The University of Alabama may have three BCS National Championships, 23 SEC titles and an alumnus that boasts 23 active NFL players, but since 2012, there is one thing ‘Bama cannot claim to have; Charles Hankerson Jr.
Hankerson rolled from the Tide to the University of Wyoming Cowboys as a transfer in 2012 after playing two seasons at Alabama.
During his last two years as a Cowboy, Hankerson has learned many lessons; that communication is key, how important his teammates are, but most importantly, the Crimson Tide can’t compete with Poke Pride.
Basketball seems to be in Hankerson’s DNA. His father, Charles Sr., played basketball at Hampton University where he holds the second all-time record for assists.
“My dad was kind of a local legend,” explained Hanekerson, “He was a high school coach in Miami, he got me started pretty young.”
So, it was only natural that Charles Sr. would pass his love of the game down to his son. The redshirt junior began playing the game when most kids his age were still crawling.
“I’ve been playing for as long as I can remember,” said Hankerson, “I probably got started when I was one or two years old.”
Passing up binkies for basketballs paid off for Hankerson. His high school résumé boasts a long lists of accomplishments, including leading his Miami high school, Coral Reef, to its first-ever state title his junior year. As if winning a title that year was not enough, Hankerson also won the Miami Herald 6A-5A Player of the Year. He would finish his standout prep career ranked as the 26th shooting guard prospect in the nation.
That ranking combined with a career that included an average of 31 points and 11.3 rebounds per game, caught the attention of Florida’s then assistant coach Larry Shyatt. Hankerson, like Shyatt, would eventually end up on the high plains of Laramie, Wyoming.
Before that, the Miami native decided to play at the University of Alabama. However, Hankerson did not wear the Crimson Tide for long. After two seasons and 56 game appearances, Hankerson transferred to the University of Wyoming.
“I had never heard of Wyoming before I decided to leave Alabama,” confessed the six-foot-four shooting guard, “It’s been a tough transition from the SEC to the Mountain West. But, my relationship with coach Shyatt was the main reason I came here. I just really liked the team and all the players, I thought it was a great team.”
The 1,450-mile journey from Tuscaloosa to Laramie was worth it thanks to the help of the Cowboy basketball coaches and players.
“My teammates really made this transition easy,” Hankerson said, “They are just a really great group of guys.”
Due to NCAA regualtions, Hankerson had to redshirt his first season at Wyoming. While some players might have viewed sitting out a season as a setback, Hankerson used his time on the bench to learn and to appreciate the game he loves.
“I definitely learned a lot sitting out last season, definitely” recalled Hankerson, “It just really made me appreciate basketball. It made me realize that you have to enjoy every moment because it can be gone just like that, you know? I just appreciate the game that much more now.”
It was his grateful attitude, combined with his skill on the court that earned Hankerson his first starting appearance last week against the New Mexico Lobos. Even though the game resulted in a narrow loss in overtime, Hankerson demonstrated that he is starter material, contributing 10-points and a career-high six assists.
“It really felt awesome starting last week,” described Hakerson, “That’s what I came here to do.”
Although the shooting guard’s interests mostly revolve around basketball, Hankerson has discovered the importance of communications and now majors in the subject.
“Communications is a really important life skill,” explained Hankerson, “I think it’s a pretty crucial part of being a human being, being able to express yourself.”
The life of a student athlete is not an easy one. Hankerson admitted to the difficulties that come with the classification, but for him, putting in the work is more than worth it.
“It’s tough managing school and basketball,” explained Hankerson, “I really have to stay on top of it myself, but it is really tough.”
Similar to managing school and basketball, the Cowboys have played a tough schedule. So far, the team has won difficult games and suffered challenging losses, but the season is far from over. Heading into the conference tournament, the team is looking forward to what the next few months have in store.
“Where do I see this season going? Definitely finishing up as one of the top teams in the conference,” Hankerson said, “I think we’ll be going into the tournament with a lot of momentum, and once we get there, I mean, it’s wide open. Anything can happen.”
The Cowboys have a difficult schedule ahead of them, but Hankerson recognizes that his team has gone through a lot together and the adversity has only made them grow stronger.
“We’re a strong team,” remarked Hankerson, “I’m proud of my team in general and with our effort, but what am I most proud of? I’m most proud of our fight. We’re fighters.”
