By ADAM ZAGORIA
Zach Hicks is staying local.
The 6-foot-7, 176-pound small forward from Camden (N.J.) Catholic has committed to Temple after also considering Richmond, he told ZAGSBLOG ahead of his public announcement Friday.
“Just being around the teammates they have there, they just all seem together,” Hicks said. “Just being the coaching staff, Aaron McKie and all of them, I felt comfortable just looking at tape of Aaron McKie play and just seeing how he wasn’t the most jumping-high guy or had the craziest handle. But he just out-worked people and it kind of reminds me of myself.”
Hicks is ranked the No. 50 power forward in the Class of 2021 per 247Sports.com, but is more of a wing. He averaged 20 points and 9 rebounds last season as a junior.
“Sometimes I’ll be spotting up, sometimes I’ll be coming off down screens, just the shooter role,” Hicks said. “Sometimes getting the ball in the mid-range and going to work.”
Said Philly Pride coach Brandon Williams: “Zach is an offensive weapon and is one of the more skilled kids I’ve ever coached, regardless of size. He’s extremely versatile on both ends of the floor. Couple that with the fact he’s 6-8,with the perfect frame to add weight to, and I see a kid that at his max potential, could be walking across a draft stage in a few years.”
Hicks joins point guard Hysier Miller and big man Brandon Sanders in Temple’s 2021 class.
“It’s been a pleasure to watch Zach’s development as a player and person,” said Camden Catholic coach Matt Crawford. “He works hard, and gets better and better every day.”
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