WRAL: Pack’s Hickson “Trying to Get to” the NBA

07-08 Basketball NCS Basketball147

Would N.C. State freshman J.J. Hickson turn professional after one season?

Perhaps. On Tuesday, in one-on-one interview with WRAL, he addressed whether he’d consider the NBA after this season.

“Being a competitor, the next level is the NBA. That’s what I’m trying to get to,” Hickson said. “If the opportunity is there, I’ll look at it then and sit down with my parents and my coaching staff.

“If it’s not there, I wouldn’t mind coming back to school and doing another year or however many it takes.”

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07-08 Basketball NCS Basketball

147 Responses to WRAL: Pack’s Hickson “Trying to Get to” the NBA

  1. packpigskinfan23 02/26/2008 at 9:22 PM #

    phoenix- from freshman year to this year, maybe… but from last year to this he has made money. He has improved his numbers and his 10-12′ jumper. Last year he wasnt even the first pick off HIS TEAM. There will be a team out there that will gamble with him because of this supposed “heart” and how “special” he is… I doubt the gamble works out for them, but thats just how I see it.

  2. cowdog 02/26/2008 at 9:25 PM #

    Awright EXPHOENIX,

    Who else in your NCAA experience would you bring to the table?

  3. Wulfpack 02/26/2008 at 9:26 PM #

    How many jump shots did you see Hansbrough make as a freshman and sophomore? Hansbrough by all accounts increased his NBA paycheck by staying. No question about it.

    As far as Hickson goes, it all just says to me it’s not about the name on the front of the jersey, but what’s on the back. As great of a good young player as he is and has the potential to be, him just sticking around to improve his draft stock will do little to help the long term stability of this program.

  4. packpigskinfan23 02/26/2008 at 9:28 PM #

    but anyways… this thread is about JJ.

    Call me crazy, but I see JJ sticking around.
    I have had a few classes with the guy, and he seems to be a pretty good student. We all know he has no reasons to be attending Bee’s and Beekeeping- a class that dosnt take attendance, and you could pass by just reading the book. However he went to class every time I went, and was also at the study session before a test. I believe out of a class of 300 people, only 25 showed up for that session. Now, I am not saying JJ is going to be here for 3 more years(that would be insane), but I would also not be surprised if he stuck around for one more.

  5. 44legend 02/26/2008 at 9:28 PM #

    Christian Laettenor, Tim Duncan, other ACC greats Handjob should be comparible to eat him alive in talent.

    I think even guys like Thurl Bailey, Larry Nance, Elton Brand etc eat him alive in the talent category. I ciould name hundreds.

    Best post man since Bill Walton???? You are smoking some of Bill’s stash.

  6. Wulfpack 02/26/2008 at 9:29 PM #

    44legend, if Ben Wallace can make a living in the NBA then Hansborugh sure as hell can. Ben Wallace has ZERO offensive skills. Hansbrough can score from 20 feet in and he’s a hell lot faster and quicker than most PF in the game.

    Roy has gotten every ounce of that guy and with his work ethic, I wouldn’t put anything past him.

  7. 44legend 02/26/2008 at 9:32 PM #

    JJ should follow the advice of the NBA execs and Lowe. He should NOT listen to agents or family.

    I think he’d improve his position if he stayed based on the unreal freshman talent that will go in front of him. Also guys like Lawson, Hibbert, etc could go in front of him.

  8. redfred2 02/26/2008 at 9:33 PM #

    Hansbrough will go pro along with he several of his teammates and they will be paid to play basketball. For us Wolfpack fans, especially the younger ones, that whole concept is hard to fathom anyway.

  9. Todd 02/26/2008 at 9:34 PM #

    Thurl had by far a better pro career than Handjob will. Even Googs did too.

    He sucked as a pro, but don’t forget Sampson.

    Maybe JJ will prove to be better w experiance too.

  10. turfpack 02/26/2008 at 9:36 PM #

    Tylerwalksabout-will be a 1st rounder not so much about his talent but he’s a blueboy, media darling,national player of the year(yea right!)some NBA team will give him a chance-UNC playerist of the NBA.

  11. BAC79 02/26/2008 at 9:37 PM #

    JJ may indeed be one and done.

    If so, Lowe and company have a built in excuse for failure next year.

  12. 44legend 02/26/2008 at 9:37 PM #

    Ben Wallace was way more atheletic and a shot blocker. Handjob doesn’t block shots, he flops. He can rebound though. Spot sub duty at best. I’m not saying he can’t stick around, but he is a college phenom who outmuscles smaller guys and gets most of his points from the referees.

    If he could even pick up his 3rd foul early in the 2nd half he’d have to play a little different, but he never gets there.

  13. Todd 02/26/2008 at 9:40 PM #

    Best college post players… don’t forget the “pink elephant” in NC States past nobody wants to mention. Another bust in the pros.

  14. 44legend 02/26/2008 at 9:49 PM #

    Kyle Singler would be more useful to our team than Hickson was. I never thought a good big man would be so ineffective. Kind of the Todd Fuller syndrome part duex.

  15. wolfonthehill 02/26/2008 at 9:56 PM #

    The whole JJ situation is so damn hard to decipher.

    I honestly don’t know who I’m more pissed at… him for being so completely open about NC State being a mere speed bump on his road to the NBA… or his teammates for being such prima donnas that they couldn’t accept diminished roles for the good of the team when JJ showed up and was immediately the best player on the team.

    Similarly, I don’t know whether I hope JJ sticks around for the talent he brings us, or leaves for the good of team chemistry.

    Seems like no matter who NC State recruits, it turns out as poorly as could be imagined… whether it’s chemistry, injuries, or mere under-performance.

  16. Noah 02/26/2008 at 9:56 PM #

    “Noah..bullshit. He has increased his value 2 times over.”

    He was a lottery pick coming out of high school. He’s MAYBE a second round pick now. He’s a very slow 6-7 power forward. He can’t defend anyone in the NBA, he can’t score on anyone in the NBA, and he can’t rebound.

    Redfred sez: “I know if I was Tyler Hansbrough, I’d much rather do that than playing college basketball for a national championship caliber team, being remembered by people for here on, and having the experiences of college life to carry with me for the rest of my days.”

    Well, Whoop-de-flipping-do. Thank you….thank you so much. We were all just sitting around WAITING for you to answer questions that NO ONE F-ING ASKED. Gee, what would redfred do? I don’t know! Let’s all wait and see!!

    My god…the world just revolves around you, doesn’t it??

  17. turfpack 02/26/2008 at 9:57 PM #

    JJ ineffective- possible ROY ?-Team-Coaches ineffective!

  18. cowdog 02/26/2008 at 10:02 PM #

    About the smoking of Bill’s stuff…In fact it was my stuff’74 Greensboro with Him and, players to be named later.

    Guess my point was Hans reminds me of Walton as no one has over the last 3 decades ( oh shit)

  19. MattN 02/26/2008 at 10:05 PM #

    Everyone wave bye to JJ…..

  20. 44legend 02/26/2008 at 10:07 PM #

    (Handjob) He’ll be able to rebound just on his “nose for the ball” type skills and energy he brings. That’s about it. He’ll be around the ball. He’s a strong guy and an energy guy. Career second to third string. Forget about offense other than garbage baskets.

    I can’t get a good reading on now slow he is because he tends to dominate the opposition through strength and energy. I think he might be a bit more atheletic than some are willing to admit though. He’s not exactly a plodder. He’ll get out on the break and throw down a jam or two.

  21. turfpack 02/26/2008 at 10:12 PM #

    I still can’t wait to see johnny Thomas next year(saw him in H.S.couple times-kid can shoot-jump out the gym)if JJ stays or goes.

  22. cowdog 02/26/2008 at 10:16 PM #

    Noah,
    My man, you’ve got to stop taking direct responses to statements so personnaly. Really.

  23. Ed89 02/26/2008 at 10:23 PM #

    If Joakim Noah is a first round pick, so is Hansbro. He’s a solid first rounder — probably not an NBA all-star, but a solid NBA player for years — barring injury. Truthfully, I like his priorities. Now, best since Walton?? come on…

    Sampson
    Ewing
    Olajawon
    Duncan
    a few others are close…

    As far as JJ, as I mentioned before, I wouldn’t blame him a bit. In a way, it could help both the ’08-09 team — Ben and BC back to being go-to guys with Tracy getting alot of minutes, and recruiting the following year(s). Every so often, you need to get a one-and-doner, and I think showing Derrick Favors how you got the #14 player coming out of H.S. drafted in the first half of the first round — look what I could do for you — you’ll definitely be starting… And he would get many top H.S. seniors to start listening. You just could blame him for taking more money (guaranteed) than most of us make in a lifetime.

  24. Andy 02/26/2008 at 10:24 PM #

    Josh Powell comes in with the #2 highlight (seems topical with all the going pro early talk)

  25. Ed89 02/26/2008 at 10:26 PM #

    oh yeah, I just saw Ogilvie of Vandy get called for an offensive foul (his 3rd) in which he barely backed into the defender. I just had to laugh — Hansbro is ten times worse EVERY time down the court and never gets called. Just had to laugh….

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