Penn men’s basketball received a commitment yesterday from Tony Hicks, a 6-foot-1, 175-pound guard out of St. Rita’s High School in Chicago, according to multiple reports.
Hicks joins fellow guard Jamal Lewis in Penn basketball’s Class of 2012 recruitment, and like Lewis, he appears to be a highly talented pickup for the Quakers.
“I think he’s one of the most underrated players around,” St. Rita’s coach Gary DeCesare told ESPN Chicago. “He’s done a very, very good job this summer working on his game. He’s a scoring guard, but he could also play the point.”
That last attribute was likely key in Hicks’ recruitment, as Penn’s future backcourt looks to be extremely deep in talent. Hicks will play with Lewis as well as sophomore standout Miles Cartwright and freshmen Patrick Lucas-Perry and Camryn Crocker.
Rated an 87 by ESPN, Hicks had offers from George Mason, South Florida, Dayton and Loyola, among others. He averaged 16 points per game during his junior season at St. Rita’s.
Hicks took an official visit to Penn’s campus the weekend of Sept. 17. He was one of several recruiting targets — including Lewis — to visit that weekend.
“They definitely showed that they wanted me,” Hicks told the Chicago Sun-Times’ Joe Henricksen. “That was important to me — to go to a place where I was wanted. They showed that in the beginning and throughout the recruiting process.”
“Plus, there is a real opportunity for me to contribute as a freshman,” he said. “There is a great group of guys in the program there. It felt like a family.”
With two dynamic guards in tow, Penn basketball will continue to search for a big man. Mike Hall, an extremely promising 6-foot-10 Penn target, committed to Harvard on Monday, according to CBS Sports.
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
DonatePlease note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.