LSU’s smallest player has made the biggest impact on the hardwood for the Tigers so far this season.
Freshman point guard Anthony Hickey, all of 5-feet-11 and 180 pounds, became the first LSU freshman to start at point guard from the season’s opening tip since Torris Bright in 1999, and the former Mr. Basketball in the state of Kentucky hasn’t looked back since.
Hickey leads the Tigers in numerous statistical categories, including scoring — averaging 12.9 points, 4.1 assists and 2.5 steals per game while shooting a team-high 39.6 percent behind the 3-point line.
Early praise has poured in as a result, as Hickey earned a nod on the Charleston Classic All-Tournament team earlier this month after the Tigers’ 2-1 showing and has wowed fans with a mix of sharp instincts and tenacious defensive hustle.
Despite being undersized for a typical point guard in a major college program, Hickey’s toughness has yet to be an issue because of his prep history on the gridiron.
“I played football in high school — quarterback — so you have to be aware and ready to be hit,” said the Hopkinsville, Ky., native. “I don’t worry about it in basketball because contact is something I enjoy, and you know the SEC will be [physical].”
The young guard’s days under center likely played a key role in LSU being able to land his late-blooming talent so far along in the recruiting game last spring.
Hickey led Christian County High School to state championship appearances in both football and basketball in his senior year but didn’t fully burst on the scene in basketball until the spring, thanks to the split time with football throughout his prep career.
Entering the Tigers’ roster this fall alongside heralded McDonald’s All-American forward Johnny O’Bryant III — the two share a distinctive dreadlock hairstyle — and Louisiana native John Isaac, Hickey was the unknown entity of LSU’s freshman trio.
Sophomore guard Andre Stringer, who was able to move to a more natural fit at shooting guard because of Hickey’s presence, said Hickey has assumed a leadership role as a freshman through his relentless play.
“He’s getting everybody fired up [on the court], but he backs up that intensity when he’s diving for loose balls and pushing the ball hard up the floor,” Stringer said. “Everything runs through him on the floor. He is our point guard and our floor general. That’s something you have to earn with us, but Anthony’s effort is something we’ve all improves.”
 
—-
Contact Chris Abshire at [email protected]