Penn senior guard Tony Hicks to sit out season

Penn's first basketball turnover in 2015-16 came off the court, with the school announcing Friday that last season's leading scorer, Tony Hicks, won't play this season. It sounds like Hicks intends to sit out and graduate and then try to use his final season of eligibility elsewhere.

"Tony and I have had some discussions in recent days, and Tony has decided not to play this year," first-year Quakers coach Steve Donahue said in a statement. "Tony will stay at Penn and graduate in May, and then after that he will continue his basketball career. I respect his decision, I wish him well, and we will continue to do all that we can to help Tony advance his game for his next step.

"As for this year's team, we will move forward and continue preparing for the upcoming season."

Hicks had played in a recent Penn scrimmage open to the public.

"After speaking with Coach Donahue about the best situation for Penn basketball and myself, I have decided the best decision for me will be to take a break from basketball," Hicks said. "I plan to graduate from Penn in May and then take my next step as a basketball player next year. This is a personal decision, and I wrestled long and hard with it because I have thoroughly enjoyed playing for Penn the last three years and wearing the Red and the Blue. I want to wish the guys on the team and the coaches all the best for this season and future seasons, and I will definitely be backing them in the Palestra during these next several months."

The Daily Pennsylvanian reported Hicks was going to be a captain this season, which begins on Nov. 13 against Robert Morris at the Palestra.