by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
A former basketball standout at Saint Mary’s University, Forrest Hicks, has joined the men’s coaching staff at Kansas City Kansas Community College.
An August graduate of Saint Mary’s, Hicks majored in mathematics. He played four seasons for the Spires and became a full-time starter early in his second year.
At 6-foot-6, Hicks will work primarily with the Blue Devil forwards and post players. Both of the other KCKCC coaches played guard at the collegiate level, head coach Kelley Newton at Oklahoma and assistant Alton Mason at Arizona State.
“He’s going to be a great asset to our program,” said Newton. “He’s got a lot of energy. We’re excited to have him.”
A native of St. Joseph, Mo., Hicks graduated from St. Joseph Christian High School where he was a four-year starter and a two-time all-state player on a team that won two district championships and finished fourth in the state tournament his senior year.
His play earned a scholarship to Saint Mary. In his four years there, the Spires never finished lower than fourth in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference and won the conference title his freshman season.
“This is a great opportunity to get my start in my goal of becoming a coach,” Hicks said. “I’ve only been here two weeks and I’ve already learned a lot.”