Former UGA star Nicolas Claxton will work out for the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks on Saturday.

Unlike the Atlanta Falcons, which seem to go out of the way to pass on former Bulldogs in the NFL draft at every opportunity – the Hawks have some serious UGA connections. After all, the “greatest Hawk of them all” was a Bulldog (Dominique Wilkins).

Back to Claxton: He appears to be rising on the NBA Draft boards. He was projected to be selected at No. 17 overall by the Hawks in a recent mock draft by The Rookie Wire’s Michael Visenberg.

The 6-foot-11, 220-pound Claxton followed in his father’s footsteps to play basketball at UGA. He starred in two seasons for the Bulldogs, averaging 13 points and 8.6 rebounds this past year.

Claxton could very well be drafted by the Hawks, since they hold six of the first 44 picks in the 2019 NBA Draft, which tips off on Thursday. The Hawks have the No. 8 and No. 10 spots, along with Nos. 17, 35, 41 and 44.

Wilkins is – by far – the most famous NBA player to ever wear a Hawks jersey. He’s an NBA Hall of Famer who was nicknamed “The Human Highlight Film” for his jaw-dropping power dunks.

Other former Bulldogs to play for the Hawks include Damien Wilkins, Cedric Henderson, Antonio Harvey, and Herb White.