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

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

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