Andreya’nna Hicks left Waukegan for Round Lake but quickly went back. The Bulldogs aren’t looking back this season.

Andreya’nna Hicks tried to go in a new direction.

After three years at Waukegan, Hicks transferred to Round Lake over the summer. That move put the 5-foot-6 senior’s basketball future in limbo.

“I wasn’t sure if I was going to continue to play basketball,” Hicks said.

She started school at Round Lake in August. But she returned to Waukegan in September.

“I stopped playing basketball for a month because I moved to Round Lake,” Hicks said. “But I came back to Waukegan. It made me play harder then. I just realized how much I loved being on the court. I was determined to ball out this year. I started practicing harder and wanted to finish my senior year off strong.”

“Strong” is one word to describe the start that Hicks and the Bulldogs (4-2) have had. “Surprising” is another. Waukegan went 1-19 last season but opened with four straight wins before losing to defending Class 4A state champion Stevenson and Lake Zurich.

“I feel really good about my decision to come back, especially after we won our first four, because it was really unexpected after winning one game last year,” Hicks said. “Nobody expected us to go on a streak like that.

“We have a better connection than last year. Starting off winning brought our confidence up as a team. We’re practicing and playing more aggressive.”

Waukegan second-year coach Kanisha Pettis said the success originated with Hicks’ decision to return. A third-year starter, Hicks was averaging 16.0 points and 9.0 rebounds entering a game against Lake Forest on Tuesday. She had 22 points and 13 rebounds in a blowout win against Wheeling on Nov. 21.

“Andreya’nna is asked to do a lot on the floor for this team,” Pettis said. “She does it without complaining, is a good leader vocally and plays strong physically. We’re glad to have her back here. We had to convince her mom. She probably wasn’t even going to play sports for them. She’s shown a lot of growth as a player and person.”

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Hicks is one of nine seniors for the Bulldogs, who welcomed a fresh start after last season.

“My kids have all been working hard and checking our attitudes,” Pettis said. “We have a big core of seniors, so they knew what to expect. The first four wins were definitely a good feeling for my kids’ confidence and morale and set the tone for a good season.

“We made a vow after our last game last season to definitely do better. We used that as motivation, put in the work in the offseason, talked about a lot of stuff, looked inside of ourselves and were committed and had total buy-in. We lost by 50 points in some games together, so all these wins feel good to do that together.”

Hicks, who said she often played positions better suited for taller players in the past, is back at guard, and she and senior guard Ashley Derrick make a strong one-two combination for the Bulldogs.

“Waukegan doesn’t have a lot of height, so I’ve been a post for the last few years,” Hicks said. “If I want to play in college, I have to be a point guard. I’ve gotten better at my ballhandling. I’m more confident shooting 3-pointers and jump shots. I already know how to get to the basket but wasn’t as confident about my open shot.

“I’ve got a lot of support from my coaches, and they’ve really been there for me for everything to make me a better basketball player.”

Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.