2008 Woodie Awards
Athlete of the week
Justin DeMarco
Issue date: 2/9/06 Section: Sports
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Will Dawkins is having a standout sophomore season on the men's basketball team, averaging 18.4 points and 4.7 assists per game. His play has helped the Lions to an 8-4 conference record.
On the court, Dawkins is a fierce competitor who will do anything to win. Off the court, he says he is a "family man at heart" who comes from "a good Christian background."
He even helped raise his little sister..
"My parents divorced when I was eight, and I went back and forth living at my mom's during the week and my dad's during the weekend," Dawkins said in a recent interview.
At the same time, his younger sister Vanessa was born.
"I was the most dominant male figure in her life since her father wasn't around," he said. "I care a lot about my sister. She's my heart and my number one fan at my games."
Family is clearly very important to Dawkins.
When asked who his biggest influence is, he responded, "My parents. My mom and dad brought me to every single one of my games. My mom is a teacher, so she made me focus academically, while my dad was an athlete, so he focused on athletics."
Dawkins said at least one of his parents is present at every game he plays for Emerson.
Another important piece of his life is spirituality. Dawkins said his strong Catholic faith began when he was a child.
"When I was younger, my grandma forced me and my cousins to be in the church. As I got older, and she got sick, my other grandma on my mother's side picked up my spirituality, and I started to go to church with her," Dawkins said.
He kept going to church by himself and later encouraged his mother to join him. Dawkins can often be seen with a gold cross hanging from his neck.
Then there is basketball.
"I have an intense passion for basketball," Dawkins said. "My will to win is so high. I hate losing."
This passion began as soon as he could stand.
"I've been playing basketball since I was three," he said. "Competitive basketball starts at five but my parents knew the coach so I started at three."
On the court, Dawkins is a fierce competitor who will do anything to win. Off the court, he says he is a "family man at heart" who comes from "a good Christian background."
He even helped raise his little sister..
"My parents divorced when I was eight, and I went back and forth living at my mom's during the week and my dad's during the weekend," Dawkins said in a recent interview.
At the same time, his younger sister Vanessa was born.
"I was the most dominant male figure in her life since her father wasn't around," he said. "I care a lot about my sister. She's my heart and my number one fan at my games."
Family is clearly very important to Dawkins.
When asked who his biggest influence is, he responded, "My parents. My mom and dad brought me to every single one of my games. My mom is a teacher, so she made me focus academically, while my dad was an athlete, so he focused on athletics."
Dawkins said at least one of his parents is present at every game he plays for Emerson.
Another important piece of his life is spirituality. Dawkins said his strong Catholic faith began when he was a child.
"When I was younger, my grandma forced me and my cousins to be in the church. As I got older, and she got sick, my other grandma on my mother's side picked up my spirituality, and I started to go to church with her," Dawkins said.
He kept going to church by himself and later encouraged his mother to join him. Dawkins can often be seen with a gold cross hanging from his neck.
Then there is basketball.
"I have an intense passion for basketball," Dawkins said. "My will to win is so high. I hate losing."
This passion began as soon as he could stand.
"I've been playing basketball since I was three," he said. "Competitive basketball starts at five but my parents knew the coach so I started at three."
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