WRAL: Pack’s Hickson “Trying to Get to” the NBA

07-08 Basketball NCS Basketball147

Would N.C. State freshman J.J. Hickson turn professional after one season?

Perhaps. On Tuesday, in one-on-one interview with WRAL, he addressed whether he’d consider the NBA after this season.

“Being a competitor, the next level is the NBA. That’s what I’m trying to get to,” Hickson said. “If the opportunity is there, I’ll look at it then and sit down with my parents and my coaching staff.

“If it’s not there, I wouldn’t mind coming back to school and doing another year or however many it takes.”

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07-08 Basketball NCS Basketball

147 Responses to WRAL: Pack’s Hickson “Trying to Get to” the NBA

  1. newt 02/26/2008 at 7:25 PM #

    I wouldn’t mind him coming back either.

  2. catchme16 02/26/2008 at 7:25 PM #

    does it really matter we are just as bad with him as we were last year without him

  3. LRM 02/26/2008 at 7:32 PM #

    How refreshing to know he “wouldn’t mind” another year of free school so he can develop as a player. What a guy.

  4. john of sparta 02/26/2008 at 7:56 PM #

    as posted before….
    sure sign of spring: two more complete weeks of JJ in a Pack uniform.

  5. gopack968 02/26/2008 at 7:57 PM #

    It is always best to take the candid comments of younger college athletes with a grain of salt. This is a 19 year old with lights and cameras in his face. He was clearly trying to hedge, but who wouldn’t in his position? I took no offense at his comments. He seems like a sharp kid. I hope that he stays but respect his right to decide what is best for himself and his family. He is only playing the cards dealt him by the NCAA and the NBA.

  6. redfred2 02/26/2008 at 8:04 PM #

    LRM, I don’t really blame that mindset on JJ Hickson, or any other kid out there for that matter. The fact that college basketball has become a quick jumping off point is due the NCAA promoting itself like the little brother of, following in the footsteps of, and allowing the NBA to dictate to a nation of amateur athletes. The sports media isn’t helping either by promoting the individual players over and above the universities/programs that they are supposedly representing and playing for.

    If they are really good, about 95% of the time these days, they’re playing college BBall for just one reason, to get the NBA. When the initial figures are flashed around, patience is no longer. Sound judgement and the words, “too soon”, just aren’t in anyone’s vocabulary anymore.

  7. LRM 02/26/2008 at 8:08 PM #

    I think my problem is that nothing short of an ACC championship or the cure for cancer could salvage my feelings for this team.

  8. cowdog 02/26/2008 at 8:18 PM #

    And we chew up a guy like Hansbrough on a regular basis. What I wouldn’t give for a gamer like him. Think hard about this lest you forget, NCCA player of the year to be came out of preps.(Even if they give it to a frosh from Kstate) As much as I hate to think it, Hansborough is the most impressive post guy since…let’s say Walton. This guy has hung with it…killed most defenses, kept his mouth shut, alluded to winning NCAA championship before declaring.( Actually he pretty much made it clear. We’ll se after this year )

    Now we have another raw big man ( the other Simmons ) not ready to even beat or compete with the likes of ECU flapping his lips about NBA?

    Time to embrace our foes peeps. What’s good for the ACC is good for us all.

    God help me, do you know what it has taken for me to give props where props are due?

    I can only hope that the words of a 19 yr. old wher taken out of context…but I doubt it.

  9. Noah 02/26/2008 at 8:23 PM #

    Hansborough has cost himself a tremendous amount of money by staying at UNC.

  10. cowdog 02/26/2008 at 8:25 PM #

    Noah..bullshit. He has increased his value 2 times over.

  11. Trip 02/26/2008 at 8:27 PM #

    Of course he’s TRYING to get to the NBA. That’s what every GOOD NCAA player dreams of. You could have asked him the same question a year ago and he would have had the same answer.

  12. smile102 02/26/2008 at 8:30 PM #

    Hansborough has cost himself a tremendous amount of money by staying at UNC.

    Mid first round vs who knows last year: I’d think that would be financially favorable. To stay another year would be the risk.

  13. Wisc-Wolf 02/26/2008 at 8:35 PM #

    You cannot blame any player who is a guaranteed first round draft pick for leaving early. The money is too much for your average person to turn away from, much less a 19 year old kid. Plus the risk of injury or your stock falling can be a costly risk.

  14. redfred2 02/26/2008 at 8:42 PM #

    Yep noah, he sure has. Just think, Tyler Hanbro could have been picking splitters out of his butt, sitting somewhere in obsecurity on the end of a bench, waiting to finally earn his playing time in the NBA, if ever.

    I know if I was Tyler Hansbrough, I’d much rather do that than playing college basketball for a national championship caliber team, being remembered by people for here on, and having the experiences of college life to carry with me for the rest of my days.

    Or, do it noah’s way, and just take the $$$.

    noah, you were either not born or too young to see David Thompson play, weren’t you?

  15. statered 02/26/2008 at 8:43 PM #

    cowdog…bullshit. I don’t agree with Noah on a lot of things but on this I do agree. Hansjob is Joe Wolf part deux.

  16. packpigskinfan23 02/26/2008 at 8:44 PM #

    Hansborough has made millions by staying this year. His #’s this year are unreal… of course that might have something to do with him being able to get away with murder, but he still made crazy money this year.

  17. BJD95 02/26/2008 at 8:45 PM #

    Anybody whoever counted (or even seriously hoped) for 2 or more years out of Hickson was being delusional.

  18. RedDog74 02/26/2008 at 8:49 PM #

    And who can blame JJ? I know I would run screaming from this program.

  19. #44 17 24 02/26/2008 at 8:58 PM #

    I am confident in saying that JJ will be gone after this year…and I don’t really mind. Sure his shooting percentage is tops, but I cant even imagine the number of turnovers we could have avoided if we had any other strategy besides “just get him the ball”, whenever he’s in. I’m also curious to see how Ben and Brandon react in the off-season when they know they will be the go-to guys in the post again, even though I would love to see Tracy in there as much as possible too. I’m certainly not blaming JJ for our lack of effort this year, because he’s a work horse, but I just can’t see how he’s a good puzzle piece for this team.

  20. cowdog 02/26/2008 at 9:03 PM #

    The thing is so hard for us Wolfcrackers to admit is the fact that Hansborough is a freaking WINNER,we’ve watched…we’ve bitched, but its time to admit.

    Hell, I don’t blame a Simmons or maybe a Hickson for taking the dough if it’s there. Who would?

  21. EverettBeez 02/26/2008 at 9:11 PM #

    What JJ said makes sense to me.
    both the monetary attraction and the mess this team is are worth leaving for.
    You got to wonder what would the effect on B & B if JJ left.
    They looked like total dog crap with him.
    I am just stunned by the fact that I can’t think of a game where we’ve actually played with pride all year long.

  22. turfpack 02/26/2008 at 9:15 PM #

    Look if you were 19 with a chance to make more money than most people make in a life time-and your on this team -WHAT WOULD DO?(We all knew this when he came.)

  23. xphoenix87 02/26/2008 at 9:17 PM #

    No way Hansbrough made himself more money by sticking around. If he’d left after his freshman year he would’ve been a first round lock. Now he’s a high to mid second rounder. He’s not going to be a starting-quality NBA player, and every executive in the NBA knows that. Now, I’m not saying it was a bad decision, I’m just saying that he cost himself money.

    Hansbrough is the most impressive post guy since Walton? WHAT???? Seriously, that’s one of the most ridiculous statements I’ve ever seen.

  24. Todd 02/26/2008 at 9:22 PM #

    Hands down, JJ is our best player. But are we a better TEAM w/o him?

  25. 44legend 02/26/2008 at 9:22 PM #

    Handjob is the most protected player in the history of the league, PERIOD. He has a great motor and an uncanny knack for finishing after contact. His basketball skill set is minimal though.

    He plays balls to the wall bulldozing in the lane, constantly flopping on defense, and finsishes with 2 fouls and 20 free throws every game.

    What’s he going to play in the NBA? Center? The 4 with no handle or shot outside 5 feet? He’ll see spot duty at best.

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