Hopkins averaged 30 points and 17 rebounds a game during his career as a Tiger. He was a two-time National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics All-American under Eddie Robinson – who was not only Grambling's football coach but also the Tigers' basketball coach at the time – and was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1961. Hopkins is Grambling's all-time scoring and rebounding leader and led the Tigers to two conference championships.