Quote :

"Star recruit Hickson picks N.C. State over Vols By CHRIS LOW Staff Writer KNOXVILLE – Tennessee lost out today on one of the premier basketball prospects in the country when J.J. Hickson announced that he would attend North Carolina State. The 6-foot-8 Hickson, a power forward, made his announcement at his high school, Wheeler, in Marietta, Ga. He had earlier narrowed his choices to the Wolfpack and the Vols. Rated as the 15th-best prospect in the country by Rivals.com, Hickson said his relationship with first-year N.C. State Coach Sidney Lowe was the deciding factor. “He got to know me as a person and not just a basketball player,” Hickson told Rivals.com. “In fact, I don’t think he offered me a scholarship until three weeks after we started talking. He got to know me real well. I kind of look at him like my big brother or a father figure.” The Vols still have three scholarships to give for the 2007 class. The early signing period opens next month."

10/14/2006 2:55:47 AM

I already love the guy.

seriously

10/14/2006 3:00:47 AM

w00t w00t

10/14/2006 3:09:38 AM

I love it. Step by step, the Herb dick riders have less and less to cry about.

<fantasy land>waaaah waaaah, Herb was going to keep Simmons, Brackman, and take us to the final four with Wright.</fantasy land>

Maybe one of these days the Herb-loving women will learn something about risk-reward and effective decision making.


[Edited on October 14, 2006 at 3:15 AM. Reason : V did you mean that in a dirty way?]

10/14/2006 3:13:13 AM

how do you get a kid to call you a "father figure" after 4 months? one of which there was limited contact

10/14/2006 3:13:16 AM

By being the smartest player Jim Valvano ever coached.

[/set up]

10/14/2006 3:19:24 AM

what i love most about him is that he's won a nat'l championship here. he knows what can be done, and wants to do it. herb was seemingly satisfied w/ just making the dance.

but that's not fair b/c it was a clean program and the players graduated

10/14/2006 5:44:36 AM

Yeah, Herb had no ambition. He actually admitted to me once that he liked losing. It kept his ego in check. He thought going past the Sweet 16 would be a little too showy.

Get real.

10/14/2006 6:30:34 AM

hookers
blow
jewelry

10/14/2006 8:08:08 AM

Lowe will have the I've been to the NBA and coached in the NBA and know what it takes to get there edge in recruiting. Hopefully the good news will keep coming.

10/14/2006 8:45:17 AM

now lets get this tracy smith kid

10/14/2006 9:39:21 AM

coz, my sarasmometer is flickering

are you serious about the herb statements about losing lol

10/14/2006 9:53:17 AM

I heard that Herb's ambition when he was little was to be vice president.

10/14/2006 10:23:23 AM

This is certainly good.

10/14/2006 10:41:50 AM

coz, that's some bullshit. i don't believe you.

10/14/2006 11:09:51 AM

but damn imagine th possibilities if Simmons was still here and with this Hicks..guy.....oh well Lowe will bring in quality players...I ve heard great things about SId's managing style.

10/14/2006 11:36:37 AM

That's because I totally made it up. I've never even spoken to Herb. I think it's a rather ridiculous assertion that he was content just making the dance. Every coach wants to win. I liked Herb.

10/14/2006 7:38:02 PM

^ I dont think its ridiculous at all.


In fact I think it's very clear that Herb's goals were to make the tournament.


We didnt play a style of basketball that gave us the best chance to win. We played to have a chance to win if the other team didnt play that well.

10/15/2006 2:20:16 PM

Quote :

"how do you get a kid to call you a "father figure" after 4 months?"

You've likely had your father in your life from day one, do you know if Hickson has? 4 months is way more than nothing. I read his grandmother was one of his biggest influences, and she looks ot be at least 6 2"

I think it's going to be sweeter if we become successful with Simmons leaving, therefore it will all be attributed to Lowe, because the cupboard is bare right now so any success will have to be given to him.

10/15/2006 3:11:53 PM

Make no mistake this is a HUGE recruiting coup.

Lowe went head to head with one of the hottest coaches in the country and pulled in a big name. It's always hardest to get the first guy, lets hope this leads to other big recruits. This really softens the blow of losing Chris Wright and should take a lot of pressure off him for this season. Even if we don't have a great year at least we have some talent on the way.

10/15/2006 3:14:29 PM

http://getlowe.ytmnd.com/

10/15/2006 3:16:42 PM

rallydurham knows what's up.

10/15/2006 6:17:42 PM

YES

we needed this after last week

he'll be able to make an impact immediately when he gets here b/c of his size

10/15/2006 6:22:37 PM

The key will be how Lowe implements Hickson.


Personally, I think we should post him up at the three point line like Herb always did so valiantly with our big men.

10/15/2006 6:26:44 PM

^ i second that


[/sarcasm]

10/15/2006 11:14:30 PM

I am extremely happy about Hickson (still somewhat bummed about Wright though).

And it does look like Lowe has a flair for recruiting, If we can get a top PG for 2008 I will do some flips.

Hopefully Hickson will stay a few years.

10/15/2006 11:20:11 PM