S. Florida eyes Rice HS coach By ROGER RUBIN DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER New St. John's coach Norm Roberts isn't the only one who understands how valuable it is for Big East programs to have assistant coaches with New York ties. Robert McCullum of the University of South Florida may sign one of the city's best and most successful high school coaches as the Bulls ready to enter the conference for the 2005-06 season. Maurice Hicks, who has guided Rice High in Manhattan to four Catholic city titles and four state Federation crowns, is one of two finalists for a position on the South Florida staff. He was on campus for an interview last Thursday. "I've always had aspirations to coach the college game," said Hicks, who led Brandeis High in Manhattan to a PSAL championship before he was hired at Rice. "I think the timing is right for me because I am looking to do something different and an opportunity like this one couldn't be beat." His main competition for the post is Julius Allen, whom New Yorkers will remember as an assistant coach at LIU. Roberts briefly considered Allen for the St. John's staff before hiring city products Glenn Braica, Fred Quartlebaum and Jose (Chuckie) Martin. Matt Doherty offered Hicks a position on his staff at Notre Dame four seasons ago, but Hicks turned it down for what he called "family reasons." Hicks has coached some of the top talents to come out of the city in recent years, including Kenny Satterfield, Andre Barrett and Anthony Glover. Hicks seems to move well in many city basketball circles. He is one of a handful of coaches to have worked in public and Catholic schools, and has coached players from several top AAU organizations, including the Gauchos, Ravens and Riverside Church. http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/college/story/192537p-166432c.html SIGN THIS GUY UP NOW!!!!!!