Denahria Hicks was third on her Eufaula team in scoring at 8.6 points per game and led the squad in rebounding at 6.6 per night. She was a key cog on a team that went 25-7 and advanced to the 6A Sweet 16.
Photo courtesy of Tony Darrigan
As a freshman,
Denahria Hicks took guidance from the upperclassmen and made an impact when she got on the court.
This past season in her sophomore campaign, Hicks cracked the starting lineup for the
Eufaula (Ala.) girls basketball team and showed how much her game improved.
"This season was a really, really breakout season," Eufaula girls basketball coach Jermieke Cliatt said. "She showed signs of what I'm going to see next year on a consistent basis."
Hicks was third on the team in scoring at 8.6 points per game and led the squad in rebounding at 6.6 per night. She was a key cog on a team that went 25-7 and advanced to the 6A Sweet 16.
"I developed skills and got better from the beginning to the end," Hicks said.
Hicks, who is 5-foot-11, plays primarily power forward and center but she also gets out on the perimeter to play guard. She can post up inside and move to the outside and knock down a jumper. She has proved to be a matchup nightmare for opposing teams.
That versatility is a big part of Hicks' game.
"She's the only one on my team that can play like that and I feel confident about it as a coach," Cliatt said.
Hicks picked up a basketball five years ago and has steadily improved along the way. It's the only sport the 15-year-old competes in, so she is dedicated year-round to becoming the best player she can be.
"A lot of motivation from different people and just working hard," Hicks said.
Hicks was the first player off the bench as a freshman. Even though she was just 14 at the time, Cliatt didn't have a problem getting her into the mix. That first year was a big learning experience.
"The seniors last year, I looked up to them and watched them and they helped me develop skills," Hicks said.
Hicks is year-round basketball player with a
passion for the game and a deadly inside-out game.
Photo courtesy of Tony Darrigan
After her freshman year, Cliatt had a message for Hicks: "She has a beast inside of her and she don't even know it."
That message resonated with Hicks. She's trying to release the beast.
Cliatt watched Hicks grow as a player in the offseason between her freshman and sophomore campaigns.
"The biggest thing was her confidence — as far as ball-handling, shooting the ball and being aggressive," Cliatt said.
Hicks feels playing on the AAU circuit has helped her game the most. With the Columbus (Ga.) Blazers, Hicks travels all over with the country, taking on some of the best players at her age level.
Outside of basketball, Hicks has a busy schedule. Three days a week for about three to four hours at a time, she helps play a mother role at home. Her mom works 12-hour shifts as a registered nurse, so Hicks is in charge of her siblings who are 14, 9 and 1.
That extra work doesn't detract from Hicks' prowess in the classroom. She holds a 3.8 grade point average, which she maintains with a lot of hard work.
"In order to succeed in basketball, I have to succeed in the classroom, so that's my first priority," Hicks said.
Hicks, who has been involved with National Junior Honor Society, is thinking she would like to study business and finance in college and has big aspirations for her career.
"I want to go to college and play in the WNBA," Hicks said.
Big-name colleges haven't quite started recruiting Hicks yet, but Cliatt believes that's just a matter of time. Hicks' strong play and basketball IQ teamed with her smarts in the classroom make for a good recipe.
"I'm big on grades, being a student first and athlete second," Cliatt said. "Denahria is going to have the ability to choose where she wants to go for college. If she can continue to take care of business on the court and improve her game, she'll be able to choose where she wants to go."
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