Men’s Basketball Inks Third Spring Signee

BILLINGS, Mont. – Montana State Billings head men’s basketball coach, George Pfeifer, announced Thursday that Andrew Hickman has signed a National Letter of Intent.  Hickman is the third spring signee for the Yellowjackets and fourth overall for 2009-2010.

“We are extremely thrilled to get Andrew into our Yellowjacket program,” Pfeifer said. “He is going to give our program a big, physical, interior, power player over the next four years.  At his 6’8, 250-pound frame, he is very lean and powerful. We believe he has the ability to impact our program right away.

Hickman, a native of Woodward, Okla., attended Woodward High School where he averaged a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds per game.  He shot 79 percent from the line and an impressive 68 percent from the field.  He helped lead his team to the area tournament in 2008 with an 18-7 record, as well as the regional tournament from 2005-07.  He was named to the Harrah All-Tournament Team in 2006 and was a member of the KIOI Classic Bowl XX and played in the KOFM All-State game in 2008. 

Hickman attended Northwestern Oklahoma State in Alva, Okla., where he redshirted this past season.  He will have four years of eligibility at MSUB and plans on majoring in mathematics.  In high school, he was a standout student-athlete as he was a Salutatorian, named Who’s Who of American High Schools Students, a member of the Oklahoma High School Honor Society, an Eagle Scout and was an academic letter winner, as well as participating in FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes).

“Having him in a MSUB uniform for the next four years is going to be a real positive and exciting to everyone on our coaching staff,” Pfeifer added.  “Few individuals will play as hard and physical as he does and that in itself is a talent. The fact he is a big time student (Salutatorian) really speaks volumes about his character. We could not be more excited to have Andrew in our basketball program.”

Hickman joins DeAndre Chambers, who also has Oklahoma ties, as he played the last two years at Western Oklahoma State. He originally is from Monroe, N.C. Billings product, Joel Barndt, who attends Central Catholic High School as the also signed this spring.  Last fall, Pfeifer signed Tyrone Williams of Miles Community College.

“I chose to transfer to Montana State University Billings because the basketball program looks to be successful in the future and fits a similar style of play I am accustomed to,” Hickman said.  “I also have a tremendous amount of respect for the coaching staff.”