City of Basketball Love

Stephen Pianovich (@SPianovich)
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Rick Pitino seems to enjoy pulling talent out of University City.

Tony Hicks, Penn’s leading scorer last season who is sitting out the 2015-16 campaign, will transfer to Louisville next season, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal. Hicks is following in the footsteps of former Drexel guard Damion Lee, who is the leading scorer for the No. 16 Cardinals in his lone season with the team.

In an interview with the Courier-Journal, Hicks elaborated on his decision and talked about his choice to forgo his senior season on the court with the Quakers. According to Hicks, first-year Penn coach Steve Donahue thought it was best if the guard opted to play his final collegiate season elsewhere in the 2016-17 campaign.

Here’s his quote to the Courier-Journal:

"I felt like Coach Donahue had hit it off very well throughout the summer and everything. A few weeks before our first game, he felt it would be better if I did this because he didn't feel that my playing style fit how he wanted to play and how he wanted to go forward in the future. He felt he couldn't jeopardize that with me being his leading player. I thought about it, and thought if he doesn't feel this is the best place for me, then I should feel it out."

The Courier-Journal’s Jeff Greer also posted his full question and answer session with Hicks.

The 6-foot-2 guard notched 13.2 points per game for Penn last season under Jerome Allen, and he averaged 12.8 points and 2.5 assists per game during his 83-game Quaker career. Hicks is still attending classes at Penn and is set to graduate in May.

All About the Ville. #502ComeUp

— Tony Hicks (@1of1Tone) January 5, 2016

Meanwhile, Penn is off to a 6-7 start under Donahue, and the team will start its Ivy League season this Saturday when it hosts Princeton at the Palestra.