Four-star guard Nolan Hickman Jr. signs with KENTUCKY

by:Jack Pilgrim11/11/20
Four-star guard Nolan Hickman Jr. is officially a Kentucky Wildcat, the second prospect to sign with the program in the class of 2021. The Kentucky men's basketball program announced Hickman as a new addition this afternoon. "Welcome to the family, [Nolan Hickman]," the school announced, adding a brief highlight video of Hickman’s top plays. https://twitter.com/KentuckyMBB/status/1326630975556751367?s=20 With the Early Signing Period opening for basketball student-athletes today, five-star forward Daimion Collins was the first commitment to sign on the dotted line, followed by Hickman at 2:30 p.m. ET. The future UK guard signed his paperwork on Instagram Live. Hickman, a 6’2” guard out of Seattle, Washington, is considered the No. 42 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite Rankings. The four-star guard committed to UK on Aug. 22, choosing the Wildcats over offers from Kansas, Oklahoma, Arizona, UCLA and Washington, among others. "Their ultimate pitch to me was that they wanted someone who was interested in Kentucky, someone who has been dreaming of coming to Kentucky for so long," Hickman told KSR. "They said they think of me as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander because of how he came up late on the scene, was high-rising. Right when they said that they really wanted me and Coach Cal showed serious interest in me, I felt like I was wanted, I was needed. It felt like the right fit for me." Hickman, who averaged 17.3 points, 3.4 assists and 1.8 steals per game as a junior in high school, tells KSR that he plans on helping Kentucky win its tenth national title when he arrives on campus, reserving No. 9 for UK's upcoming 2020-21 team. "I’ve been doing anything I can as a point guard, reaching out to everyone I can to help this team flourish and be the best it can be," he said. "We’ve got to get this tenth [title]. I skipped nine for a reason, this squad is going to go out there and do their thing." Needless to say, he's prepared for the spotlight and pressure that comes with playing at Kentucky. "100 percent," he told KSR. "I have never shied away from any matchup, any event, any big stage, that’s one thing my pops has always been telling me. “There’s no such thing as being nervous. Just go in there and hoop, there’s nothing to be nervous about, nothing to be scared about. You’ve been doing this your whole life.” I’ve been doing this since I was three, so I just go in there and have fun. That’s what hooping is all about." With Hickman and Collins both signing with the program this afternoon, only one UK commitment remains in four-star forward Bryce Hopkins, who is set to sign with Kentucky at 5 p.m. ET (4 p.m. CT). The signing period is open from Nov. 11 through Nov. 18.

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2024-03-28