Hicks hopes for another Spencer title
Mt. Tabor senior guard
Josh Hicks is so underrated it's
kind of confusing. If you
watch him play then you'll be
quick to wonder where he's
going to college. Then, you
might be shocked to find out
he only has one offer.
He s starting to get more
looks. But they're not coming
fast enough. He's only been in
Winston for two years, and
he s already a household name
thanks to his best friends ?
CJ. Harris and Mike Grace.
Hicks is actually one of the
more complete players in the
city this year. I caught up with
one of the city's best bailers to
see what he was thinking about
heading into the Frank
Spencer.
I wanted to see if he and
his teammates were nervous
with that big target on their
backs this year. It's no secret
that most teams want to beat
Mt. Tabor. Hicks and I also
talked about Mrs. Martha
Land, North's Jairus Sims,
Reynolds junior Kendall
Wicks, Kobe Bryant, coach
Andy Muse, colleges and a
few other things.
I enjoyed o talking with
Hicks. He seems like a well
mannered guy. Take a look at
my conversation with J-Hicks
from Monday evening.
Anthony: What's going
on. Josh?
Josh: Nothing much.
Anthony: You have the
Frank Spencer this week.
(Smiles.) Kind of give me your
thoughts of on this big tourna
ment coming up.
Josh: Oh, I'm excited. I'm
happy that we were fortunate
enough to have the number
one seed. It's always a pleasure
to have the 8:30 game. We're
ready to play Parkland. We're
ready for them. And, I'm real
ly looking forward to it.
Anthony: How much
pressure is on a team that won
_ it a year ago?
Josh: Uh, to be honest
with you we don't feel like
there's a lot of pressure on us.
A lot of people would think
that we have a lot to live up to
with the expectations so high.
But we're working hard in
practice and getting prepared
for Friday night. We don't real
ly feel too much pressure.
We've played in it before.
We're just taking it as another
game.
Anthony: Do you feel like
teams don't simply want to
beat Mt. Tabor? It seems like
teams want to embarrass you
guys out there. Do you sense
that? "
Josh: Oh yeah. Every
night. We know that we have a
target on our back. We don't
look ahead of anyone on our
schedule. We play hard every
game. We make sure we do
whatever we need to do to get
the job done.
Anthony: I hear that.
Josh, did you feel like you
were being overshadowed
when you first got to Mt.
Tabor?
Josh: No, not really. Last
year was more of a learning
system. I had a new coach,
new system, new teammates.
Last year was more of a get
ready for this year type of
thing. This year I'm comfort
able. I know my system. I
Photo by Charlie Pfiff
Mt. Tabor's Josh Hicks is ready to fight for another Frank Spencer title.
know my coaches. I know
what's expected from me. So,
that's why I'm able to play and
perform a little bit better.
Anthony: It's funny you
said that because Mike (Grace)
told me the same thing about
you being comfortable this
year, and how much you've
adjusted to coach Muse.
Josh: Right.
Anthony: What exactly
did you have to adjust to with
coach Muse?
Josh: Oh, definitely the up
tempo practices. We didn't
really have to run at my old
school (Greensboro Day). You
didn't get yelled at if you made
a mistake. He'll yell at you a
little. But it wasn't too much.
If he doesn't think you're prac
ticing hard then coach Muse is
going to put you on the line
and make you run. (Both
laugh.)
You'll run until he's tired
of seeing you run. He expects a
lot out of us. He makes sure he
One-on-One
with \nthony 1 1 ill
gets everything that he can out
of us.
Anthony: Does everyone
get yelled at?
Josh: Oh yeah. He'll call
out anyone. He mainly gets on
to me, Mike and C J. He'll find
something to yell at us about.
He'll yell at us if our shirts
aren't tucked in. He even call
out guys that don't get that
much time to let them know
he's still paying attention to
everybody.
Anthony: (Laughs.) Ole
ball coach. Hey, everyone
knows where your boys are
going to school. What are your
choices?
Josh: Um, I only have one
offer. That's by Lenoir Rhyne
down in Hickory. I've been
talking to a couple other
schools. Old Dominion and
Chattanooga have come down
and watched a couple games.
I'm just keeping things open
right now. Maybe I'll be able
to make a decision on where I
want to go after the season if I
have any offers by that time.
Anthony: Is it frustrating
to not be getting the attention
from colleges that you would
Hicks
want right now?
Josh: No, not really. A lot
of people think that I should be
worried. And, some people are
just wondering why 1 haven't
been offered yet. I get that
question a lot . I just tell them
that it's not my time. My time
will be coming. I just keep my
head up, and keep working
hard. Someone will come
knocking at my door if I con
tinue to do the right things.
Anthony: Let's go back to
that loss to Charlotte Vance in
last year's playoffs. How much
did that affect you?
Josh: A lot. Everybody
was a little emotional after that
loss because of what it meant
to the seniors. The seniors
meant a great deal to us. That
loss taught us a lot. Coach
Muse showed us game tape of
that very game. I think that's
why we've started the way we
have so far. Hopefully we'll be
able to get that ring this year.
Anthony: What's the best
part of your game?
Josh: Shooting.
Anthony: If you could
play one-on-one against any
bailer who would it be?
Josh: Definitely Kobe
Bryant because he's my
favorite player. That would be
a great chance to learn some
thing from him. I know I'd
lose. But I'd take it.
Anthony: What about
around the city? Who would
you like to play?
Josh: Probably Jairus
Sims. I know his game. We're
about the same height. That
would make me better.
Anthony: A lot of people
have been talking about North
Forsyth this year. How excited
are you about the possibility of
playing those boys?
Josh: Um, I'm pretty
excited. But I'm not really
looking forward to it right
now. I'm focused on Parkland
right now. But I've heard a lot
of good thing about that North
team. I heard they're pretty
deep. I heard they're explo
sive. I also heard they can
match up with us pretty well. I
grew up with Jairus Sims. It's
going to be a good game if we
both advance. We have to take
care of Parkland first.
Anthony: No doubt. OK,
Josh. Give me a top five of
Winston bailers.
Josh: I definitely have to
put my teammates, Mike
(Gfrace) and C J. (Harris). Then
I would go with Allan Jones
from West Forsyth. Definitely
Jairus (Sims) from North. And,
Will Carpenter.
Anthony: What about
Kendall Wicks, from
Reynolds?
Josh: Uh, he's pretty
good. He's a real good shooter
I haven't really seen him play
since last year. I've heard a lot
of good things about him. He's
only a junior. And, it's still
early. He'll only get better.
Anthony: How much love
are you getting on campus?
Josh: Uh, people know
me. I'm pretty cool with the
principal. I've known her all
my life. I know a lot of people.
Anthony: How did you
get close with Mrs. Land? ^
Josh: My dad used to be a
principal at Mt. Tabor when I
was younger. He used to bring
me to football games. He used
to bring me to work with him.
I think Ms. Land was new to
the school at that time. She's O
always kept an eye on me even
when I wasn't in Winston
Salem.
Anthony: That's good.
What would you be doing if
you didn't play basketball?
Josh: Probably soccer. I
was a real good soccer player
when I was younger. I kind of
gave up soccer to play basket
ball. I'd probably be a soccer
player.
Anthony: Who's going to
win the ACC basketball title
this year?
Josh: Oh, Wake Forest all
the way. I've always been a
Wake fan. I think we have the
team to get the job done this
year.
Anthony: Do you have a
favorite class at Mt. Tabor?
Josh: I would say English.
I have a lot of friends in my
class. I also like the teacher,
Mr. (Keith)Donnelly. I also
like English as a subject.
Anthony: What's your
favorite television show?
Josh: The Fresh Prince of
Bel Air. I've seen every
episode at least three or four
times.
Anthony: What do you
listen to before games?
Josh: Uh, some of every
thing. I just put the iRod on
shuffle. I listen to Gucci Mane,
Wayne, Jay-Z and the old Nas.
Anthony: Who's the best
point guard in the city? 0
Josh: Mike Grace. He
runs the team with his assists.
And, he can score whenever he
needs to. He can pull up when
ever we need a tough bucket.
Mike has got a nice mid-range
game.
Anthony: No doubt. Uh,
free association. (Pause.) Josh
Hicks.
Josh: Guy that gets looked
over. But is starting to get
some recognition. Plays with a
chip on his shoulder.
Anthony: Mt. Tabor:
Josh: Best team in
Winston.
Anthony: Coach Andy
Muse.
Josh: Best coach in the
state.
Anthony: LD. Williams.
Josh: Most athletic player
at Wake Forest. Most exciting
player.
Anthony: Best female
bailer in the city.
Josh: I don't really know
any girl bailers. I guess
Jazmin (Cromartie) from
Parkland.
Anthony: That's cool.
Hey, good luck to you all in the
tournament.
Josh: Thanks.
Anthony: No problem,
man.
SIAC names Gregory Moore new commissioner
CHRONICLE STAFF REPORT
The SIAC Council of
Presidents announced earlier
this week the appointment of
Gregory Moore as the new
Commissioner of the SIAC,
effective Jan. 19s
The announcement was
made by Dr. Benjamin F.
Pay ton, Chair," of the
Council, who also serves as
President of Tuskegee
University. In the capacity
as SIAC Commissioner,
Moore will serve as the head
of the SIAC Office and staff
and coordinate intercolle
giate athletic activities
among the 13-member
schools. He will report
directly and be responsible
to the SIAC Council of
Presidents.
"Moore brings a wealth
of educational and profes
sional experiences to the
position," Payton said. He
holds a B.A. degree in
Political Science from the
V"
College of New Jersey, and a
J.D. degree from >^he
University of Oregon School
of Law.
He has served as
General Counsel for the
Jersey Express Basketball
Club where he played a key
role in the recruitment and
hiring of legendary NBA
player, Darryl Dawkins, as
head basketball coach. He
has also served as Legal
Counsel/Government
Relations Director for the
Essex County College of
Newark, New Jersey; and
has maintained a successful
law practice. The Moore
Law Group, LLC in New
Jersey, which deals with
sports law and commercial
transactions, et. al. Mr.
Moore has also served as
Deputy Counsel for the New
Jersey State Legislature.
Moore has broad experi
ence in sports administra
tion, sports marketing,
broadcast licensing agree
ments, NCAA compliance
policies and issues, media
relations and staff manage
ment, among others.
Moore expressed appre
ciation to the search com
mittee for "affording me the
opportunity to serve as the
next Commissioner of the
SIAC. It is my sense that
SIAC student athletes are
the embodiment of what is
best about college sports and
I will work tirelessly to
broaden the platform to
showcase these outstanding
young men and women,"
Moore said.
The Council of
Presidents met in a special
session on Dec. 18 and
elected, Moore as SIAC
Commissioner in a unani
mous vote. The entire SIAC
Council of Presidents joins
the Executive/Search
Committee in the expecta
tion that Moore will lead the
Conference to a new level of
performance with quality
and integrity.
The Office and staff will
retain the current location in
Atlanta.
Moore
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