“When I came to St. John’s as head coach, one of my objectives was to put together a staff that has a strong understanding of New York City and the basketball landscape of the greater metropolitan area. Moe Hicks has a great sense for New York and is one of the city’s most accomplished coaches,” said Lavin, “Moe developed both leadership and administrative skills while guiding one of the most successful high school programs in the country. We are pleased to have Moe Hicks join our St. John’s basketball family.”

The head coach at Rice High School in Harlem since 1994, Hicks owns a 16-year record of 352-86 and has guided the Raiders to five New York State Federation championships (1996, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2009). Hicks’ high school squads, which were ranked in the USA Today Top 25 from 1994-2004 and then again in 2009, captured six New York City Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) titles (1996, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2006, 2009) and won 11 CHSAA divisional championships (1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010). Hicks’ 1999 Raider squad posted a 27-1 record and was named the Hoops USA national champion. 

For his efforts, Hicks was selected CHSAA Coach of the Year seven times, in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2006, 2008 and 2009, and earned Tri-State Coach of the Year honors in 2009. Having served as the head coach at Louis D. Brandeis High School on the Upper West Side of Manhattan from 1990-94 prior to his appointment at Rice, Hicks guided the Braves to the Public School Athletic League (PSAL) title in 1992. That makes him one of two coaches in New York City history to win both the CHSAA and PSAL championships.

A long, dynamic athlete with outstanding leaping ability, Polee Jr. is a tremendous talent on both the offensive and defensive end. The small forward/power forward is an excellent shot blocker, runs the floor with tenacity and has an uncanny ability to finish around the rim. As a senior at Westchester this past season, he displayed an offensive arsenal of floaters, mid-range jumpers, dunks and layups. With a near-40 inch vertical leap, he has actually been lauded as “high school basketball’s best dunker” in several publications.

“I am very excited to join the St. John’s basketball program,” said Hicks. “It is an exciting experience for me, and I am very much looking forward to working with a man in Coach Lavin who is dedicated to getting St. John’s back into the winner’s circle.” 

While at Rice, Hicks, 46, was responsible for all aspects of the boys’ basketball program, including the varsity, junior varsity and freshman teams. He supervised all assistant coaches, organized team practices, coordinated travel, provided support for academics and collaborated with the director of athletics on scheduling and the procurement of equipment.

Between his responsibilities as the head coach at Rice and the program director for the New York Gauchos AAU program out of the Bronx, Hicks has mentored hundreds of metro-area student-athletes. Gary Saunders (Seton Hall), Kenny Satterfield (Cincinnati), Andre Barrett (Seton Hall), Keydren Clark (St. Peter’s), Edgar Sosa (Louisville), Kemba Walker (Connecticut), Chris Fouch (Drexel) and Durand Scott (Miami, Fla.) are among those that have gone on to successful NCAA Division I collegiate careers.

A 1985 graduate of Loyola (Md.) with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, Hicks was a four-year member of the Greyhounds’ basketball team and played for head coach Mark Amatucci. His 1,494 career points still stand as sixth all-time in Loyola program history.

A native of Harlem, Hicks attended Rice and played AAU basketball for the former Riverside Church program.