>> I like to start all these interviews with the start of your basketball journey.

Who was the first person to put a basketball in your hands?

>> My dad.

I always ran track and field since I was six years old.

I was always the tallest in my classes in elementary and middle school.

He said you know, you should try playing basketball.

I'm like basketball?

Yeah, I tried it and ended up loving it.

So like around 12 or 13 when is I really started to like take it serious.

>> I can tell by the way you play, you are an all around athlete.

What were your events in track and field.

>> High jump and long jump and ran the 100 and 200 meters.

We see the hop on the court, sprint speed as well.

What led to you Syracuse?

Why did you choose to be orange?

>> I was going to say Coach Jack, just the way she was so passionate about basketball.

I could see her love for the game and wanting to see us, you know, win and do good and be successful in life.

So the way she talked to me, her input on my game and just watching practice on my visit, just how she motivated everybody it made me just want to come play for her.

>> The team as a whole has shown so much improvement this year, and you individually have as well what do you think has helped you progress your game year over year.

>> I would say Coach Jack gives us roles to play and focusing on my role and being the best at my role that I can be.

>> Tell me a little bit more about that role.

From my vantage point, your role looks like everything.

Swiss Army knife.

I think of Shy Hawkins, I think of someone who can do everything.

How would you describe your hole role?

>> Something like that, able to rebound, get to the bucket, defense, little things that come with the game.

>> How have you felt about how the season has gone thus far?

What have you gotten the most joy from?

Any particular moments that have stood out to you?

>> I would say like just how we all come together.

I feel like even when we win, it's great.

But even when we lose, we are not the type of team that is going to go and do our own thing after a loss, and like be down.

We come together and we figure out what we can do to be better for the next game.

>> I think a great example of that was the home loss to Virginia tech and the way you all rallied around each other, bounced back against uva.

What is it about this group that makes you so close?

>> Everybody is all in.

They're bought into the game.

Everybody wants to win.

Everybody wants to see each other do good.

So, you know, just having teammates that have that type of mentality is very helpful and it's fun.

>> The fun, the joy that you guys play with is visible.

It's tangible.

What brings you the most joy on the court?

>> Playing a big defensive role.

Like being able to stop their go-to players.

And seeing how that brings us our offense going.

Once I set the tone on defense, we are in a whole different mood and ready to go.

So definitely setting the tone for defense and letting everything else come to me after that.

>> Any hidden talents of yours that the people at home should know about?

I think I've heard some rumblings but I want to hear it from you yourself?

>> >> Yeah, I can sing.

>> Not you think you can sing.

You know you can sing.

>> Yeah, I can sing.

>> What do you like to sing?

>> I would say R&B, slow songs.

I'm sitting singing all the time.

>> Do you take requests from the team?

Are they always asking you?

>> Sometimes when I sing they act like they don't want to hear it and then when they want to hear it and they ask me, I'm like you didn't want to hear it when I was singing.

Don't ask me now.

But sometimes I will bust out a little note.

>> Do you have a note for us here by any chance?

>> No.

>> I had to ask.

Anything else outside of basketball.

What matters to you off the court?

Is it your friends?

Is it your family.

>> I'm very close with all my family members.

Having the support of them and even like outside of basketball, like even just my teammates, how close we are, it definite has an impact on me because compared to last year, it wasn't, you know, the same type of closeness.

So just seeing how genuine everybody else, like you know, how funny everybody else.

It's just a really good feeling to be around them.

>> It's been great to see the reaction, reception from the community this year to the team.

How have you enjoyed being part of the larger Syracuse community and interacting with the fans?

>> They're great.

They're so supportive.

I always hear them during the game.

Halftime, screaming my name or any little thing, I giggle because I hear them.

Their support definitely helps a lot.

The more people I see, it like fuels me up with like adrenaline.

>> Hopefully that support can keep fueling you, Shy Hawkins.

Thank you for your time.

>> Thank you.