Tony Hicks – IBCA All-State 1st Team
Tony Hicks – Class 4a All-State 2nd Team
Cullen Foulks – Chicago Catholic All League Team
Vic Law – Chicago Catholic All League Team
Scott Powers/ESPNChicago.com
St. Rita coach Gary DeCesare recognized Tony Hicks‘ potential long before Hicks did. Upon arriving at St. Rita three years ago, DeCesare saw a player who was blessed with some natural gifts, but needed to put in a lot of work if he wanted to be special.
“I’ve been hard on a lot of kids in my career,” said DeCesare, who was a DePaul assistant coach prior to St. Rita. “I’ve been really hard on Tony. I’ve been on him from Day 1 to the end of the season. I told him he could be one of the best players in the state of Illinois.”
As Hicks now puts it, he “sort of” believed what DeCesare was saying. Hicks wasn’t in love with basketball and wasn’t completely convinced he had that large of an upside, but he was willing to give it a shot and spend the additional time DeCesare thought was necessary to develop his skills.
What Hicks discovered through the process was a passion for the game and that his coach knew exactly what he was talking about. Now in his senior season, Hicks has turned himself into what DeCesare always thought he could be — one of the Illinois’ premier players. Read Full Story
Tony Hicks, a senior with St. Rita basketball, is averaging an area-leading 25 points per game.
The South Holland resident and graduate of McKinley Junior High is headed to the University of Pennsylvania in the fall.
State title game. You’re in it. What team would you most want to beat for the championship? Why?
Simeon. It would be special to knock off the team who everyone says is the so-called best.
Given the chance, what person, dead or alive, would you most like to meet? Why?
Michael Jordan. Just to hang around him and soak in his knowledge of the game.
Take you pick: D-Rose or LeBron?
D-Rose. He’s from Chicago and he’s gotten better every year. I admire that.
If you could change places with anyone in the world, who would it be?
My teammate A.J. Avery. He’s been injured most of last year and all of this year (wrist injury). He’s at all of our games cheering us on, even though he can’t play. I’d like for him to play and me to cheer him on.
What’s in your iPod?
A little of everything. Future, Wale, Meek Mill, Biggie Smalls.
You’re on a deserted island. You could have an endless supply of one food. What would it be?
Hot wings.
How did you get stuck on laundry detail, which entails you washing and drying all of the team’s practice gear?
Coach just wants me to stay after practice to work out and by me having to wash the team’s practice gear, I’m around for an extra 30 minutes or so. It’s not that bad.
Do you get it Downy fresh?
Yes.
If you could have your pick, which celebrity would you choose as your prom date?
Lauren London.
As told to Pat Disabato
Playing at De La Salle in December, Tony Hicks’ 31 points helped St. Rita pull out a double-overtime thriller.
In Friday night’s rematch, Hicks had some help in the backcourt. Cullen Foulks came through with a huge fourth quarter to help host St. Rita to a 60-46 win in the Catholic League North.
Foulks scored 12 of his 16 points in the fourth period.
“The coaches always tell us to step up when we can,” Foulks said. “I had to step up because Tony can’t do all the scoring.”
Hicks led No. 8 St. Rita (12-8, 8-1) with 17 points, while Dominique Matthews scored 12. With four conference games left, the Mustangs control their own destiny in search of the program’s first Catholic League title since 2003.
Marcus White (18 points) and Gavin Shilling (12) paced De La Salle (14-4, 5-3).
Trailing 37-31 but charging fast, De La Salle looked poised to mount a comeback when Foulks came to life. Having scored just four points through three quarters, Foulks drilled two free throws and added a three-point play on an acrobatic layup. Hicks also had a three-point play as part of St. Rita’s 11-0 run that helped the Mustangs regain control. Read Full Story
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The rest of the Penn-bound guard’s performance was stellar, though, and he was as quick as ever in the open court.
Hicks had 17 points, eight rebounds, five steals and three assists as No. 17 St. Rita completed a regular-season sweep of No. 18 De La Salle with a 60-46 victory.
Cullen Foulks added 16 points for St. Rita (12-8, 7-1 Catholic South), 12 of which came after De La Salle (14-4, 5-3) cut the Mustangs’ lead to 37-31 early in the fourth quarter.
“I’m just trying to step up my defense,” said Hicks, who had 31 points in St. Rita’s 66-64 double-overtime victory against De La Salle on Dec. 2. “Coach (Gary DeCesare) is just having me focus on defense. I’m not worried too much about offense because that will come.
With St. Rita’s defense swarming 6-foot-8 Gavin Schilling and 6-7 Alex Foster on every touch, De La Salle missed injured wing Alvin Ellis on the perimeter. Ellis said he’s not sure when he’ll return from an ankle sprain.
A sophomore starting on the varsity, St. Rita’s Victor Law has taken the coaching staff’s message to heart, especially in Tuesday’s game at Mount Carmel.
“Coach (Gary) DeCesare says ‘We’re not sophomores, just varsity players,’ ” Law said. “You can’t think of yourself as a sophomore so I think like I’m a senior.”
Dressing just eight players because of injuries and suspensions, St. Rita was dealt another blow in the third quarter when leading scorer Tony Hicks left after taking an inadvertent elbow that produced a cut over his right eye.
With a 23-point lead shrinking to 12, a Law three-pointer helped hold off a Mount Carmel charge and No. 7 St. Rita won 57-43 in the Catholic League crossover.
“With your best player in Tony going down, somebody has to step up, and it’s a team effort,” Law said. “I was just trying to make a play and whatever it takes to win. Making that three was a big part of the win.”
Hicks (16 points) and Law (13 points, 10 rebounds) led St. Rita (11-8, 7-1). Alex Austin scored 15 points and Billy Patterson had 11 for Mount Carmel (6-13, 3-5). Read Full Story
Four St. Rita of Cascia High School seniors recently made commitments to continue their academic and athletic careers in the Ivy League this fall.
Michael Zunica (Palos Heights, St. Alexander) will be attending Columbia University in New York City; Tony Hicks (South Holland, McKinley Jr. High) and Max Kurucar (Oak Lawn, Oak Lawn Hometown Middle School) will be attending the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia; and Will McNamara (Oak Lawn, St. Catherine of Alexandria) will be attending Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire.
St. Rita of Cascia Principal, Mr. Brendan Conroy commented, “We are justifiably proud of these four seniors, whose accomplishments and leadership in academics, service, spiritual life, athletics and student government have exemplified the best of our Augustinian traditions. They are an inspiration to the St. Rita community for their dedication and hard work.”
St. Rita Athletic Director, Mr. Michael Zunica adds, “Our Athletic Department, as well as our entire school, is incredibly proud of the accomplishments of these four student-athletes. It is a testament to the hard work that takes place every day at St. Rita by our dedicated faculty and staff.”
The Mustangs’ offense stalled for two-and-a-half quarters without Dominique Matthews (injured ankle) and Western Michigan recruit A.J. Avery (wrist injury).
The Wolfpack controlled the tempo with a methodical and patient offense, and point guard Brian Howard scored seven of his team-high 12 points during the first quarter. Read Full Story
For additional scores, schedules and broadcasts, visit iHigh.com
