Versatile Hawley led special group

File photo
Former Rogers High basketball standout Aaron Hawley is one of five who are being inducted into the Rogers Athletic Hall of Fame this year. Hawley was an all-conference and all-state selection for the Mounties and went on to to play at Drake and later professionally in Germany and Hungary.

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File photo Former Rogers High basketball standout Aaron Hawley is one of five who are being inducted into the Rogers Athletic Hall of Fame this year. Hawley was an all-conference and all-state selection for the Mounties and went on to to play at Drake and later professionally in Germany and Hungary. \

Aaron Hawley was not your typical 6-foot-7 high school basketball player at Rogers.

He possessed the skills and athleticism of a guard in a body usually reserved for a post man.

"He wasn't that stiff typical high school player that's big," said Marty Barnes, who coached Hawley in high school. "He was a good jumper and a quick jumper, handled the ball well and could shoot it from the outside. He had the ability to put it on the floor and at 6-7 was always able to get good looks at the basket.

"He was already 6-4 in ninth grade. He grew three more inches and put the strength factor with it. That put him in a situation offensively where he could work inside or outside and it made him very hard to guard."

Hawley was a special player on a Mounties team that helped break a more than 50-year drought. He helped lead Rogers to the state finals in 2009. It was the first time the Mounties had been back to the finals since they won their only title in 1957.

He went on to play at Drake and then two years of professional basketball in German and Hungary. Hawley is among a class of five inductees into the Rogers Mountaineer Athletic Hall of Fame thanks to his accomplishments. The induction ceremony will be held Friday at 6 p.m. at First Baptist Church Rogers, Pleasant Grove campus, located at 3364 W. Pleasant Grove Road.

Hawley said the honor is humbling.

"It's a big deal," Hawley said. "It's fun. I was excited about it. Playing in the state championship my senior year, it was a fun run. That creates some memories for sure aside from just the relationships with teammates and coaches."

Barnes, also a member of the Rogers Hall of Fame, said that the 2009 team was unique since they all accepted their roles and Hawley's was to score. He did that to the tune of a school-record 1,193 points. But a key to the team's success was his teammates were just fine with that, Barnes said.

"They accepted the fact that we had to get Aaron a certain number of touches and shots," Barnes said. "Everybody's roles fell into place."

Hawley went through some trials at Drake, which saw him cut from the team after three years. But after a coaching change, he returned for his senior season which ultimately led to a chance a professional basketball.

"It was a huge blessing the way it turned out," Hawley said. "I got to end on a good note. It was my dream to play professional basketball and I got that chance.

"The new staff saw potential in me that allowed me to shine and get the chance to play overseas."

The two years of pro ball were as different as night and day, Hawley said.

Germany was a tremendous experience according to the two-time all-state selection. Hungary was altogether different.

"In Germany, I played on a really good team and we won the Pro A national championship," Hawley said. "From coaches to teammates to the fan base, it was just an incredible experience.

"Hungary was not fun at all. There was a huge language barrier. No one spoke English. Hungary was where I truly lost all the confidence I ever had. But God was using that to grow me in a different way."

He knew it was time to transition to life after basketball.

"It took me where I am today," Hawley said.

He would meet the woman, who would later become his wife only three or four weeks after he returned to the states.

"I got off the plane not knowing what's next and I met my wife Aubree," Hawley said.

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At a glance

Rogers Mountaineer Athletic

Hall of Fame Induction

When 5:30 p.m. Friday

Where First Baptist Church Rogers — Pleasant Grove campus, 3364 W. Pleasant Grove Road

Notable Inductees Randy Dennis (track), Brandon Feagans (football, baseball), Aaron Hawley (basketball), Staci Papageorge Hudgens (track, cross country) and Charlie Spoonhour (lifetime achievement).

Paul Boyd can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @NWAPaulb.

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