By Michael Perry
The Cincinnati Enquirer

When practice ends, University of Cincinnati freshman Eric Hicks often consults with his older brother, Derrick, who can frequently be seen watching workouts at Shoemaker Center.

Derrick said he sometimes can communicate what the coaches are telling Eric so that he better understands what they want.

"I critique him on his mistakes," Derrick said.

Said Eric: "He just tells me the stupid stuff I do that he sees. He's been doing that since I was small."

Derrick said he graduated from North Carolina A&T in May and moved to Cincinnati to keep an eye on his younger brother. He is working for a local construction company and attends practice whenever he can.

Eric, one of UC's prized recruits last year, is practicing full-time with the Bearcats but is still battling back from arthroscopic knee surgery in August.

"He's probably 85 percent," Derrick said. "He's pretty much going off of heart right now."

Eric, known for his explosiveness and athleticism at Greensboro (N.C.) Dudley High School, said his knee gets stiff, and he still can be seen favoring his leg at times.

"I'm feeling so-so," Eric said. "I've got to adjust to going three hours hard and getting my knee right. I look kind of hesitant out there. I don't dunk it like I used to. I've got to get that back."

FIRST SCRIMMAGE: UC plays its first exhibition game Saturday against Northern Kentucky (6:05p.m., Shoemaker Center). The Bearcats beat NKU 81-53 last season.

KENNEDY RISES: When Clark Francis of Hoop Scoop rated assistants last spring, UC's Andy Kennedy was No.22. Francis said that based on UC's recruiting, Kennedy's stock is rising.

UC's recruiting class went from 18th to No.3 in Francis' rankings after Mike Pilgrim made an oral commitment, joining Robert Whaley and Nick Williams.

NEXT LEVEL: Seven former Bearcats started the NBA season on active rosters: Corie Blount (Chicago), Danny Fortson (Golden State), Art Long (Philadelphia), Kenyon Martin (New Jersey), Ruben Patterson (Portland), Kenny Satterfield (Denver) and Nick Van Exel (Dallas).

DerMarr Johnson is on Atlanta's injured reserve list. Pete Mickeal is on Houston's injured reserve list. And Steve Logan, a second-round draft pick of Golden State last June, remains unsigned.

E-mail mperry@enquirer.com

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