Hopkins, Shaw go back to the future

The good times are getting ready to roll for Shaw men’s basketball program. And that’s going to spell bad times for many a CIAA opponent.

Joel Hopkins

Joel Hopkins returns to Shaw University carrying a heavy load on his broad shoulders – some of which he’s bringing on himself.

After being re-introduced to Bear Nation on Tuesday – 13 years after leaving Shaw – Hopkins quickly laid down the gauntlet.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge and bringing back a CIAA championship this year to the city of Raleigh,” he said. “This train is already moving, so get on board…Tell James Stinson at Livingstone that I’m coming to see him.”

The Blue Bears are the two-time defending champions.

But this is a different, more mature Hopkins. The younger version was brash, arrogant, crude and mean. That Hopkins would have given Livingstone no respect as champion.

This Hopkins is still brash, but more confident than arrogant and just a little mellow. His comment about Stinson was a respectful challenge that any coach could say since the title does go through Salisbury.

But make no mistake, Hopkins fully expects to put Shaw back at the top in a year. In his mind, he’s still the defending champion since Shaw won the title the year he left.

“I’ve come back to defend my title,” he said.

The Bears were seeking their first tournament championship when Hopkins was hired in 2000. President Talbert O. Shaw was about ready to retire but wanted a men’s trophy under his name before he left.  

Hopkins signed a three-year deal because, he said, if he couldn’t bring home a trophy during that time, he didn’t need to coach. The Bears won it all in his second year with Byron Williams and Cleo Hill Jr. as his assistants.

Williams is returning to Shaw under Hopkins, while Hill, who led the Bears to the 2011 tournament title, was released after his contract expired.

“He (Hopkins) has one of the brightest minds in the nation,” board of trustee and attorney Willie Gary said. “He’s a coach that was born to win, and failure is not an option.

“I want another one of these (pointing to championship ring). That’s why he’s here. He’s the man.”

Shaw went 43-15 in Hopkins’ two seasons and produced one of the greatest players in conference history in Ronald “Flip” Murray. There hasn’t been a player of his caliber in the CIAA since.

Murray was named the 2001-02 NCAA Division II Player of the Year and was drafted in the second round by the Milwaukee Bucks. He spent eight years in the NBA before going overseas and later joining the NBA’s Developmental League.

He also will return to Shaw as an assistant coach while completing his degree. Rounding out the coaching staff will be former Norfolk State coach Donald Freeman.

“I was happy working with my nonprofit, but when coach called, I had to come back,” Williams said. “This is my alma mater, and I love Shaw U.”

When asked about recruiting, Hopkins said he wasn’t interested in McDonald’s All-Americans. He wants the kids rejected by the major Division I conferences – like a Murray.

“I want to work with kids that need a second chance,” he said. “The kids I recruit may not be able to go to the ACC or the SEC, but they have potential. A player is like a piece of coal. You have to keep chipping away until you find that diamond.”

Bonitta Best is sports editor at The Triangle Tribune.

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