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N.C. State freshman is athletic, can play in post and on wing
By David Lee Morgan Jr.
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Friday, Jun 27, 2008
INDEPENDENCE: J.J. Hickson played just one season in college, but he has the kind of upside the Cavaliers were looking for in a post player.
With that in mind, the Cavs made Hickson, 19, a 6-foot-9 forward from North Carolina State, their first-round pick (19th overall) in the 2008 NBA Draft on Thursday night.
Hickson led North Carolina State in scoring (14.8 points a game) and rebounding (8.5) last season and was 10th in scoring in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Cavs General Manager Danny Ferry said Hickson's selection was all about filling a need inside.
''We're really excited that J.J. was available for us,'' Ferry said as he spoke briefly to reporters before returning to his office to further monitor the draft. ''Bringing a young big into our group I think was really important, considering the age of our bigs.
''J.J. was a guy we had ranked pretty high all year,'' Ferry said. ''He's a hard worker and a quality kid. He'll get up at 6 a.m. like he did at North Carolina State and like he did in high school.''
Ferry said he did not want to put a timetable on how soon Hickson could contribute but said he was looking at a 12- to 18-month window of development.
''We don't want to put a hard set timeline on anyone but you have to be respectful of the fact that he just finished his freshman year in college,'' Ferry said. ''He has a lot to learn. He's a work in progress and our job is to put him in the best position for him to have success.''
Along with leading the Wolfpack in scoring and rebounding, Hickson put up a few other outstanding numbers last season. In his collegiate debut against William & Mary, he scored 31 points on 12-of-12 shooting from the field. He also set an ACC freshman single-game record with 23 rebounds against Clemson.
''He's athletic and can create in the post and the wing,'' Ferry said. ''He can play with his back to the basket and he's a very dedicated player that will be a hard worker for us.''
Asked what Hickson needs to work on. Ferry said, ''Everything. He has to learn to be a professional and we're confident he can do that.''
Kosta Koufos, a 7-0 center who starred at GlenOak and averaged 14.4 points as a freshman at Ohio State, was still available when the Cavs selected Hickson. Koufos was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2008 National Invitation Tournament.
''I'm very blessed and happy to be with Utah and I'm ready to get things started,'' Koufos said.
''I have no regrets. I'm happy I'm going to be coached by Coach [Jerry] Sloan. I'm excited to get to the city. I have to report [today].''
Also available was sophomore Darrell Arthur (6-9, 255) of Kansas, who averaged 11.3 points a game for the national-champion Jayhawks.
Koufos was taken by the Utah Jazz with the 23rd pick and Arthur went to the New Orleans Hornets with the 27th pick.
Ferry said the Cavs got the player they wanted in Hickson.
''All those guys we studied all year and it was a challenging decision,'' Ferry said. ''We just felt really comfortable with J.J. He uses his body and his strength well. He can play the power game and he can make plays for himself whether it's on the wing or in the post.
''If he works hard and we do a good job of coaching and showing him the way, I think he could be a solid rotational player in the NBA and that was a priority with our organization.''
Finally a first
The Cavs did not have a first-round pick last year or in 2005. In 2006, the Cavs selected Shannon Brown with the 25th overall pick.
A New York welcome
It didn't take the New York fans long to show their affection for the Knicks' first-round pick — 6-9 forward Danilo Gallinari from Italy. When NBA Commissioner David Stern announced Gallinari as the Knicks' pick (sixth overall), the crowd at Madison Square Garden erupted in a loud chorus of boos that continued through (ESPN analyst) Stephen A. Smith's interview with Gallinari moments later.
David Lee Morgan Jr. can be reachedat dlmorgan@thebeaconjournal.com.
INDEPENDENCE: J.J. Hickson played just one season in college, but he has the kind of upside the Cavaliers were looking for in a post player.
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