skip navigation

Big Shots Spotlight: Josh Hicks 5’10 2024 Wilson Prep Academy, NC

By Frank Bennett , 12/22/23, 2:45PM EST

Share

Josh can impact a game in a variety of ways on both sides of the ball.  He’s a powerfully built guard who can bully his way to the rim or employ some crafty footwork and shiftiness and navigate traffic enroute to the rim as both a passing and scoring threat.  He’s a marksman with the jumper knocking down multiple three pointers in most games with few misses or getting to spots in the mid range for catch and shoot jumpers or dribble pull-ups.  Very efficient shooter in the mid range areas as well.  Another way he impacts games is on the defensive end.  Josh is a high motor and relentless defender who can guard you 94 feet and not get beat.  You likely won’t get near 94 feet against his dogged on ball pressure.  He moves his feet nicely, uses his strong upper body and can strike with cat-like quickness and snatch the dribble away from an opposing ball handler.  Josh has a solid handle, not much for a series of dribble moves as he has a quick first step and attacks angles nicely allowing him to get to the rim in a straight line most often, managing contact nicely and even initiating contact to create an angle where he can overwhelm most defenders with his powerful frame.  Josh uses basic crossovers and between the legs dribbles then a sudden burst as he attacks the rim.  He scores over length with runners, uses shot fakes inside to get his defender in the air and then powers his way to the rim off a strong wide base.  Josh likes to shoot the jumper off the 1-2 step.  His footwork is textbook, he gets nice lift on the jumper and finishes with a high release allowing him to get his shot over taller defenders with ease.  He most often attracts multiple defenders when he attacks off the bounce and makes you pay by finding the open man with timely and pinpoint passes.  He is the catalyst for Wilson Prep.  His leadership and confidence, his toughness and a “won’t be denied” type mentality sets the tone.  He makes winning plays, wants the ball in key moments and knows what to do with it wether to score or create offense for a teammate.  He’s the type of guy you want running your team!  Reliable ball handler, smart decision maker, he takes care of the basketball and defends at a high level.