HICKS Michael

General
FROM THE US TO POLAND
He was born in the United States of America and grew up in Smyrna, TN. He came to Europe in 2006 after finishing his college 5-on-5 basketball career at University of Central Missouri. "During my second year in college I was invited to a Boston Celtics camp. Everyone was there, including Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen and Tony Allen also played then. I was not selected, so I started to search for luck in Europe." He initially played in Turkey, before moving to France, and then Poland in 2008, where he became a well-known player at Polpharma Starogard Gdanski after helping them win the Polish Cup [2011] and Polish Super Cup [2011]. He met his wife Dagna while playing there, and after getting married he applied for Polish citizenship, which he received in 2016. In 2018 he became eligible to represent Poland at international level. "I have never regretted my decision, Poland turned out to be the best decision for me." (dziennikpolski24.pl, 02 Jan 2018; wp.pl, 02 Feb 2016; polskikosz.pl, 13 Sep 2016; magazynsportowiec.pl, 25 Jun 2019)

TRASH TALKER
He has gained a reputation for distracting opponents through 'trash talk' on the 3x3 court. "It's been like that since I was eight years old. Street ball, talking trash, sweating, bleeding, this is my life. When I was growing up I was the smallest one playing with older kids, and they used to beat me up and talk trash to me, and it would take me out my game, so I thought 'Let me try this'. I don't mean anything by the trash talk, I love all the guys, but on the court anything goes." (FIBA3X3 Youtube page, 12 Aug 2016)

FAMILY LOSS
In 2017 his mother died in a car accident while he was competing in the 3x3 World Tour in Prague, Czech Republic. His Polish wife, Dagna, says he continues to play for her memory. "Since then, Mike pushes himself even more. He does everything for his mother's memory. He wants her to be proud of him," Dagna said. (sport.pl, 05 Jul 2019)

OTHER ACTIVITIES
He holds basketball training classes for kids in a small village near his home in Starogard Gdanski, Poland. He is also engaged in other projects promoting basketball among children in Poland. (sport.pl, 05 Jul 2019)