Former Laker Primes March Madness Pump

Tommy “The Hawk” Hawkins will be keynote speaker Monday, March 18, at the “Prelude to March Madness” presented by the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table. Hawkins played college basketball at Notre Dame before embarking on a 10-year NBA career with the Lakers and the Cincinnati Royals during the 1960s.

Local basketball coaches will offer their views on the upcoming NCAA men’s and women’s tournaments.

The program will start at 6 p.m. at the Cabrillo Arts Center Pavilion on East Beach. It will be preceded by a reception at 5:30. Members of the public who are interested in the Round Table’s mission of supporting scholastic sports in the community are welcome to attend. (Reservations: 805-705-4949).

Westmont College women’s coach Kirsten Moore will not be able to attend the gathering. Her Warriors are playing in the NAIA Final Four for the first time Monday after winning three games last week in Frankfort, Kentucky.