STEPHENVILLE, Texas – One of Tarleton's returning leading scorers from last year was honored Monday by being named a top conference player heading into the 2022-23 season.
Freddy Hicks was placed on the Preseason All-WAC Second Team in the 2022-23 WAC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll, announced a day ahead of the conference's annual media day. Voting was conducted by the 13 head coaches across the WAC, with no one allowed to vote for their own team or player.
Also announced, Tarleton was selected to finish 10th in the coaches' poll and 11th in the 2022-23 WAC Preseason MBB Media Poll. In the coaches' poll, the Texans were voted to finish ahead of UT Arlington, Utah Tech and UTRGV with 47 points.
Hicks started in all 31 games for the Texans last season and led the team in total rebounds and blocks, finishing third on the team in scoring. He averaged 12.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game over 31.1 minutes per competition. He led the Texans in 20+ point games with seven, including a career-high 29-point effort at UTRGV on Jan. 29, making 10-of-15 from the field.
The full 2022-23 WAC Preseason MBB Coaches' Poll can be found below:
2022-23 WAC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
| Rank |
Team (1st-Place Votes) |
Points |
| 1. |
Grand Canyon (8) |
135 |
| 2. |
NM State (3) |
127 |
| 3. |
Stephen F. Austin |
111 |
| 4. |
Abilene Christian (1) |
101 |
| 5. |
California Baptist (1) |
96 |
| 6. |
Seattle U |
91 |
| 7. |
Utah Valley |
85 |
| 8. |
Sam Houston |
79 |
| 9. |
Southern Utah |
66 |
| 10. |
Tarleton |
47 |
| 11. |
UT Arlington |
31 |
| 12. |
Utah Tech |
29 |
| 13. |
UTRGV |
16 |
2022-23 WAC Preseason Player of the Year: Jovan Blacksher Jr., Jr., G, Grand Canyon
2022-23 Preseason All-WAC First Team
Airion Simmons, Sr., F, Abilene Christian
Taran Armstrong, So., G, California Baptist
Jovan Blacksher Jr., Jr., G, Grand Canyon
Xavier Pinson, Sr., G, NM State
Cameron Tyson, Jr., G, Seattle U
Tevian Jones, Sr., G/F, Southern Utah
Justin Johnson, Sr., F, UTRGV
Trey Woodbury, Sr., G, Utah Valley
2022-23 Preseason All-WAC Second Team
Rayshon Harrison, So., G, Grand Canyon
Gabe McGlothan, Jr., F, Grand Canyon
Javion May, Sr., G, Sam Houston
Riley Grigsby, Sr., G/F, Seattle U
Maizen Fausett, Sr., F, Southern Utah
Sadaidriene Hall, So., F, Stephen F. Austin
Jaylin Jackson-Posey, So., G, Stephen F. Austin
Freddy Hicks, So., G/F, Tarleton
