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Baseball’s Hickman Commits to play at Arizona

11/8/2024

Brophy senior pitcher Benton Hickman has committed to attending and playing baseball at the University of Arizona.

“I picked Arizona for the city, and it felt close to home,” said Hickman. “That was a big part of my decision to attend a school where my family can support me. But, the coaching staff and Arizona's rich baseball culture were the main factors in my decision. The Arizona Baseball community's resources are powerful with spring training, returning MLB players, and the incredible coaching staff at Arizona..”

Hickman will play for Chip Hale, a former MLB player and manager, and pitching coach Kevin Vance. They led the Wildcats into the postseason in 2024 and had one of the top pitching staffs in the Pac-12.

“Benton transformed himself into one of the top pitchers in the state last year, playing a crucial role in helping our team secure a Premier region title,” said Head Coach Josh Garcia. “He’s the kind of pitcher you want on the mound to get those final three outs of a game. Reliable, fiercely competitive, and impressively composed under pressure, Benton is a natural on the mound. His drive to win and willingness to do whatever it takes for his team set him apart. He brings a presence to our pitching staff that any coach would be thrilled to have. I am eager to see Benton continue his pitching journey at the University of Arizona, where I know he’ll make a tremendous impact.”

Hickman had a dominant season with a 4-0 record as a junior, with five saves over 13 appearances and a 1.33 ERA out of the bullpen. He was named the Premier Region Defensive Player of the Year on the AzBCA first-team all-state team. He helped the team reach the AIA semifinals and win the premier Region title.

“Being with an older and more experienced group, they took me under their wing,” said Hickman. “My highlight was going out and showing I could compete for them, not myself. We did not win the state championship, but we showed that we could win big games. It was a great group of guys.”

Hickman will move to the starting rotation for the Broncos in 2025.

“Starting is going to be fun,” said Hickman. “I get to set the tone for the game, which will be different than coming out of the bullpen and picking up where guys left off. Hopefully, I can propel the offense with the way I pitch. I have a unique style and fire on the mound. It will be fun. I am looking forward to having the guys behind me.”

Not only will Hickman join Jack Lafflam in the Brophy rotation, but they are both part of this year's Wildcat recruiting class.

“It will be cool to have Lafflam and me go to U of A as Brophy guys,” said Hickman. “I did not realize how cool it was until I stepped on campus and saw all the other guys from different schools.”

They follow in the footsteps of their coach, Josh Garcia, who played and coached for the Wildcats.

Hickman also fulfills the next step in the baseball journey by earning a spot to play in college.

“It has been the goal since I was young, but it came into focus when I got here at Brophy and saw guys like JT going to Army to play,” said Hickman. “I knew I wanted to be a part of the college baseball experience. Especially after I watched the College World Series that year, I knew it was something I wanted to do. It has been very important to me.”

Hickman will participate in Brophy’s Collegiate Commitment Celebration on Nov. 13.