May 26, 2004

NKU BASKETBALL INKS TWO STANDOUTS

Norse sign local standouts Hawkins, Rasso

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - A pair of local prep standouts have signed national letters of intent to attend Northern Kentucky University and play men’s basketball next season. Mark Hawkins, a 6-foot-2 shooting guard from Finneytown High School, has signed to play at NKU. Also joining the NKU roster is 6-8 Travis Rasso, a post player from Boone County High School. Hawkins and Rasso are the first two recruits signed by Dave Bezold, who was selected as NKU’s head coach on April 22. Hawkins averaged 20.2 points and 7.0 rebounds per game last season at Finneytown. He earned first team All-Cincinnati Hills League accolades as a senior and was named Ohio Division II Honorable Mention All-State. Hawkins finished his career as Finneytown’s all-time leading scorer with 1,435 points. He earned four letters for the Wildcats and averaged at least 19 points per game three straight years at Finneytown. Rasso averaged 15 points and 10.4 rebounds last season at Boone County. He also set a Boone County single-season record with 123 blocked shots and made 62 percent of his attempts from the field. With Rasso inside, Boone County posted a 26-4 record and advanced to the championship game of the Ninth Region Tournament. The Rebels also captured the 33rd District championship in 2004. NKU posted a 16-15 record last season and finished seventh in the Great Lakes Valley Conference with a 9-11 mark.