Sophomore Josh Hagins enjoyed a strong freshman season at UALR, averaging 8.1 points and a team-high 3.1 assists while serving as the team’s starting point guard in 19 of 31 contests. This season Hagins’ roll looks to evolve, as the addition of two new point guards could allow him to play off the ball and showcase a scoring prowess he showed in spurts as a freshman.
“It was a new experience, jumping from high school to college – such a high level,” said Hagins of his freshman season with the Trojans. “The speed of the game, it picks up, so you’ve got to pick up your decision making on the fly. But I think I did a pretty decent job.”
Hagins reached double figures in scoring 13 times in his freshman season, including 10 times over a 12-game span. In Sun Belt Conference play, he ranked sixth in the league in assists (3.3 apg) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.6) while ranking in the top 15 of the conference in field goal percentage (47.3) and three-point field goal percentage (36.1).
“I think he had a good freshman year,” said assistant coach Charles Cunningham. “I think one of the things that comes with maturity and experience is good decision making, and I think until they stop playing, that’s always an area point guards can improve in. It’s paramount that they make good decisions because the ball is in their hands most of the time. “
