James Edward "J. J." Hickson Jr. is an American professional basketball player with the Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA. He was drafted 19th overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2008 NBA Draft. He was traded to the Sacramento Kings for Omri Casspi and a lottery-protected 2012 first-round draft choice. In March 2012, he was waived by the Kings and subsequently claimed by the Trail Blazers. Hickson attended Joseph Wheeler High School in Marietta, Georgia. In the class of 2007, he was ranked as the No. 10 overall recruit and No. 2 power forward by Rivals.com and as the No. 13 overall and... the No. 3 power forward by Scout.com. He was honored as a 2007 McDonald's All-American. In 2006, Hickson took the Wheeler High squad to the 5A Final Four. As a senior, he averaged 25.9 points, 13.8 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game. Hickson played one season of college basketball for the Wolfpack at North Carolina State University. In his first game as a freshman, Hickson scored 31 points, making all 12 of his attempted field goals against William & Mary, setting an NCAA Division I record for field goal percentage by a player in his first career game.
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