By JOSEPH HALM
Written for LSWA
When Drew Timmons started as an eighth-grader on the Hannan basketball team, the Hawks had never won a playoff game since moving to their current campus in Covington.
Fast forward five years and the 6-foot-6 standout finished his high school career as the leading player on a state championship team for the second time in four years, and for that, he has been selected as the Louisiana Farm Bureau Insurance/Mr. Basketball by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.
“It feels great knowing that I’ll leave a legacy behind at Hannan,” Timmons said. “Just finishing my high school career out doing stuff that no one has ever done at Hannan is special. Before I got here, we had never won a playoff game on this campus, so to build it up from that to two state championships is definitely something special.”
Timmons’ legacy goes beyond the state championships. He finished his prep basketball career with 2,910 points and 1,491 rebounds as a five-year starter. As a senior, he averaged 21.4 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game and capped his season with 22 points and four rebounds in a 59-55 win over Shaw in the Division II select championship game where he also claimed Most Outstanding Player honors.
Hannan coach Errol Gauff credited Timmons’ work ethic and versatility — he also led the Hawks in steals — for his success.
“He’s able to affect the game as more than just a low-post player,” Gauff said. “Whether it is as a driver, cutter or passer, the fact that he can do all those things is a big reason why I think he is garnering these postseason awards. I’m glad people are realizing just how versatile he is on the basketball court on offense and defense.”
The Hawks finished with a 26-7 record, including an 11-game winning streak en route to the title. But that road to the championship was challenging as the Hawks knocked off Kennedy, eventual Division I nonselect champion Zachary and Walker before rolling to the District 7-4A title.
Timmons took over in the playoffs, posting 25 points, 12 rebounds and three assists in a quarterfinals win over Vandebilt Catholic before recording eight points with 11 rebounds in an intense defensive battle during a 31-29 semifinals win over traditional power and defending champion Peabody.
The state championship was also a special family moment for Timmons as he shared the court with his younger brother, Gabe. Timmons won the Hawks’ first title while older brother Luke also on the team.
“I got Luke a ring, so I had to get my other brother a ring to keep it fair; otherwise, there would have been arguments,” Timmons said with a laugh as the brothers posed for photos after the championship game.
Timmons joins Salmen’s Chris Duhon (2000) as just the second player from St. Tammany Parish to win the award.
La. Farm Bureau Insurance/LSWA Mr. Basketball winners
1996: Lester Earl, Glen Oaks
1997: Marcus Fizer, Arcadia
1998: Stromile Swift, Fair Park
1999: Bernard King, Gibsland Coleman
2000: Chris Duhon, Salmen
2001: Donald Perry, McCall
2002: Darrel Mitchell Jr., St. Martinville
2003: Paul Millsap, Grambling
2004: Glen Davis, University
2005: Tasmin Mitchell, Denham Springs
2006: Demond Carter, Reserve Christian
2007: Greg Monroe, Helen Cox
2008: Greg Monroe, Helen Cox
2009: Joevoskie Mitchell, Zwolle
2010: Markel Brown, Peabody
2011: Ricardo Gathers, Riverside
2012: Dee Wagner, Peabody
2013: Jarell Martin, Madison Prep
2014: Reginal Johnson Jr., Richwood
2015: Brandon Sampson, Madison Prep
2016: Javonte Smart, Scotlandville
2017: Javonte Smart, Scotlandville
2018: Javonte Smart, Scotlandville
2019: Jalen Cook, Walker
2020: Reece Beekman, Scotlandville
2021: Carlos Stewart, The Dunham School
2022: Solomon Washington, Carver
2023: Chris Lockett, Newman
2024: Allen Graves, Ponchatoula
2025: Drew Timmons, Hannan