Natalie (Shumpert) Hawkins

Inducted 2018

Women's Basketball

As a Lion

Few players have made a bigger impact on the Freed-Hardeman University women's basketball program than Natalie (Shumpert) Hawkins, as she will go down as one of the best players to put on a Lady Lion uniform.

At the time of her induction, Hawkins ranked in the top five in several categories including 3rd in career 3-point field goals made (235), 4th in career field goals made (752), 5th in career points (2,055), and 5th in career steals (248). Hawkins was also a fixture on the court, as she appeared in 140 games throughout her career, which at the time of her induction ranked 5th in Lady Lion history for most games played.

In addition to her accolades at Freed-Hardeman, Hawkins also received attention at the national level, as she was a three-time NAIA All-American selection (2011, 2012, 2013), two-time NAIA All-Tournament performer (2011, 2013), and two-time TranSouth Conference Player of the Year (2012, 2013).

Hawkins, a native of Paducah, Ky., averaged 16 points and two steals per game her senior season while shooting an impressive 40 percent from the field and 87 percent from the charity stripe. For her career, she averaged 14.7 points per game and accumulated 2,055 career points.

"The first day Natalie stepped on the floor, it was obvious that she was going to be a special player," said Dale Neal, head coach for the Lady Lion basketball program. "The three-time NAIA All-American was an incredible talent and became our go-to player. Many times we called on her to put the team on her back and take over a game and she was always up to the challenge."

At the time of her induction, Hawkins was employed at TEK Systems as a project coordinator. She has been married to her husband, Kenny, since 2015 and they have a son named Julian. They currently reside in Dallas, Texas.