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La Academia\u2019s bench is mostly empty chairs. Only seven players are available for each game. There should be one more.<\/p>\n
Quinnes Jones-Hawkins was supposed to be a starter for the Lancaster city charter school. His basketball season ended during Week 9 of football.<\/p>\n
Jones-Hawkins, playing for McCaskey, tried to make a tackle near the sideline. Two of his own linemen crashed into him. The result was a torn ACL in his left knee.<\/p>\n
The junior spends his school days limping around in a giant brace. He spends his evenings doing the rehabilitation that will bring him back.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first day, I was emotional,\u201d Jones-Hawkins said. \u201cI went back to the locker room and I was really going through it.\u201d<\/p>\n
La Academia, a perennial qualifier for the PIAA Tournament in Class 1A, could use the 6-0 guard as it heads down the stretch. Los Leones are 9-8 and ranked sixth in District Three.<\/p>\n
Coach Jerry Johnson happened to be in attendance when Jones-Hawkins suffered his injury. Johnson\u2019s 1999-2000 McCaskey team was being inducted into the school\u2019s Hall of Fame that night.<\/p>\n
A festive mood turned sour.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a huge loss for us,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cQ was one of our starters. He\u2019s another ballhandler, a defender, a good IQ who understands basketball.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jones-Hawkins was one of McCaskey\u2019s most versatile and talented football players. He played quarterback, receiver and running back on offense and cornerback, safety and outside linebacker on defense.<\/p>\n
Football is a family tradition. Jones-Hawkins\u2019 dad is former Donegal great Barry Hawkins. Father and son watched college games in the basement when Quinnes was younger.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has a mind that understands the game,\u201d McCaskey coach Todd Mealy said. \u201cHe\u2019s a competitor. He wants to win. He seems to grasp smaller nuances better than most kids.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jones-Hawkins was McCaskey\u2019s only Lancaster-Lebanon League Section One first team all-star on both offense and defense.<\/p>\n
McCaskey\u2019s Week 10 assignment was at Penn Manor on a frigid night in October. Mealy told Jones-Hawkins he could skip it if he wanted. Jones-Hawkins was there.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven in the moment, Quinnes showed some mental strength, some fortitude about what just happened to him,\u201d Mealy said. \u201cHe handled it like an adult.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jones-Hawkins rushed for 230 yards and three touchdowns. He had 12 receptions for 121 yards and another score. One of McCaskey\u2019s priorities was to get the ball into the hands of its biggest threat any way possible.<\/p>\n
Injuries are painful on multiple fronts. There\u2019s the actual torn ligament. That\u2019s bad enough. There\u2019s also the loneliness and time spent away from sports.<\/p>\n
Jones-Hawkins is in group chats and must tune it out when his teammates are hitting the weight room or gathering for some other kind of workout. The closest the junior gets to competition right now is his PlayStation 5.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like being busy and active,\u201d Jones-Hawkins said. \u201cI\u2019m always out places. It\u2019s different. I\u2019m at my house not doing anything. Just doing my stretches and all that.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s even harder to stay connected with La Academia\u2019s basketball team because it mostly plays road games and it doesn\u2019t have a home gym.<\/p>\n
Johnson said Jones-Hawkins\u2019 contributions weren\u2019t always evident in stats and have been difficult to replace.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe football correlates to the court,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cSo you lose that toughness that you need to set the tone in games. Guard their best player. Hound them a little bit. That\u2019s what we miss.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jones-Hawkins hopes to continue football in college. Before that opportunity arrives, his goal is to return for his senior season.<\/p>\n
At this point, he said he expects to be in action not long after Week 1 in August. That\u2019ll be a memorable night. One he can\u2019t help but picture in his mind.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been thinking about that a lot,\u201d Jones-Hawkins said. \u201cWhen I get back on the field, it\u2019s gonna be a little scary at first. I\u2019m definitely gonna be proud of myself for getting through it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jones-Hawkins can\u2019t wait to compete again. Not in video games. In real life.<\/p>\n