Happy Birthday Anthony Hicks!!

[Masterofreality]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the Great Anthony Hicks #30!
A history lesson:
Xavier had had Superstars in the past before Bob Staaks’s arrival such as Dave Piontek, Steve Thomas, Bob Quick, Luther Rackley and Corny Freeman. But Anthony was Staak’s first recruit and Xavier’s first SuperNova Star of the Renaissance Era. He truly was the Cornerstone Building Block upon which Xavier’s rise was based upon. He was a HS McDonalds All American from Ramsay High School in Birmingham Alabama and somehow, Staak was able to lure him to XU at the end of the Dark XU basketball era along with Jon Hanley to get the ship turned around. If you don’t believe how important Anthony was to the XU comeback, his picture either individually or with the team, appears 13 times, including the COVER, of the 1981-1982 Yearbook.

Anthony is the first student-athlete ever selected to the Xavier Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility; lettered four years in basketball. Three-time Team MVP. Member of the Xavier 1,000-Point Club.

One local paper wrote that, "As Hicks goes, so goes Xavier." And Hicks led Xavier basketball back to respectability.

During Hicks' time as a Musketeer, Xavier reached numerous milestones. XU captured its first conference title ever (1981) and its first conference tournament title ever (1983). XU reached the 20-win plateau (22-8 in 1983) for the first time since 1957, reached non-conference post-season tournament play (1983) for the first time since 1963, and reached the NCAA Tournament (1983) for the first time since 1961.

Hicks finished his career as Xavier's all-time leading scorer with 1,805 career points, he currently ranks eighth. Hicks ranks second all-time for career steals (226) and stands eighth on the XU all-time assist chart (466).

The Hicks' stat report bears emphasizing! He led XU in scoring three seasons: 16.7 (1981), 20.4 (1982), and 14.9 (1983). He led XU in assists three seasons: 109 (1981), 121 (1982), and 121 (1983). And he led XU in steals all four seasons: 54 (1980), 58 (1981), 60 (1982), and 54 (1983).

The impressive stats do not tell the whole story. Whether playing point guard or shooting guard, Hicks was the team leader. It's no secret why he was chosen a record-tying three times as the XU Team MVP.

As a sophomore, Hicks began to open some eyes around the Midwestern City Conference. He earned 1981 MCC Tournament MVP honors despite XU's runnerup finish. And he also earned second team All-MCC honors.

As a junior, Hicks burst onto the national scene, finishing 32nd in the nation in scoring at 20.4 ppg. while earning honorable mention All-America from The Sporting News.

The junior star, a unanimous first team All-MCC (AP & UPI) pick, hit 10-of-14 from the field and 14-of-14 from the free throw line en route to a career high 34 points in a 72-59 win at Georgia State. He hit 30 points in a 69-65 overtime thriller over Air Force. And he earned MVP honors for the UC game, scoring 15 points while leading XU to an exciting 53-51 win at the Coliseum. XU was 2-2 versus UC during Hicks' career, an impressive stat since XU had lost eight straight in the series before he arrived.

As a senior, Hicks helped XU to one of its finest seasons ever, 22-8. He scored 31 points in an 84-78 win over Loyola and 26 points in a 66-64 win at Texas. He drilled one of his patented jumpers in a win over Oklahoma City at Schmidt Fieldhouse, the shot that vaulted him past Steve Thomas and into first place on the XU all-time scoring list.

Hicks, a unanimous first team All-MCC (AP & UPI) pick for the second straight year, saved his best for the 1983 MCC Tournament. He pumped in 39 points, earned All-MCC Tourney honors, while leading XU to the championship and its first NCAA Tourney berth since 1961.

After his graduation, Hicks was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the seventh round of the NBA Draft. After basketball, the Accounting Major went into the education field and remains in the Cincinnati area as a Teacher and Intervention Specialist in the Winton Woods School District at the High School.

We cannot thank Anthony enough for saying yes to Xavier, coming north and being the Lynchpin of an XU Basketball transformation. We also thank him for his continued commitment to the areas’ young folks. The epitome of a Xavier man. The young fans of Xavier today should always remember this Stellar Player and human being! Well done Sir, and Happy 63rd Birthday!

GO X!!

[MHettel]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the Great Anthony Hicks #30!
A history lesson:
Xavier had had Superstars in the past before Bob Staaks’s arrival such as Dave Piontek, Steve Thomas, Bob Quick, Luther Rackley and Corny Freeman. But Anthony was Staak’s first recruit and Xavier’s first SuperNova Star of the Renaissance Era. He truly was the Cornerstone Building Block upon which Xavier’s rise was based upon. He was a HS McDonalds All American from Ramsay High School in Birmingham Alabama and somehow, Staak was able to lure him to XU at the end of the Dark XU basketball era along with Jon Hanley to get the ship turned around. If you don’t believe how important Anthony was to the XU comeback, his picture either individually or with the team, appears 13 times, including the COVER, of the 1981-1982 Yearbook.

Anthony is the first student-athlete ever selected to the Xavier Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility; lettered four years in basketball. Three-time Team MVP. Member of the Xavier 1,000-Point Club.

One local paper wrote that, "As Hicks goes, so goes Xavier." And Hicks led Xavier basketball back to respectability.

During Hicks' time as a Musketeer, Xavier reached numerous milestones. XU captured its first conference title ever (1981) and its first conference tournament title ever (1983). XU reached the 20-win plateau (22-8 in 1983) for the first time since 1957, reached non-conference post-season tournament play (1983) for the first time since 1963, and reached the NCAA Tournament (1983) for the first time since 1961.

Hicks finished his career as Xavier's all-time leading scorer with 1,805 career points, he currently ranks eighth. Hicks ranks second all-time for career steals (226) and stands eighth on the XU all-time assist chart (466).

The Hicks' stat report bears emphasizing! He led XU in scoring three seasons: 16.7 (1981), 20.4 (1982), and 14.9 (1983). He led XU in assists three seasons: 109 (1981), 121 (1982), and 121 (1983). And he led XU in steals all four seasons: 54 (1980), 58 (1981), 60 (1982), and 54 (1983).

The impressive stats do not tell the whole story. Whether playing point guard or shooting guard, Hicks was the team leader. It's no secret why he was chosen a record-tying three times as the XU Team MVP.

As a sophomore, Hicks began to open some eyes around the Midwestern City Conference. He earned 1981 MCC Tournament MVP honors despite XU's runnerup finish. And he also earned second team All-MCC honors.

As a junior, Hicks burst onto the national scene, finishing 32nd in the nation in scoring at 20.4 ppg. while earning honorable mention All-America from The Sporting News.

The junior star, a unanimous first team All-MCC (AP & UPI) pick, hit 10-of-14 from the field and 14-of-14 from the free throw line en route to a career high 34 points in a 72-59 win at Georgia State. He hit 30 points in a 69-65 overtime thriller over Air Force. And he earned MVP honors for the UC game, scoring 15 points while leading XU to an exciting 53-51 win at the Coliseum. XU was 2-2 versus UC during Hicks' career, an impressive stat since XU had lost eight straight in the series before he arrived.

As a senior, Hicks helped XU to one of its finest seasons ever, 22-8. He scored 31 points in an 84-78 win over Loyola and 26 points in a 66-64 win at Texas. He drilled one of his patented jumpers in a win over Oklahoma City at Schmidt Fieldhouse, the shot that vaulted him past Steve Thomas and into first place on the XU all-time scoring list.

Hicks, a unanimous first team All-MCC (AP & UPI) pick for the second straight year, saved his best for the 1983 MCC Tournament. He pumped in 39 points, earned All-MCC Tourney honors, while leading XU to the championship and its first NCAA Tourney berth since 1961.

After his graduation, Hicks was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the seventh round of the NBA Draft. After basketball, the Accounting Major went into the education field and remains in the Cincinnati area as a Teacher and Intervention Specialist in the Winton Woods School District at the High School.

We cannot thank Anthony enough for saying yes to Xavier, coming north and being the Lynchpin of an XU Basketball transformation. We also thank him for his continued commitment to the areas’ young folks. The epitome of a Xavier man. The young fans of Xavier today should always remember this Stellar Player and human being! Well done Sir, and Happy 63rd Birthday!

GO X!!

That’s amazing. In todays day and age, he woulda transferred to the current Xavier after his freshman season. Or would there even be a current Xavier if those transfer and NIL rules existed?

Back to the Future shit there

[Masterofreality]

Xavier went 26 seasons(!) without a 20 win season before Anthony and crew got there. I know the season is well expanded but that is how bad we were for so long.
The exploits of Bob Staak and the guys he brought in can never be left to the dustbin of history. All these young whippersnappers just don’t know how good we have it now. Too bad plans are to tear down Schmidt someday.

[X-band '01]

At least us young and middle-age whippersnappers made it crystal clear that a Butler or DePaul-esque decline would never be tolerated here.

[XUBison]

Xavier went 26 seasons(!) without a 20 win season before Anthony and crew got there. I know the season is well expanded but that is how bad we were for so long.
The exploits of Bob Staak and the guys he brought in can never be left to the dustbin of history. All these young whippersnappers just don’t know how good we have it now. Too bad plans are to tear down Schmidt someday.

What’s happening with Schmidt?

[Masterofreality]

What’s happening with Schmidt?

The “long term” plan as per Seth Brietenstein, Asst AD, is to demolish the building due to slow structural deterioration. It’s 100 years old now and on a hillside.
It’s not a funding priority right now, but definitely on the burner pending “conditions”. No word on plans to build anything new there at this point.

[Masterofreality]

At least us young and middle-age whippersnappers made it crystal clear that a Butler or DePaul-esque decline would never be tolerated here.

Trust me. Us old whippersnappers did too

[XUBison]

The “long term” plan as per Seth Brietenstein, Asst AD, is to demolish the building due to slow structural deterioration. It’s 100 years old now and on a hillside.
It’s not a funding priority right now, but definitely on the burner pending “conditions”. No word on plans to build anything new there at this point.

Thanks.

[Mel Cooley XU'81]

Happy Birthday, Anthony Hicks!

I remember it . . . . . well . . . . . not exactly "well," but I remember it.

And thanks for the recap and update, MOR. Well done, sir.

Old Boys everywhere await the Jon Hanley Retrospective.

[paulxu]

Attribution?