Louisville Courier: Nice Compliment on JJ Hickson

07-08 Basketball General NCS Basketball47

JJ Hickson led all scorers on the East team last night with 14 points last night at Louisville’s Freedom Hall. We caught this blurb on Hickson in the morning paper:

The latest greatest high school players bounced through Freedom Hall in the 2007 McDonald’s game last night. I’ve made many silly predictions in my life. Why not one more?

Or actually, why not five more?

After watching 40 minutes of running, soaring and slamming (along with 12 seconds of defense), I made my list of the five players I’d draft first from the 24 who participated in the game the West won 114-112. Here is my Super Five — Michael Beasley, Eric Gordon, Derrick Rose, Kevin Love and J.J. Hickson

About StateFans

'StateFansNation' is the shared profile used by any/all of the dozen or so authors that contribute to the blog. You may not always agree with us, but you will have little doubt about where we stand on most issues. Please follow us on Twitter and FaceBook

07-08 Basketball General NCS Basketball

47 Responses to Louisville Courier: Nice Compliment on JJ Hickson

  1. Six Pack 03/29/2007 at 7:10 AM #

    Yeah, I would agree with that assessment. However, the announcers were not giving JJ much love last night.

  2. Six Pack 03/29/2007 at 7:12 AM #

    I for one thought he looked really good, and I can’t wait to see him in red and whit next year.

  3. TNCSU 03/29/2007 at 7:19 AM #

    That is some very good publicity, and I would agree with his assessments! I’m really looking forward to next year!

  4. Pack92 03/29/2007 at 7:27 AM #

    I also thought the announcers did not really give him his due. When he and Lawal (the guy going to GT) were going off in the first part of the 2nd half all they saw was Lawal because he is such a tremendous athlete. Hickson could do whatever he wanted in the paint and also hit a nice 10 ft jump shot in that span. That’s fine with me because from I saw from that kid there will be PLENTY of people talking about him next year!

  5. adchappe 03/29/2007 at 7:33 AM #

    …really seemed like an OJ Mayo lovefest last night. At least our boy Hickson wasn’t a ballhog.

  6. Sw0rdf1sh 03/29/2007 at 7:41 AM #

    Hickson is a great fit. He did well and I’m stoked for our team next year!

  7. TNCSU 03/29/2007 at 7:44 AM #

    I liked how the writer in the article said he would pass on Mayo. The announcers were just hyping the “big name” players. In one instance, they did mention Gawal getting a pass and dunking it when it was actually J.J., but who cares. He played great, and I liked the sarcasm of the announcers when J.J. played some good “D”, saying that “D” wasn’t allowed, but you can’t teach someone NOT to play like they’re used to. They also mentioned J.J. being in the line-up next year with Brandon, and how he was Sidney’s first big recruit. Overall, an impressive showing, and I don’t feel too bad about losing out on Chris Wright or Jai Lucas. I think Javi and/or Degand will fit in just fine!

  8. TNCSU 03/29/2007 at 7:47 AM #

    And when I say “losing out” I don’t mean that negatively….It very well could have been the Staff’s decision to go after another PG. They should know PG’s, and I really am not sure if Wright would have fit the mold that Sidney and Staff are looking for. I definitely feel Lucas may be a bit overrated…doesn’t hurt that his name is Lucas.

  9. choppack1 03/29/2007 at 8:00 AM #

    Did anyone else get sick of the announcers’ jabbering? In a game like that they have job – tell us who is doing what and more importantly, tell us where he is going….We don’t want to hear about how it was “back in the day”. They would go off on those horrible tangents – someone scored – they don’t tell you who he is or where he’s going. Then, as someone else mention they also said “Dawal” scores when it was Hickson. Nice.

  10. thirdworld333 03/29/2007 at 8:18 AM #

    Let’s go JJ…clap…clap…clap-clap-clap

    and I believe I could’ve announced that game better from home in a bath robe with a shower cap on while on the telephone. those guys were weak.

  11. packpigskinfan23 03/29/2007 at 8:29 AM #

    annoucing games only takes one skill now

    talking about the most popular teams and players on those teams for the whole game- regardless of if that team or player is even playing… hell, regardless of if its even the same confrence playing… or if its even the same sex on the court.

  12. gopack968 03/29/2007 at 8:32 AM #

    I need to work on my carefully cultivated knee-jerk negative reaction to the name “JJ.”

  13. noah 03/29/2007 at 8:45 AM #

    I actually liked Kevin Love more than OJ Mayo. Mayo’s going to be a star in the NBA, but you could put the entire NBA in a box and toss it in the ocean for all I care. Love is going to be a fantastic college player.

    I thought Chris Wright looked good. I’d certainly take him.

  14. Rick 03/29/2007 at 8:49 AM #

    “Did anyone else get sick of the announcers’ jabbering? In a game like that they have job – tell us who is doing what and more importantly, tell us where he is going….We don’t want to hear about how it was “back in the day”.”

    For the love of all that is holy yes. Those nincompoops blathered on about everything but the game.

  15. RedTerror29 03/29/2007 at 8:51 AM #

    ^^^Hopefully Duke fans will curse the name JJ by the end of next year.

  16. Rick 03/29/2007 at 8:53 AM #

    As for JJ, here is what I thought.

    He is built and has the body to play hard nosed bball. He had some good moves around the bucket. That rebound slam was impressive. He also has a nice looking jump shot. He also tried to play D. He did run up and down the court hard.

    He was not as aggressive going after rebounds as I would have liked. He let Lawal go and get them. He could also use some work on his handle.

    Overall I think this kid will be very good. Based on this game (which is really not a very good thing to base it on but it is all I have) I do not see him starting, at least not at the beginning of the year.

    I am very glad Sid got him.

  17. Texpack 03/29/2007 at 8:57 AM #

    Sorry, but I just can’t enjoy games like this where there isn’t any defense at all. Hickson looked pretty good. But the key to his success next year will be his ability to stay out of foul trouble while playing solid interior defense. Definitely has the potential to contribute as a freshman.

  18. TNCSU 03/29/2007 at 9:02 AM #

    I’d have to be a little more emphatic than “contribute”. I think he’s got the potential to be 1st Team All-ACC Freshman — possibly Freshman POY. But, he’s not really “flashy.” I like that. He’s got good post moves, but really could not show them off last night. I liked it when Gawal had the rim reject two of his dunks, and Hickson took the third one and slammed it home. We’re going to have a tough front line with JJ, BC, and Big Ben.

  19. primacyone 03/29/2007 at 9:11 AM #

    I guess I got lucky. I had the kids (4 and 17 months) in the bathtub last night, so I was watching the game from a distance. I got to see a good bit of it, but I was unable to hear any of it.

    JJ was impresive.

    Second thought I had was that Ty Lawson better get to the NBA as soon as possible. If he goes this year, he will probably be the first point guard taken and certainly the one with the most potential in draft this year. If he waits until next year there could be a lot of point guards in the draft.

  20. BoKnowsNCS71 03/29/2007 at 9:15 AM #

    The jabbering is something I’ve complained about before during football season (pro and college). They get these egomaniacs or some movie star in the booth to talk about their new movie and ignore the plays. Or the sports announcer talking heads start talking about something totally irrelevant (which happened a lot in the Rutgers – Louisville game) and ignored a great game on the field.

    I’m tired of talk for the sake of talking and arguing about some unrelated side stories. Maybe it’s too many announcers being too new or just egos gone wild.

  21. Rick 03/29/2007 at 9:41 AM #

    I keep hearing this talk about JJ starting and maybe he does. I would like to see it because it means he is good enough to make an experienced starter sit. That would be impressive.

    But, I think the people calling him a starter are falling into the “NBA trap”.
    Everyone sees small glimpses against high school competition and sees the potential he has and are comparing that to the players we have now. We have seen our players alot and thus know their flaws. It is like when a player stays in college and thus loses draft status because people know his play better than they do a high school kid that dominates high school kids.

    I think he will be very good but will have to see more of him before I am ready to call him a starter.

  22. beowolf 03/29/2007 at 9:47 AM #

    I forgot that about Walker Lambiotte.

  23. class of 74 03/29/2007 at 9:53 AM #

    From the little I, saw he will be a welcome addition and bring what we don’t now have- a rebounding machine. By mid season next year I expect our team to certainly be a top 20 calibre squad.

  24. burnbarn 03/29/2007 at 9:56 AM #

    I am trying not to get too excited, but I think JJ is the best big man prospect we have had since Washburn. It is rare to see a big man be so agressive on the boards at this stage of his development but what really impressed me was how he runs the floor. He was the first or second guy down the court all night while he was in the game. That being said, the GaTech guy look really good too. I think he and JJ will have some nice battles in the ACC.

  25. burnbarn 03/29/2007 at 9:58 AM #

    I didn’t like the announcers either, but they gave NCSU and JJ some nice props for a minute or so. Said JJ wants to major in fashion and they asked about Sid’s red coat and JJ just shook his head.

1 2

Leave a Reply