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St.
Clair Murraine Posted on Tue, Sep. 16, 2003 |
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Hicks helps girls hoops players get noticed Imagine 1,500 college basketball coaches converging on Tallahassee to see the talent here. That would be Robert Hicks' wish, but he knows it won't happen. Actually there isn't enough talent here to make the trip worthwhile for more than about 10 to 15 coaches, but Hicks wants anybody who is interested in recruiting girls basketball players to take a look. He's set up an online profile of players on the Tallahassee Comets' Web site (www.cometsget.net). It's not a new concept, but it's a bright idea nonetheless, because it puts local talent just a click away from being discovered - just like their counterparts around the country. Undertaking such a project is a lot more than Hicks thought he'd be doing when he formed the Comets club three years ago. He just wanted to provide an opportunity for his daughter, Tiffany, to play organized basketball. She's become very good at the game - so much so that she'll be a starting senior guard at Florida High for the upcoming season. And college coaches are calling, too. They're also calling for some of the other girls in the club. Hicks didn't expect that, either. Nor did he expect to have coaches such as Mickey Clayton, a former FAMU coach, on his staff. But that's the kind of thing that happens when you start something with good intentions and follow through. In fact, Clayton was the one who suggested the idea of having players' profiles online. The whole thing came out of a simple conversation the two men had a few months ago. The suggestion makes sense, especially since some high school coaches have a way of pushing only their favorites to college recruiters. Often only the super athletes get any attention. Hicks, through his Comets program, is leveling the playing field for every young woman who dares to dream of playing at the college level - for any college. "I know a lot of girls would like to play for Duke, UConn and Tennessee, but everybody can't play for a D-I program like that," Hicks said. "There are still thousands of schools out there, so they can get an opportunity to play on the college level." Somebody might get their chance on Sept.27 when the Comets host an All-Star Revue. It will take place at Tully Gym from 9a.m. to 6p.m. If you're interested, don't look for an invitation. You don't need one, because Hicks really wants this thing to work. "Anybody who wants to compete, it's open to them," he said. The Comets club also is open to any girl who wants to join. Membership is $450, but the club won't turn away anyone who doesn't have all the cash. That's not the bottom line - Hicks and wife Anita have had to dig into their pockets over the years to pay their players' way to tournaments. They could end their ties to the club after their daughter graduates and moves on to college. It won't happen, though. "Initially it was about my baby, but after that first season those girls became my daughters, too," he said. "I love it. I'm locked in. Ask my wife, I eat and breathe Comets (basketball)." That's one reason why he's pushing to get every player's profile online. Oh, while those 1,500 coaches Hicks would like to see in Tallahassee won't be at the All-Star event, there will be about 20 present. That's enough the make it worthwhile for a college basketball prospect who otherwise would slip through the cracks. |
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