FORT MYERS, Fla.- Florida SouthWestern sharpshooter AJ Hopkins will be taking his talents to the Division I level next season after signing his National Letter of Intent to play for the University of Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks on Spring signing day at Suncoast Credit Union Arena last week. 

 

Hopkins played in 60 games for the Bucs the past two seasons, drawing 50 starts.  He buried 110 three pointers during his FSW career, putting him second in school history, while connecting at a 39.1% clip which is fourth best in program history. Hopkins was a 2^nd Team All-Citrus Conference pick as a sophomore for the Bucs, averaging just under 10 points per game while shooting 42% from the three point line. He had three 20+ point scoring games this season including a career high 23 point rffort against Daytona State in which he finished 7-11 from the three point line in a 109-106 thriller with the Falcons. 

 

Hopkins will join a UT-Martin squad coming off of a 20 win season.  The Skyhawks will be under new leadership in 2024-2025 as former Eastern Florida State coach Jeremy Schulman takes over for UTM.  Expectedly, Shulman has gone junior college heavy in building his roster for next season as Hopkins is one of eight NJCAA transfers headed to Martin, including six from the Citrus Conference.  

 

Hopkins is one of six Bucs to sign at the NCAA Division I level this season joining teammates Dezdrick Lindsay (Oregon), Jaehshon Thomas (Radford), Reis Jones (Charleston Southern), Yvens Paul (Eastern Kentucky), and Karmani Gregory (USC-Upstate).