STEPHENVILLE, Texas — For the first time in the Tarleton State's Men's Basketball Division I era, Freddy Hicks sunk his 1,000th career point in a Texan uniform on the final men's basketball game ever played in Wisdom Gym.
 
On March 8, Hicks entered the Texans' contest against Utah Valley needing just eight points to reach the milestone. Just over halfway through the first half, Hicks drew a foul with 8:13 remaining, needing just one point to reach the 1K mark. Hicks drained his first shot at the free throw line to officially become the first Texan in the D1 era to reach 1,000 career points while donning a Texan jersey.
 
"You're getting all the good components of a basketball player out of Freddy Hicks," said Tarleton State head coach Billy Gillispie. "He has had a great career so far and it's not over. He is a great human being and has a great future ahead of himself."
 
Hicks is one of the most decorated Texan athletes in the men's basketball history, and especially in the Division I era. In his first season in Stephenville, he was named the first WAC Freshman of the Year in program history. In addition, Hicks earned Preseason Second Team All-WAC and postseason Second Team All-WAC during his third year with the Texans. Before his final season at Tarleton, Hicks was named Preseason First Team All-WAC.
 
Not only has he earned many honors from the league, but Hicks ranks in the top of nearly every statistical category for the Texans in the Division I era. The Searcy, Arkansas native tops the Texans in points (1,025), total rebounds (441), free throws made (363), field goals made (303), defensive rebounds (315), field goal attempts (724) and free throw attempts (494). He is second in games played (81), games started (72) and offensive rebounds (167). Finally, he is third in minutes played (2,306) and blocks (47). In all, Hicks leads the Texans in seven statistical categories and ranks in the top three in 13 in the Tarleton Division I era.
 
Prep Days
 
He was a three-year letter winner at Searcy High School, serving as the team captain his senior year. He finished his career at Searcy as the all-time leading scorer with 1,603 points. Hicks was a two-time All-State and two-time All-Conference selection. As a senior, he averaged 24 points on the season, including 27 points per game in conference play, with 11 rebounds, three assists and two blocks He shot 47 percent from the floor, 30 percent on three-pointers and 78 percent at the free throw line. Hicks led the 5A East region in scoring his senior season. After his senior year was the 13th ranked player in the state of Arkansas when he committed to Tarleton State. He excelled off the court in the classroom as he was in the Spanish Honor Society and a member of student council at Searcy HS.
 
Hicks chose to start his career in Stephenville joining head coach Billy Gillispie in his first season with the Texans. "I thought I was done and not going to play college basketball," said Hicks. "I thought I was going to just start working. But, Coach Gillispie started calling me and we built a relationship. After that, I knew this is where I wanted to come."
 
First Stint with Tarleton
 
Hicks earned a start in each of his first three collegiate games and all but four throughout the 20-game season. He started the final nine games of his freshman campaign to start a 63-game consecutive start streak, the longest by a Texan in the D1 era. He started in all 31 games in his second year in the 'Ville and all 23 he played in in 2022-23. Hicks missed 11 games due to injury in his third season.
 
Hicks began his career joining coach Gillispie for each of their first seasons in Stephenville. In his freshman campaign with the Texans, Hicks was named WAC Freshman of the Year, averaging 8.2 points per game, the most by a first-year WAC player. He led the team in total rebounds (108) and blocks (0.6) and was second with 5.4 rebounds per game.
 
His first career double-double came against California Baptist with a 20-point, 13-rebound performance. He started 16 of the squad's 20 games and posted seven double-digit scoring totals. He recorded three double-doubles including two in the Texans' final five games. "It was a lot different than I expected, with CoVid-19, but we stayed together as a team," said Hicks when looking back on his freshman campaign.
 
In his second year with the Texans, he started all 31 games averaging 12.8 points and posting a career-high 398 points. He posted double-digit scoring totals in 20 games while notching at least 20 in seven games. The Texans were 7-0 in those games. He averaged 16.3 points per game in conference play, double his average during non-conference games (8.1). He posted 20 or more points in three straight games during WAC play, the longest such streak of his career. Hicks scored a season-high 29 on the road at UTRGV. He grabbed a season-high nine boards in four games. He made 122 of his 157 free throws attempts, ranking second in attempts and third in makes in a single season in Tarleton's D1 era. He pulled down 164 rebounds with 42 on the offensive end, both ranking third in the program's D1 era in a single season.
 
"I built a lot of great relationships with the community and friends," said Hicks when talking about why he chose to stay at Tarleton in such a portal-driven era after the first two years. "Tarleton has a tight-knit community, and I really enjoyed that. Texan Nation helps us win a lot of games in Wisdom Gym and I really liked that."
 
Hicks third year with Tarleton culminated with the Texans' first WAC Tournament victory and the first trip to the CBI in Daytona Beach, Florida. He was tabbed to the All-WAC Second Team after leading the team in points (16.2) and rebounds (6.0). His 16.2 points per game is the highest single-season average by a Texan in the D1 era. Hicks shot 146-for-194 from the free throw line, both single season highs in the Texans' D1 era. Hicks also posted the third most rebounds in a single season in the Texans' D1 era pulling down 164 boards.
 
He posted a season-high 30 points in two games coming against Radford in the CBI and Drake in the Paradise Jam Championship game. Hicks was one of five WAC players to notch multiple 30-point games during the season. He owns the program record making 18 free throws against Belmont at the Paradise Jam, a mark that topped the WAC and ranked eighth in the country in the 22-23 season. Hicks was a preseason All-WAC selection and was named to the Academic All-WAC Team. He was named WAC Player of the Week for the first time in his career following the first two games of the Paradise Jam averaging 23.5 points on 58.8 percent shooting, 7.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.0 steals.
 
The Return
 
After attending Tarleton State for three seasons, Hicks made the decision to leave for his fourth collegiate season heading to Arkansas State where his dad had graduated from about 25 years prior. After spending a season with the Red Wolves, Hicks made the decision to return to the Texans for his final season last summer. "We had a good season at Arkansas State but I felt like this is where I needed to be," said Hicks. "There is no better feeling than coming back to where I started.
 
"What great news to have Freddy Hicks back at Tarleton State University," said head coach Billy Gillispie when he officially announced the return of Freddy Hicks. "I know everyone will be excited to have the opportunity to watch Freddy play and lead the Texans. What Freddy has done here and will do has and will be amazing. With a record-breaking 2023-24 season and a great excitement about the future, things could not better for Texan Basketball. Freddy has chosen Tarleton twice now and will be remembered forever for his playing ability, gaining a degree, and being a leader."
 
The Final Season
 
Before the season tipped off, Hicks earned recognition from the rest of the coaches in the league. Hicks was tabbed a Preseason All-WAC selection for the second time in his career. "It's great to see Freddy get some of the attention he deserves," said coach Billy Gillispie on the award. "He is a first teamer in any conference. As good as he is as a player, he is even better as a human being and is the best leader I have ever been around. It's great to be around Freddy every day."
 
Just before the beginning of the season, Hicks fell victim to the injury bug, resulting in him missing the first 18 games of the year. After returning for three games, Hicks reinjured his foot, causing him to miss the next six games. He then missed his 25^th game of the year the penultimate game of the regular season on the road at California Baptist.
 
Throughout his career with the Texans, injuries have taken Freddy off the court for 36 games. He has played through the injuries in many other games as well and even played when the coaching staff advised him not too. "The guys need me out there," said Hicks on more than one occasion throughout his senior season with the Purple and White.
 
In his final season donning the Purple and White, Hicks played in seven games starting the final two games of the season. He scored a season-best 20 points against Utah Valley on Senior Night in front of his entire family. The senior led the team in scoring and nearly led the Texans to an upset victory over the WAC Regular season champions.
 
When asked what was next for himself, Hicks responded with the answer that was expected of the basketball star. "I am going to play at the highest level that I can play at. I will be the best I can be and I think it will show in due time."