The backcourt of the LSU men’s basketball team added a new member Tuesday afternoon.
Scout.com three-star point guard Anthony Hickey signed a letter of intent to play at LSU during a press conference in his high school gym, joining sophomore Andre Stringer and senior Chris Bass on the point guard depth chart.
The 5-foot-10-inch, 160-pound recruit also considered South Carolina, Butler, Western Kentucky and Dayton.
“We are very fortunate to be able to obtain a player of this caliber late in the recruiting period,” LSU coach Trent Johnson said in a news release. “He definitely helps us become a much better basketball team.”
The Hopkinsville, Ky., native — winner of Kentucky’s 2011 Mr. Basketball — led his Christian County High School team to a state championship with a 17-point performance in the title game against Rowan County High School.
Hickey, who was mainly recruited by LSU assistant coach Donny Guerinoni, averaged 18 points, four assists and four steals per game during his senior campaign.
Derek Ponamsky, recruiting analyst for BayouBengalsInsider.com, said Hickey will compete with Stringer for the starting role.
“For what they are looking for in a point guard to run this offense, [Hickey’s] skill set is much better than Stringer’s,” Ponamsky said.
Brian Eldridge, Kentucky Preps publisher for Scout.com, said Hickey will contribute more than points to the Tigers.
“He’ll get his teammates involved,” Eldridge said. “He could only score five points, but he’ll impact the game. He rebounds the ball well for his size.”
Hickey is the third member of Johnson’s 2011 recruiting class.
Follow Michael Lambert on Twitter @TDR_Lambert.
 
—-
Contact Michael Lambert at [email protected]