Stephan Hicks Bio
Stephan Keenan Hicks (born April 2, 1992) is an American retired professional basketball player who spent more than a decade competing across multiple leagues on three continents. Best known for his long association with the Fort Wayne / Indiana Mad Ants organization, Hicks built his reputation as a reliable forward who could score, rebound, and contribute in a variety of roles. He played professionally from 2015 to 2025, and his number 17 was retired by the Indiana Mad Ants in 2025, making him only the second player in franchise history to receive that honor.
Early Life and Background
Stephan Keenan Hicks was born on April 2, 1992, in Los Angeles, California. He is the son of Charles Hicks and Kim Kitchen, and he grew up alongside one sister, Kristiaan, and three brothers named Kaelan, Keaton, and Dylan. Standing 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) and playing at 200 lb (91 kg), Hicks developed into a versatile small forward and shooting guard combination during his formative years in Southern California.
He attended Agoura High School, where he averaged 17 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 2.1 steals per game as a junior, establishing himself as a productive two-way player. For his senior season, Hicks transferred to National College Prep in nearby Thousand Oaks, where he raised his scoring to 18 points per game and added 6 rebounds per game while earning all-tournament honors at the Hampton Inn Invitational.
Path to Professional Basketball
After high school, Hicks joined the Cal State Northridge Matadors, where he played from 2010 to 2015. He quickly made an impact and was named the 2012 Big West Freshman of the Year, signaling his potential as a future professional. As a senior, he averaged 16.0 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, performances that earned him Second-team All-Big West honors in 2015 and helped him finish eighth all-time in conference history for career points.
Stephan Hicks Career
Early Career (2015–2019)
Hicks began his professional journey when he was selected in the third round of the 2015 NBA Development League Draft by the Oklahoma City Blue and immediately traded to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. He made his debut on November 15, 2015, in a 112–92 win over Raptors 905, contributing two points, two rebounds, and a steal in four minutes. Fort Wayne reacquired him for the 2016–17 season, and over his first four years in the G League he developed into a steady contributor, helping the team reach the playoffs in 2017 and 2018.
NBA Call-Up and Overseas Breakthrough (2019–2021)
On January 20, 2019, after four seasons in the G League, Hicks received a 10-day contract from the Indiana Pacers, although he did not appear in a game. He was later reported to have signed with the Pacers in October 2019 but was released two days later, returning to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants for the 2019–20 season, where he averaged 14.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game while shooting 52 percent from the field and 47 percent from three-point range.
In December 2020, Hicks took his game overseas, joining the Formosa Taishin Dreamers of the Taiwan P. League+ as an import. He averaged 22.5 points and 12.3 rebounds during the regular season, leading the Dreamers to the 2021 P. League+ Finals. In the Finals series, he elevated his game to 31.3 points and 14.3 rebounds per game, but his team fell 3–1 to the Taipei Fubon Braves, leaving Hicks with a silver medal.
Russian Championship and Final Years (2021–2025)
On August 3, 2021, Hicks signed with BC Samara of the VTB United League, averaging 4.8 points and 4.2 rebounds off the bench while helping the club capture the 2021 Russian Basketball Super League 1 Championship. He briefly returned to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants later that year before rejoining the Formosa Taishin Dreamers in February 2022, where he posted 19 points and 15.5 rebounds per game until his release in March 2022.
After a short stint with the TaiwanBeer HeroBears of the T1 League that was cut short by injury, Hicks returned to the Indiana Mad Ants in October 2023 for a third stint with the organization. On March 24, 2025, before a game against the Windy City Bulls, his jersey number 17 was officially retired by the Mad Ants, making him the second player in franchise history to receive that honor after Ron Howard in 2017. He played eight seasons with the Mad Ants organization in total, six in Fort Wayne and two in Indianapolis, before retiring in 2025.
Notable Events and Milestones
Hicks’s most memorable professional achievements include winning the 2021 Russian Basketball Super League 1 Championship with BC Samara, capturing P. League+ Finals silver with the Formosa Taishin Dreamers the same year, and earning the retirement of his number 17 by the Indiana Mad Ants. His collegiate awards, including 2012 Big West Freshman of the Year and 2015 Second-team All-Big West honors, helped launch a career that spanned more than ten years.
Stephan Hicks Career Wins
Over the course of his ten-year professional career, Stephan Hicks collected a 2021 Russian Super League 1 Championship with BC Samara and a 2021 P. League+ Finals silver medal with the Formosa Taishin Dreamers. He also reached the G League playoffs multiple times with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants and earned a lasting place in franchise history through the retirement of his number 17.
G League Highlights
Hicks appeared in G League playoffs with Fort Wayne in 2017 and 2018, and he returned to the league for multiple stints, finishing his career with the Indiana Mad Ants in 2025. Across his eight seasons with the organization, he became one of its longest-tenured players and a fan favorite.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond the G League, Hicks earned a 2021 Russian Basketball Super League 1 title with BC Samara and a P. League+ Finals silver medal with the Formosa Taishin Dreamers during the 2020–21 season.
Stephan Hicks Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Stephan Keenan Hicks is the son of Charles Hicks and Kim Kitchen. He grew up in a large, supportive household alongside one sister, Kristiaan, and three brothers named Kaelan, Keaton, and Dylan. While attending Cal State Northridge, he majored in business, balancing his academic work with his demanding basketball schedule.
Personal Life
Hicks was born and raised in the Los Angeles area, where his family helped shape his early development as an athlete. He is known for keeping his personal life largely private, with most public details centered on his family, education, and long professional basketball career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked the final chapter of Stephan Hicks’s professional career. Returning to the Indiana Mad Ants for a third stint in 2023, he continued to provide veteran leadership, scoring, and rebounding for the franchise through the early months of the year. On March 24, 2025, his contributions were recognized when the Mad Ants retired his number 17 jersey before a game against the Windy City Bulls.
That honor placed him alongside Ron Howard, the only other Mad Ants player to have his number retired, and cemented his legacy as one of the cornerstones of the organization across both its Fort Wayne and Indianapolis eras. His retirement in 2025 closed a ten-year professional journey that included championships in Russia, a finals appearance in Taiwan, and a lengthy, decorated run in the NBA G League.