The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Authorities: Former NBA player assaulted teen during home invasion
JJ Hickson being held on charges of armed robbery.
A former NBA player who went to high school in Cobb County stole $100,000 during a violent Coweta County home invasion and left a 17-year-old resident with multiple broken bones, authorities said Monday.
James Edward “JJ” Hickson Jr., 29, is in the Coweta County Jail without bond on charges of armed robbery with a knife in connection with the incident, which occurred Friday night at a home on Rowe Road, records show.
According to a Coweta sheriff’s office report obtained by Channel 2 Action News, Hickson entered the home through a side door and attacked the teen. His face and head were covered, officials said in the report.
The teen received medical treatment and is expected to be OK, officials said.
At least two people were involved in the home invasion, but only Hickson faces charges, Coweta sheriff’s spokesman Jimmy Yarbrough said.
Another department took Hickson into custody, and he was turned over to Coweta County afterward.
Hickson was a standout basketball player at Joseph Wheeler High School in Marietta and attended North Carolina State University before being drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the 19th pick in the 2008 NBA Draft.
He went on to play for the Cavaliers, Sacramento Kings, Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets and Washington Wizards over the course of his eight-year NBA career. He most recently played basketball overseas for the Lebanon Champville SC team in 2018.