Hickson Is Really Impressive at McDonald’s All-American Practices

07-08 Basketball General NCS Basketball58

There have been a lot of impressive reports on JJ Hickson this week. We got the ok, to take a couple quotes from the article on PackPride.com. (well worth the subscription)

The Georgia native had yet another strong performance in practice Monday, showing an emerging perimeter game that was non-existent for so long. He displayed great hands and finished well inside, while still knocking down 15 foot jumpers on a regular basis. It has been a big week thus far for Hickson in separating himself from some of the other power forwards in the class of 2007, and a strong performance in the McDonald’s game itself would seal the deal.(NBA DRAFT EXPRESS)

J.J. Hickson is one of the guys that has impressed on lookers with his recent play against top-notch competition.

“I think I’ve been playing really well,” Hickson said after practice. “I just come out here with this type of competition and play hard, basically just go hard and have fun.”

During the first day of practice Hickson went to work on teammate Patrick Patterson. The 6-foot-9, 220-pound senior scored on Patterson a number of times and he used a variety of moves to create looks for himself in the post.

“I don’t know how many I scored,” he said of his match up with Patterson. “I was just playing and having fun with my teammates.”

Hickson’s recent play has been impressive and he’s definitely made an impression on the scout’s in attendance. He possesses long arms and is an above-average athlete, so he’s going to get his hands on some shots.

He also likes to bang on the block and it’s clear he’s been lifting weights and has dedicated himself to getting in shape. His post moves are what stood out the most, as he’s been able to score over most defenders using drop-steps and step-through moves.

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07-08 Basketball General NCS Basketball

58 Responses to Hickson Is Really Impressive at McDonald’s All-American Practices

  1. primacyone 03/28/2007 at 3:19 PM #

    Degand’s strength is his dribble drive with a kick over/back to somebody.

    I may be wrong but the last PG can remember that had that tendancy was Archie Miller and he mostly kicked out to the corners for the trey and he was not nearly as fast as Degand so he got hung up in the middle substantially more than I cared for. I also think I remember hearing Degand is just as good going to the left or the right on the dribble penetration.

    We could just have two complete rotations. BC, BM, Horner, FD and MJ then JJ, Javi, Fells, Smith, and Grant. Just kidding, but it would be possible.

    Either way we should be GOOOOOD!!!!!

  2. Rick 03/28/2007 at 3:32 PM #

    “I may be wrong but the last PG can remember that had that tendancy was Archie Miller ”

    I do not remember Archie doing anythign but shooting threes and gettnig beat on defense. He was too slow to drive and if he happened to get in the lane he had to pass because he woudl be blocked otherwise.

  3. primacyone 03/28/2007 at 3:43 PM #

    ^Ha, Ha. Nail on the head with that Rick.

    He didn’t do it a lot and he was certainly slow about it, but he had the most tendancy of anybody I can recall since Corch.

    Corch was the master. He could do it and you not even know what he was doing it. He’d set up in his head about 10 seconds before hand and take his defender all the way to the other side and then drive back across usually with a pass option on both the inside and the outside.

  4. noah 03/28/2007 at 3:45 PM #

    Corch was unbelievable at penetrating into the lane and dishing to the wings. Those little wrap-around passes were things of beauty.

  5. RedTerror29 03/28/2007 at 3:50 PM #

    If Degand is another Corch we’re going to the Final Four. But I’d say that’s a mighty big IF.

  6. choppack1 03/28/2007 at 4:33 PM #

    “It’s not meant as a knock on our players. Wright was UNC’s 2nd best player this year, as well. They were a Top Five team. He started.”

    Yea, but the question is which starter did he knock out? Last year UNC started Hansbro, Noel, Terry, Frazier and someone else…Terry didn’t start in the last 2 games this year, but I think this year he was a regular season starter.

    2 years ago, UNC-Ch didn’t start Marvin Williams – they started May, Manual, Jawad Williams, McCants and Felton…Jawad would have been a legit 3.

    I don’t think you can underestimate the experience that our 4 returning starters bring. Remember, Marvin Williams was a Top 5 prospect and he couldn’t knock out Jackie Manual…Ben, Costner, Grant and Fells have been through the war now for 2 years. They now know exactly what kind of effort is required every day to be successful and they know exactly what the competition is like. Hickson has no clue. AAU ball prepares you as well as not going through what those 4 went thru, but there is no comparison.

    This doesn’t mean that Hickson won’t evenually displace one of those 4, but it I think we’re putting too much on his shoulders if we think he’s going to displace a starter who averaged double figures last year which is what he had to do.

    One thing is certain – Big Ben, Costner and Hickson can be very aggressive…Finally, I’m not so sure my favorite lineup won’t be a fast line up of Degand, Javy, Fells, Grant and one of the big 3. Options are a great thing.

  7. BJD95 03/28/2007 at 5:03 PM #

    I can also envision a “full court press” lineup of Degand, MJ, Fells, Grant, and McCauley. Swap Costner for Big Ben if there is a related need to shoot 3s.

    IIRC, Roy thought Marvin was better suited to come in off the bench, and didn’t start him even when another regular was available.

  8. BJD95 03/28/2007 at 5:40 PM #

    I meant “wasn’t available”. Can’t wait to see JJ tonight!

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