Iona continued its strong offseason with the addition Friday of Darius Hicks, a 6-foot-10 forward from the USAD AAU program who will play at Coastal Academy (N.J.).
Hicks, who is about to turn 19, is Iona’s first pledge in the Class of 2017.
“He’s a rim protector and he catches stuff off the rim,” Troy Bradford, his AAU coach, told SNY.tv. “He’s very mean. He’s a happy go lucky kid but he’s a dog, he’s mean.
“Iona will work on his motor and get his motor better. To me, I think he’s a pro. He’s 215 and he hasn’t touched a weight yet.”
Darius Hicks of USAD warming up and throwing down at NERR Big Apple Showcase at House of Sports. #usad #nerr pic.twitter.com/efc681uR8r
— cthuddle_dot_com (@cthuddle) July 14, 2016
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Led by the recruiting efforts of associate head coach Jared Grasso, Iona has recently solidified its 2016 class with the additions of 6-8 Ivo Von Tamm of Estonia and IMG Academy (FL), 6-6 Jahyde Gardner of East Mississippi Community College, 6-9 Tyrell Williams of Western Nebraska Community College, 6-7 wing Jan Svandrlik of Indian Hills Community College, 6-3 two guard Deandre Turner of Broward County College and 6-5 wing E.J. Crawford of St. Thomas More.
The Gaels previously landed graduated transfer guards Sam Cassell Jr. (UConn) and Jon Severe (Fordham).
