“It’s not about me. It’s never been about me.”
Those are the words of a Division I men’s basketball player.
No really, stop pinching yourself, they are. They’re the words of Oregon center Julius Hicks, and they embody what the senior is all about.

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Imagine, for a moment, all the qualities of the perfect athlete rolled into one body. Now, subtract dominating athletic ability. What you have left is humility, leadership and work ethic.
Who you have is Julius Hicks.
“Juice,” as he is affectionately called by his teammates and coach, has had a successful career at Oregon, as long as success isn’t measured in steals and three-point percentage. Hobbled by injuries and sickness during his two years in Eugene, Hicks has never fully made the impact he desired.
Unless you talk to his teammates.
“He believes in us a lot,” Oregon freshman Luke Ridnour said. “For a senior to do that to a freshman, that’s pretty cool. It’s nice just to know he respects you.”

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Since he came to Oregon from West Valley Junior College before the 1999-00 season, Hicks has been slowed by injuries and never “found his rhythm,” according to Ducks head coach Ernie Kent.
“He never really had a chance to play on top of his game for an entire season, or really even a stretch of a season outside of the preseason this year,” Kent said.
Hicks started the 1999-00 campaign backing up senior A.D. Smith and junior Flo Hartenstein, but had an impressive preseason all the same. Then, Hicks was struck with mononucleosis during the Pacific-10 Conference slate and didn’t play many quality minutes for the rest of the season.
Take two: Hicks was impressive during the preseason in 2000-01, then slowed by an ankle injury early on during the Pac-10 schedule, and once again hasn’t played as much he’s capable of.
Still, the San Francisco native is dominating enough when he does play that he has made an impact on the Oregon record books.
Prior to his ankle injury before the Ducks’ Jan. 25 matchup with Southern California, Hicks had 18 blocks in the previous 15 games. He ranks ninth all-time in blocked shots at Oregon, and his 32-block performance this season is the Ducks’ sixth best ever.
Hicks proved he could play ball long before he came to Oregon. Playing with ex-Duck Darius Wright at West Valley J.C. in California, Hicks tasted as much glory as possible at the juco level.
Hicks was an all-star and selected for the all-state team among all California junior colleges. He led West Valley to a 54-12 record and a Northern California Championship in two seasons there. He averaged 14 points and seven rebounds a game to complement a .727 shooting percentage and a .644 free-throw percentage.
He was such a Juice machine on the court that Street and Smith named him a national juco All-American in 1999.

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But it would take Hicks two more years at a Division I school to learn some of life’s most important lessons.
“This whole experience has been great for me,” said Hicks as he bounced a ball between his feet at one of his final practices in an Oregon uniform. “I’ve learned a lot about life by being away from home, having responsibility and playing basketball.”
Others have been touched by Hicks’ humility as the senior has discovered it himself.
Ridnour tells a story about the most exciting moment of his young college career, when the Ducks were leading No. 7 Arizona late in the game at McArthur Court.
“When the game was coming down to the end, he said ‘You need to get the ball,’” Ridnour said. “He just kept telling me, ‘You need to go get the ball and take this over for us.’ For someone on the court, a senior, to tell you that, makes you feel really good.
“He’s always building you up, and making sure you know you can do it, and that people believe in you.”
Perhaps Hicks will leave a legacy that goes beyond statistical boundaries. Maybe years down the road, when the player who was mentored by Ridnour is mentoring another player, Hicks’ name will come up.
Kent acknowledges that Hicks has only added to the Oregon program in his time here.
“I know he would have wished he could have done more out here,” said Kent, as he pointed to the basketball floor at Mac Court. “But he’s been a very important key to our success the last couple of years just because of the leadership and intensity he’s brought to practice every day.”
Juice is one of four players who will leave Oregon after this season to conquer other areas besides basketball.
Years from now, Hicks said he will most remember the people associated with Oregon basketball.
“I’m going to take a lot out of it — a lot of friendships with the new guys, and also a lot of friendships with the older guys that are going to last after I get out of here,” Hicks said. “I’m going to remember the people, the fans, Mac Court. I’m going to remember the Arizona State game, going to the tournament, stuff like that.”
The future, although uncertain, looks bright for Juice.

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As Hicks focused on the Ducks’ Civil War matchup at Oregon State Saturday, his thoughts were, as always, with his team.
“We thought we had the talent to [make the NCAA Tournament],” Hicks said. “We still have a chance to redeem ourselves on Saturday.
“I just want to win. If we can just win and go out on a positive note, that’ll be enough for me.”
To some, a win at Oregon State Saturday would seem like a small consolation prize for an average career. But to Juice, and all the Ducks that have been lucky enough to play with him, it would represent the final chapter of a success story.
Because it’s never been about Juice.