TONY HICKS IN SURREY RETURN

Surrey Scorchers have re-signed American playmaker Tony Hicks.

The 26-year-old point guard returns to SSP for a second spell after a terrific rookie season with the club back in the 2017-2018 season.

After graduating from Louisville University, Hicks burst onto the BBL scene in 2017, averaging 19.4 points, 5.8 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game in his rookie year with the Scorchers.

It earned him a switch to Rostock Seawolves in Germany’s Pro A where he has spent the past two seasons, most recently averaging 11.4 points and 3.6 assists per game.

Hicks said: “I’m overjoyed to be able to simply play basketball competitively again.

“I have to thank Coach Creon and the organisation for allowing me to come back under the wild Covid circumstances.

“I have watched a lot of games so far and cannot wait to get on the court with the guys, build, and win many ball games.”

Creon Raftopoulos added: “I’ve got myself a high-calibre player and I’m over the moon.

“Tony and I keep in regular contact. He had plans to play elsewhere but obviously this year has been a little different with everything that’s going on with Covid.

“He reached out to me and we had a conversation, and he felt that with the squad we have, he can add something to it and we can do something special.

“I think teaming him up with Connor (Cashaw) will give us a good backcourt – if you look at some of the other teams in the league there are some exciting duos.

“I think this will help strengthen our backcourt at the highest level we possibly could have done.”