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The Sports Xchange

OVERVIEW

One of the most coveted prep players in the South, head coach Sidney Lowe felt that he won the lottery when J.J. Hickson decided to enroll at North Carolina State. With Brandon Costner and Ben McCauley already in the post, the Wolfpack envisioned a frontcourt that could rival any Atlantic Coast Conference powerhouse.

Costner (8.5 points, 4.6 rebounds per game) and McCauley (6.1 ppg/3.7 rpg) both had sub-par seasons, spending more than half the year coming off the bench. Hickson more than lived up to his press clippings. He was one of just three ACC freshmen to average more than 28 minutes per game. He would go on to lead the conference in field-goal percentage (59.1), as he finished second in the league in rebounding (8.5 per game), third in defensive rebounds (182), sixth in blocked shots (47) and 10th in scoring (14.8 per game). His scoring, rebounding and blocked shots were the best totals of any freshman in the conference.

At Wheeler High School, Hickson earned McDonald's All-American first-team and Parade All-American second-team honors. He was ranked 16th nationally among high school players by Rivals.com, a service that listed him as the third-best power forward. He was selected to Rivals' Elite Team and named the country's best low-post scorer. Prep Star and The Sporting News both ranked him 20th overall in the 2007 class, and he was rated the third-best center in the country by Scout.com.

Hickson averaged 25.9 points, 13.8 rebounds and 3.0 blocks as a senior, earning first-team All-State honors from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. In the team's first-round playoff loss, he scored 18 points and had 13 rebounds. As a junior, he again garnered All-State accolades, averaging 21 points, 15 rebounds and six blocked shots to help the team to the Class 5-A state title game, before Wheeler lost snapping its 52-game winning streak. He also averaged 15 points, 10 boards and 3.5 blocks during his sophomore season.

Hickson was invited to the USA Basketball Men's U19 World Championship Team Trials in Dallas, Texas in July 2007. He led the East team in scoring with 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting, also adding six rebounds in 15 minutes at the McDonald's All-American game. He was also his team's leading scorer with 24 points and had eight rebounds at the Roundball Classic in Chicago, earning co-MVP honors.

At North Carolina State in 2007-08, Hickson played in 31 games, starting 29 contests. He led the team in scoring (14.8 per game), field-goal percentage (59.1 percent ) and free throw shots made (132-of-195). He also paced the Gamecocks in rebounding (8.5 per game) and blocked shots (1.5 per game), but also led them in turnovers (83). He also produced 10 double-double performances, scoring in double figures in 25 games.

ANALYSIS

Positives: Mature beyond his years, both from a physical and mental standpoint…Is an athletic runner with the long wingspan and power base to pose problems for more physical centers…Slippery mover in help defense, doing a nice job with rotations…Looks a bit on the lean side, but can carry additional bulk with no loss in his timed speed, if required to play center, but might be a better prospect at his current weight, as he has explosive quickness moving around the floor…Very focused on the court and for such a young player he is quite savvy, rarely biting on fakes…Has the speed to blow past bigger forwards -- most of his scoring comes on post moves…Also displays the power to punish smaller shooters that try to drive past him…Played mostly on instincts as a freshman, but you can see the technique, mechanics and work ethic to indicate he'll add polish to his overall game (free-throw shooting is his biggest weakness)…Might not be the biggest forward on the court, but compensates for a lack of size with good quickness and sometimes looks like a guard with his ability to hedge on screens when playing on the perimeter…Not the type that will rush shots, showing good patience while taking what the defense gives him…Has the strength to absorb contact and inside pounding working in the paint…When matched up a big center that is trying to alter his shots, Hickson shows enough savvy to not try and fire over the taller defender…Excellent rebounder, using a combination of length, agility, timing and elevation ... Determined to get every board he can reach…Very physical playing around the basket and likes to attack regularly inside the key…Gets very good elevation on his turnaround jumper, as few bigger men can get up and alter the shot…Gets a good second jump going up for the ball…Very effective at getting into the lane to fire off his baby hook shot…The thing that catches your eye is the suddenness he shows rotating out to take on the shooter…Has the lateral quickness to mirror perimeter shooters and stays in his stance to face up to that opponent with arms properly extended…Shows good balance and body control getting up and down the court and good stamina to log stretches of minutes in an up-tempo attack…Uses his aggression and strength to consistently finish at the rim, whether on the cut or when operating in transition…With his foot quickness, power and array of moves, especially a smooth spin, he can make a nice living on his post scoring skills…Has a very good drop-step and a nifty pump fake to draw his man out…Surprises a lethargic defender when he suddenly pulls up to sink a mid-range jumper…Finishes above the rim and has good touch and good hands managing the ball, showing a good array of moves and fakes to take his man off the dribble and elevate to the basket…Has the soft hands needed to pass out of double teams…Effective when putting the ball on the floor for a dribble or two and creating his own shot, but won't force it when pressured, as he shows the vision to pass out of the post when the defense collapses…Can draw contact driving to the rim or fade back and hoist a soft mid-range jumper from 15 feet away from the net…Has developing face-the-basket shooting ability, but until he becomes more confident, most of his points come in transition or playing with his back to the basket…In the short area, he doers a good job of using the glass to finish his shot…Has the ability to cut to the basket, elevate and secure the offensive rebounds for the putback…With his foot quickness and explosion elevating off the floor, he excels driving through contact and dunking the ball, getting a "freebie" along the way from the contact drawn to get to the charity stripe (runs hot and cold from the foul line)…His spin move is quite effective when establishing position inside…Shows nice moves on the low block and great hands to field the post-entry passes.

Negatives: Dominant boxing out smaller opponents, but while he has good strength, he lacks the bulk and size to drive bigger centers out of the paint…Might be a better fit at power forward, but needs to improve his stamina…Shows good power moves driving to the basket, but he spent an unordinary amount of time fading back from the basket to execute his mid-range jumper (while that shot is developing nicely, he is better when driving to the rim)…When he does fade, he loses a bit of his touch, as his release point becomes very inconsistent…His post moves are still a work in progress…Can put the ball on the floor for a dribble or two, but is a bit loose with his handle…Must do a better job of squaring his shoulder when executing his jumper…Has good rebounding skills, but sometimes gets so engrossed in going for the ball, he forgets to box out…Looks a bit lethargic at times playing transition games, but has spent the offseason building his physique and now shows better quickness getting up and down the court when viewed at his training facility in April…Has the speed to defend vs. perimeter shooters, but when he tires late in games, he will get out of control and become foul prone…Has very good hands to finish inside, but his perimeter game will need another year or two to develop, as he seems very reluctant to shoot from three-point range (took just one unsuccessful shot from that range last year)…Is still working on his face-the-basket skills, as he has very limited range with his jump shot when taking those attempts with his left hand (has much better range with his right, but needs to improve his off-hand, so defenses are not that quick to predict his shot).

Compares To: AL HARRINGTON-Golden State…Hickson lacks the size to play center in the NBA, but he has the physical tools -- length, elevation, strong frame and explosive leaping ability -- to be an effective NBA power forward. He is very coordinated in the open floor and shows good bounce in his step, especially on second-effort jumps around the basket for putbacks and rebounds. He has developed good back-to-the-basket skills, but lacks confidence in his long-range jumper, as he does not like shooting from the perimeter. In the paint, he can elevate for resounding dunks and shows nifty spin and hesitation moves to get the defender on his heels. Hickson's game is right-hand dominant, lacking any sort of range with his left hand and he'll need improved stamina to last an NBA season. He will need another year or two to develop, being a late first-round player this year. Had Hickson returned to N.C. State, he would have likely been a lottery pick in 2009.

CAREER NOTES

His field-goal percentage of .591 led the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2007-08 and ranks third on the school list behind Kevin Thompson (.624 in 1991-92; .605 in 1990-91)…That percentage (.591) also topped Thompson's previous school record (minimum 200 attempts) of .588 (1990-93)…Blocked 47 shots as a freshman, tying Kevin Thompson (1991-92) for ninth on the Gamecocks' list…His 80 offensive rebounds in 2007-08 rank second on the school list behind Damien Wilkins (94, 1999-2000)…Hickson's 23 rebounds vs. Clemson (2/16/08) were the most ever by a freshman in school annals and were the most by a Gamecock since Tommy Burleson hauled down 24 vs. Providence (3/14/74)…His 23 rebounds were the most by an ACC player since Len Elmore of Maryland grabbed 26 vs. Wake Forest (2/27/74)…Only the eighth freshman in Atlantic Coast Conference history to lead his team in both scoring and rebounds during the same season (2007-08).

2007-08 SEASON

Freshman All-American second-team choice by The NBA Draft Report, earning honorable mention from CollegeHoops.net…Unanimous Atlantic Coast Conference All-Freshman Team selection…Also earned All-ACC honorable mention (overall)…Presented with the David Thompson Award, given to the men's basketball player who displayed exceptional skills, versatility, a high level of productivity, and a winning attitude…Started 26-of-31 games he played in, seeing action at center and power forward…Was briefly benched vs. Miami in the season finale due to a team rules infraction…The eighth freshman in league annals to lead his team in scoring and rebounds in the same season, Hickson poured in 458 points, ranking tenth in the ACC with an average of 14.8 points per game…Led the ACC with a .591 field-goal percentage, making 163-of-276 shots…Shot just 67.7 percent from the foul line, but led the Gamecocks with 132 free throws made (195 attempts)…Led the squad and ranked second in the conference with an average of 8.5 rebounds per game (262 total), as his 80 offensive boards ranked sixth in the ACC and his 182 defensive picks ranked third…Credited with 31 assists (1.0 per game) and 22 steals (0.7 per game)…Led the team with 47 blocked shots (1.5 per game), the sixth-best total in the conference…Produced ten double-double performances, the second-best total in the ACC in 2007-08 and tops among the league's first-year players…One of just three ACC freshmen to average more than 28 minutes of action per game (28.71).

2007-08 GAME ANALYSIS

Started his State career in explosive fashion, becoming the first freshman to ever make all 12 of his shots, as he grabbed seven boards, blocked a shot and had one assist while totaling 31 points vs. William & Mary…Followed with 22 points, 13 rebounds, three blocks and an assist vs. New Orleans…Blocked three shots while posting six rebounds and 13 points vs. Rider…Flipped in 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting to go with six rebounds and two blocked shots vs. Villanova…Scored 21 points in 29 minutes vs. Michigan State, adding ten rebounds while blocking four shots…Snared eight boards, as he had a pair of blocks and 15 points vs. East Carolina…Added 18 points, making 10-of-13 free throws to go with eight rebounds vs. South Carolina State…Hauled down ten boards and tallied 13 points vs. Seton Hall…Generated a season-high 33 points on 10-of-11 shooting, as he also had two steals, three blocked shots and 13 rebounds vs. Western Carolina…Scored 13 points with eight rebounds vs. North Carolina Central and 14 points with another eight boards vs. North Carolina, twice stealing the ball from All-American Tyler Hansbrough… Added nine rebounds, two blocks and 14 points vs. Miami, followed by ten rebounds, 12 points and four blocked shots in the Georgia Tech clash…For the third-straight game, Hickson brought down ten rebounds, as he dished out two assists and gained 14 points vs. Duke…Shot just 2-of-8 from the field to total 10 points, but snared 14 boards vs. Wake Forest…Made 13-of-17 free throws vs. Virginia Tech, scoring 21 points with two blocks and three steals…Had nine rebounds and 14 points vs. Maryland and 20 points on 9-of-13 field goals with seven rebounds vs. Boston College…Shattered the boards for a season-high 23 rebounds, adding four blocks, two assists and a steal while picking up 13 points in the Clemson contest…The Gamecocks made an early exit in the ACC Tournament with a 63-50 loss to Miami, but Hickson totaled 27 points, hitting on 11-of-15 attempts from the charity stripe while pulling in 14 rebounds vs. Miami.

AAU/SUMMER BASKETBALL

Invited to the USA Basketball Men's U19 World Championship Team Trials in Dallas, Texas in July 2007…Led the East team in scoring with 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting, also adding six rebounds in 15 minutes at the McDonald's All-American game…Team's leading scorer with 24 points and had eight rebounds at the Roundball Classic in Chicago, earning co-MVP honors.

INJURY REPORT

No injuries reported.

HIGH SCHOOL

Attended Joseph Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.) High School, playing basketball for head coach Doug Lipscomb…Earned McDonald's All-American first-team and Parade All-American second-team honors…Ranked 16th nationally among high school players by Rivals.com, as that service listed him as the third-best power forward ... Selected to Rivals' Elite Team and named the country's best low-post scorer…Prep Star and The Sporting News both ranked him 20th overall in the 2007 class, and he was rated the third-best center in the country by Scout.com…Averaged 25.9 points, 13.8 rebounds and 3.0 blocks as a senior, earning first-team All-State honors from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution…In the team's first round playoff loss, he scored 18 points and had 13 rebounds…As a junior, he again garnered All-State accolades, averaging 21 points, 15 rebounds and six blocked shots…Helped the team to the Class 5-A state title game, before Wheeler lost snapping its 52-game winning streak…Averaged 15 points, 10 boards and 3.5 blocks as a sophomore.

PERSONAL

Enrolled in the school's first-year college program (General Studies)…Son of Marie Myers…Born 9/04/88…Resides in Marietta, Georgia.