coached at Arkansas Tech, and he had several former players play in Europe.

"This is his one chance to see if he can make it professionally," Barnes said. "I had a couple of players from Tech that played, and what they look for is Americans that can shoot the basketball and have a little height. They like the wide open three, and they shoot the ball quick. Everything is done in a speed game, and there isn't as much defense played, I think, as there is here.

"Another thing I like about European basketball is there is a lot of movement coming off the screens and shooting inside and outside the play. I think that suits Aaron's game."

Hawley is currently living in a hotel in Giessen as the team searches for an apartment, but he said the transition so far has been a positive one.

"There are three other Americans on the team, which has been good for me personally," he said. "I have been able to relate to them and receive advice from them about their adjustments from the states to Germany, not just in basketball, but the lifestyle as well."

After helping Rogers to the Class 7A state championship game in 2009, Hawley took his basketball talents to Drake. But after completing his third season at Drake back in 2012, he went in for his usual postseason interview with then Bulldogs coach Mark Phelps. Hawley had averaged seven points and three rebounds after playing in all 33 games his junior season and had played in 97 games in three seasons in Des Moines, Iowa.

He left the meeting without a uniform or a scholarship.

But Hawley didn't want to leave Drake, and he decided to stay and finish his degree. With the time off, he realized he still had a passion for basketball. Hawley continued to stay in shape his fourth year and eventually decided to go to Arkansas Tech for his final year of eligibility after earning his degree at Drake.

A chance meeting then kept Hawley at Drake.

Phelps was let go as the Bulldogs coach after the 2012-2013 season, and Jeft Rutter joined the staff of new head coach Ray Giacoletti. Rutter was an assistant at Iowa State before moving to Drake and had seen Hawley play when Iowa State played the Bulldogs. Hawley quickly landed back on the team.

Now, Hawley is taking his game to another level and another country.

Sports on 01/06/2015

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