Football: Kylish Hicks Explains Why He Chose UConn
The UConn Huskies football program is always searching for high-level offensive talent and it looks like they found another great addition. Last year, the Huskies added Keelan Marion as a freshman recruit, and he proved to be an excellent signing. Marion led the Huskies in every major receiving category as a true freshman. This season, the Huskies signed three-star recruit Kylish Hicks, who is hoping to have a similar impact as Marion had as a freshman.
I had the opportunity to ask Hicks a few questions regarding his decision to sign with UConn, as well as how he feels he can help the team. I came away with much the same feeling I have from the other interviews I have done with this team. I started by asking him about his recruiting grade. 247 Sports is one of the better-known scouting sites in the nation. They had Hicks rated as a three-star recruit and the 28th-best recruit from Maryland. I asked Hicks how it felt to be held in such high regard.
He said, “It felt pretty good knowing I was a three-star because my entire high school wasn’t really ranked.”
UConn was not the only Division I offer that Hicks received. Schools such as Kent State and Old Dominion had given him offers. Asked what contributed to him choosing UConn over these other schools, he said, “I chose UConn because it felt more like a family than just a team. It felt more like a brotherhood. I got along with the coach and players, and it’s an overall good environment. I woke up on my initial visit thinking that this was the school I want to attend.”
We continued to talk about Hicks's initial visit to UConn and his interactions with both the coaching staff and players and how he was able to create quick chemistry with the group.
“I talked with the wide receivers coach (John Allen), but I pretty much spoke with everyone including head coach (Jim) Mora. I feel like my family and I created a good bond with Coach Mora and all the coaches on the staff before committing.”
If you have read any of my other interviews or articles, you know how much I enjoy the UConn campus, so I asked Hicks how he felt about the campus and the facilities when he visited.
“When I eventually got on campus it blew me away,” Hicks said. “The indoor facilities are beautiful and the new grass field feels amazing.”
The general consensus from who I have spoken to on the team has talked about how positively competitive the team is. Hicks’s response to how the team feels was not any different.
He said, “We are so driven to succeed it’s unbelievable. The energy at practice is unmatched. I think that may come from last year’s losing season, but our mindset for this year is nothing but to WIN.”
Since Marion was in the same boat last year for the team, I asked Hicks if he had any contact with Marion during his recruitment process. Marion seemed to actually have quite a positive impact on Hicks during and since his first visit to Storrs.
Hicks said, “I met Keelan on my official visit and he was my student-athlete I would hang around with during certain times in my visit and we built a pretty good bond and we talk all the time.”
Marion made such an impact as a freshman and has seemed to be putting in great work during the offseason, so hearing him helping out the incoming freshman shows great leadership.
Watching some of Hicks's high-school film, it’s clear he is an absolute speedster. He has a tremendous burst with incredible long speed as well and is incredibly elusive with the ball in his hands in the open field. As to where Hicks thinks he could be used best in the game plan, he said, “As a player, I feel like I can play wherever you need me to play, but if I had to choose I think I am more of a field stretcher. I feel like my speed and ball skills can open up other opportunities for other players on the field.”
This was such a good answer, and an incredibly mature one. Not only does this show that he is willing to do whatever the team needs him to do to win, but it shows that he is very unselfish. Some players want to be showcased in an offense, but Hicks is showing that he knows he can win deep, but it will also help the offense open up underneath and in the run game. Hicks brings maturity, competitiveness, blinding speed, ball skills, and toughness to a group that is looking to make a quick turnaround from a poor season. Hicks will now square off against teammate Nathan Voorhis in the Big 33 All-Star game between Maryland and Pennsylvania. Surely, they will have plenty to say to each other during practice.
