When Englewood’s Antioch Missionary Baptist Church caught fire earlier this month, the community was left grieving. But for brothers Alan and Aaron Hicks, the fire was more than a loss for the community — it was a loss of their work, too.

Alan and Aaron Hicks, both 60, go by Twin Hicks, specializing in portraits and murals. Some show the faces of visionaries, such as Malcolm X; others, like “Play Time,” represent everyday life. Many more are inspired by their faith.

In 2008, their faith and art collided when the church asked the brothers to restore its mural of Jesus ascending to heaven.

But the brothers’ love of art began long before then — at age 4, watching their uncle, Warren Hicks, draw.

“We started mimicking what he was doing,” Alan Hicks said. “He went on to play the guitar and get involved in music, but we kept going in the art field.”

In high school, Aaron Hicks said, an art teacher encouraged them to develop their talents. So they went to the University of Illinois, where both studied biocommunications and medical illustrations.

After graduating in 1985, they worked with multiple companies. In the late 1990s, they started freelancing. The twins’ work was sold online and promoted through word of mouth. They created murals, portraits, even magazine covers. By 2001, they had their own business. They are now known as Twin Hicks on social media and have a website, twinhicks.com.

“We have been able to reach out worldwide with our talent and the painting that we have done,” Aaron Hicks said. “We were in Jamaica about a month ago, and I saw some of my artwork out there. It’s a wonderful feeling and a gratefulness that God has given us this talent that we can display not only for us to appreciate but for others to appreciate. That’s the beauty of artwork. It’s universal.”

The brothers’ faith is seen in many of their paintings: a man in a pew, clutching a Bible; Moses and the burning bush; a little girl praying.

So “it was a blessing” when, in 2008, Antioch Missionary Baptist Church asked them to refurbish its sanctuary artwork.

The project included reworking scenes of a baptism and of disciples surrounding Jesus as he ascended. It took them nearly a month and a half to finish, working up to six hours a day.

“We did the whole entire thing all over again,” Aaron Hicks said. “We gave it a fresh coat, in terms of the blue sky, in terms of the disciples and the angels — pretty much everything in the foreground and background landscapes.”

Church members would flow in and out as the brothers stood on their scaffolds. As they repainted the mural, they also had it reflect those church members.

Starting with the disciples, then moving on to the angels and Jesus himself, Twin Hicks painted the figures Black instead of the original artist’s white.

“The parishioners, church members and pastors can identify with the images,” Aaron Hicks said. “That’s important to me, that we have something that we can identify with, something that’s positive. I don’t even think it’s a racial thing as much as being able to identify with who Jesus was, to know who the disciples represent.”

This isn’t unusual for Alan and Aaron Hicks. Their works consistently feature Black figures, including their painting of The Last Supper.

The twins were on a business call when Alan Hicks saw the church fire on TV.

They were shocked to see their painting survived the blaze — and the smaller fires that reignited later. And though the mural could not be saved, the fact that the fire spared it was, the brothers believe, a sign from a higher power.

Aaron Hicks called it a “miracle.” For his twin, it was an allegory of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection.

“He did not take his old body with him, but he had a glorified body. … He was different from when they first saw him. So even though that mural can’t be saved, we can do a new one, we can make it better and have more of an impact than what this mural had.”

And, Alan Hicks added, if not for the fire, many probably never would have seen their mural.

“It took those walls to come down for the whole world to see that image of Christ going into heaven,” he said.

After the fire, a parishioner, and later the pastor, Rev. Gerald M. Dew, reached out to Alan Hicks to ask if the brothers would consider creating something for when the church is rebuilt.

The twins don’t have any ideas just yet for the new mural — none they’re sharing, anyway — but expect it to once again be Afrocentric.

“We’re just kind of waiting to see what the pastor and church officials have in mind,” Alan Hicks said. “It’s just good to know that we are considered to be the ones that will do the next mural.”

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The breakout player arriving during the April live evaluation period is a little different than in the past.

Today, it’s more about garnering interest rather than securing offers. While offers have been extended for the lucky few, expect the majority of offers, especially for those on the cusp of being Division I players to come during June and July.

College coaches are still sorting through the pesky ordeal of the transfer portal and filling their rosters out with experienced, college-ready players first. Again, the high school kids will have to wait.

Nonetheless, the two spring April live periods provided a platform and several players took advantage.

Biggest Class of 2023 Stock Risers: Niklas Polonowski, Lyons and Drew Scharnowski, Burlington Central

The combination of Lyons’ Niklas Polonowski and Burlington Central’s Drew Scharnowski is a testament to players being discovered regardless of who and where they play.

These were two no-named prospects in the Class of 2023, but the college coaches have found them.

The junior tandem doesn’t play for one of the shoe-sponsored grassroots basketball heavyweights. But an ideal fit with Breakaway Basketball has provided the perfect platform for both. Breakaway plays in the Under Armour Rise, a complimentary travel basketball league to the shoe-sponsored Under Armour Association.

Polonowski, a genuine sleeper in the junior class, is set to establish himself as a Division I prospect.

In helping his Breakaway team to four wins last weekend, Polonowski averaged 11.5 points and 4.2 rebounds a game while knocking down 10 three-pointers. It’s that shooting, along with his size and strength as a 6-6 combo forward, that has grabbed the attention of college coaches.

While there hasn’t been an offer just yet, the 6-6 Polonowski has done his job over the past two live periods to generate interest. There is a growing list of interested programs, including Brown, Furman, Toledo, Lipscomb, Minnesota-St. Thomas and San Diego.

Scharnowski, who in early April the City/Suburban Hoops Report projected to be one of the biggest live evaluation period breakout players, is a 6-8 super skilled 4-man. He’s lived up to that forecast.

As a result of his play in April, Scharnowski is now hearing regularly from the likes of Dartmouth, Princeton, Bucknell, St. Thomas, Furman and Miami-Ohio.

Other Class of 2023 stock rising notes

? Marian Catholic’s Quentin Jones is very intriguing. He’s an under-the-radar player who continues to improve. Long, athletic and pushing close to 6-5, Jones has the size, length and quickness to become an impact defender capable of guarding several positions.

A slasher offensively who must make strides with his jumper, Jones has peaked up some interest while playing with Team Fred Van Vleet on the AAU circuit.

? The Rubin brothers, Simeon’s Miles and Wes, being mentioned in a “stock rising” story is beginning to be repetitive. But more and more college coaches are taking notice of the 6-8 big men. Illinois State and Toledo both just offered this week to add to a growing list of suitors.

? Darrion Baker of Hillcrest put up modest numbers this past season as a junior. He averaged just over 10 points a game. But he appears ready to take a big step forward.

In addition to his first Division I offer from Radford, the interest level from others has picked up. The 6-8 Baker shows skill as a 4-man with his handle and passing. He’s solidified himself as a scholarship player.

? After coming out of nowhere this past season as the leading scorer of a Class 3A state championship team, Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin’s Zack Hawkinson has picked up right where he left off in March.

If you remember, the 6-5 Hawkinson went for a whopping 49 points and 26 rebounds in the two biggest wins of the year in Champaign in March. Now he is showcasing more perimeter skills to go with the tenacity and sneaky athleticism he plays with as a key player for Mid-Pro Academy.

? Keep an eye on Evan Jackson of De La Salle. He’s always played with a high-running motor and athleticism. He’s grown to 6-7 and has improved his offensive game. He’s opened some eyes while playing with Team Fred Van Vleet.

Class of 2024 Stock Riser: Carlos Harris, Curie

The sophomore guard, who is flush with talent on the perimeter, was already a top 10 prospect in the class. But young players in the Class of 2024 have hardly been seen yet by college coaches. Illinois jumped in head first with an offer this past week following the two live periods.

Harris is tough, strong and plays hard. The shot is coming along for the 6-2 Harris, but it still must improve and become more consistent, especially as a spot-up shooter. If that does materialize, Harris becomes an absolute force offensively. He’s most effective in the open floor, getting downhill and to the basket.

Other Class of 2024 stock rising notes

? Following a growth spurt over the past year where he shot up to 6-3, Bloomington Central Catholic’s Cole Certa is establishing himself as one of the elite shooters in the state. This past year he was the IHSA state three-point shooting champ. Now he’s doing it on the club basketball circuit with the Illinois Wolves.

More importantly, Certa is showcasing a more well-versed game and is showing he’s more than just a space-the-floor shooter.

? While he may not have received the attention of teammates Toby Onyekonwu, a senior who signed with Stonybrook, or freshman phenom Jeremiah Fears, Joliet West’s Justus McNair was an unsung player for the Tigers this past season. He’s a name to keep an eye on as he plays out the spring with Young & Reckless.

McNair is becoming more of a shot creator. The versatile 6-2 guard also doesn’t need the ball in his hands to be effective; he’s a player who impacts in multiple ways.

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The pandemic’s top impact on high school sports was wiping out an entire season for spring athletes in 2020.

No. 2 was making it harder for all prep athletes to be recruited as all levels of college sports granted an extra year of eligibility and the transfer portal exploded.

Brother Rice senior Jack Lausch was affected by one of those things but not the other.

Lausch lost his sophomore baseball season, but has no shortage of quality options as he wraps up a standout high school career and looks toward the next chapter.

A quarterback in football and outfielder/pitcher in baseball, Lausch originally planned to continue playing both sports at Notre Dame as a preferred walk-on.

But his football interest took off during a breakout senior season that wound up earning him Sun-Times Player of the Year honors.

Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald offered in December and Lausch committed a week later.

“It’s an unbelievable opportunity,” Lausch said. “I’m more than excited about it. I can’t wait to finish it out with these [baseball] guys and get up there in the summer and really start to have some fun.”

Lausch is a 6-3, 200-pound prospect at a position of need for the Wildcats. As a senior, he accounted for 3,531 total yards and 41 touchdowns while completing 61% of his passes and averaging 7.6 yards per carry.

“[It’s] an opportunity to go to a great school with great people and then play football on top of that,” Lausch said.

But will he be playing football this fall? That’s the question.

Lausch split time as a varsity pitcher and JV outfielder as a freshman at Rice.

“Going into sophomore year, he was slated to be one of our top arms,” Rice coach Sean McBride said.

Except there was no sophomore year for Lausch, thanks to COVID-19. And there wasn’t a traditional fall football season either as the pandemic continued to wreak havoc on high school sports.

But there was a silver lining.

“That’s when he was really able to focus on baseball because he could be outside to play for his summer team,” McBride said. “And that’s where he kind of took off positionally.”

Now Lausch is an elite outfield prospect with a strong arm and a potent left-handed bat.

That was on display March 24, when Lausch’s walk-off homer lifted the Crusaders past national power IMG Academy in Georgia. Both teams are still in the Perfect Game national rankings, IMG at No. 4 and Rice at No. 26.

“That was pretty special,” Lausch said. “That was a big win for us obviously, to celebrate that moment with these guys.”

Shifting the focus from himself to his teammates is a typical Lausch move, according to McBride.

“He’s such a humble star,” McBride said. “It’s such a rare thing to see and I don’t think it’s the fault of any 17-year-old. It’s just the nature of social media and all the things these kids have right now.

“It’s easy to promote yourself. And he’s a throwback in that regard where it’s all about the team.”

That said, the spotlight is on Lausch right now. Besides being the brightest star on a team with serious Class 4A state title aspirations, he also is one of Illinois’ top prospects for the MLB Draft.

Under baseball’s new pandemic calendar, the draft has been moved from early June to mid-July. By then, offseason football work will have begun.

Some multisport athletes might be stressed out by the timeline to make some life-changing decisions: Play Power Five football? Head off to play minor-league baseball?

But Lausch takes it all in stride.

“Definitely something to think about,” he said of the draft. “Definitely a really cool opportunity. I’ll just see where all the options are and what’s in my best interest going forward. I’m going to follow my heart and see. I’ll know what to do when it comes.”

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Two men were wounded in a shooting Sunday evening in the Loop near the Theater District.

The men, 27 and 55, were in an alley in the 100 block of North Wabash Street when someone opened fire just before 5 p.m., Chicago police said.

The younger man suffered a gunshot wound to the right hand and the older man was struck in the head, police said. Both were taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in fair condition, police said.

No arrests were reported.

Police deployed additional resources to the Theater District Sunday evening. “We will continue to monitor the area and work closely with the Cook County sheriff’s police to enhance safety in our Theater District,” the department said in a statement.

The Sunday evening performance of “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” at the Nederlander Theatre at 24 W. Randolph — about two blocks from the shooting — was canceled though the shooting wasn’t specifically given as the reason.

An official statement released to the media stated: “Due to an earlier disturbance in the Loop on Sunday afternoon, May 1, the evening performance of “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” was cancelled. No other Broadway In Chicago productions were affected.”

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Ray Charles and The Judds joined the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday in a ceremony filled with tears, music and laughter, just a day after Naomi Judd died unexpectedly.

The loss of Naomi Judd altered the normally celebratory ceremony, but the music played on, as the genre’s singers and musicians mourned the country legend while also celebrating the four inductees: The Judds, Ray Charles, Eddie Bayers and Pete Drake. Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Vince Gill and many more performed their hit songs.

Naomi and Wynonna Judd were among the most popular duos of the 1980s, scoring 14 No. 1 hits during their nearly three-decade career. On the eve of her induction, the family said in a statement to The Associated Press that Naomi Judd died at the age of 76 due to “the disease of mental illness.”

Daughters Wynonna and Ashley Judd accepted the induction amid tears, holding onto each other and reciting a Bible verse together.

“I’m sorry that she couldn’t hang on until today,” Ashley Judd said of her mother to the crowd while crying. Wynonna Judd talked about the family gathering as they said goodbye to her and she and Ashley Judd recited Psalm 23.

“Though my heart is broken I will continue to sing,” Wynonna Judd said.

Fans gathered outside the museum, drawn to a white floral bouquet outside the entrance and a small framed photo of Naomi Judd below. A single rose was laid on the ground.

Charles’ induction showcased his genre-defying country releases, which demonstrated country music’s commercial appeal. The Georgia-born singer and piano player grew up listening to the Grand Ole Opry and in 1962 released “Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music,” which became one of the best selling country releases of his era.

Blinded and orphaned at a young age, Charles is best known for R&B, gospel and soul, but his decision to record country music changed the way the world thought about the genre, expanding audiences in the Civil Rights era.

Charles’ version of “I Can’t Stop Loving You,” spent five weeks on top of the Billboard 100 chart and remains one of his most popular songs. He died in 2004.

Brooks sang “Seven Spanish Angels,” one of Charles’ hits with Willie Nelson, while Bettye LaVette performed “I Can’t Stop Loving You.”

Country Music Hall of Famer Ronnie Milsap said he met Charles when he was a young singer and that others tried to imitate Charles, but no one could measure up.

“There was one of him and only one,” said Milsap. “He sang country music like it should be sung.”

Charles is only the third Black artist to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, alongside Opry pioneer DeFord Bailey and Charley Pride.

“Mr. Charles always stood his ground for what he loved,” said Valerie Ervin, president of the Ray Charles Foundation. “And country music was what he truly, truly loved.”

The Hall of Fame also inducted two recordings musicians who were elemental to so many country songs and singers: Eddie Bayers and Pete Drake.

Bayers, a drummer in Nashville for decades who worked on 300 platinum records, is a member of the Grand Ole Opry band. He regularly played on records for The Judds, Ricky Skaggs, George Strait, Alan Jacksonand Kenny Chesney. He is the first drummer to join the institution.

Drake, who died in 1988, was a pedal steel guitar player and a member of Nashville’s A-team of skilled session musicians, played on hits like “Stand By Your Man” by Tammy Wynette and “He Stopped Loving Her Today” by George Jones. He is the first pedal steel guitar player to become part of the Hall of Fame.

Drake is known for creating the talk box, a technology that allowed him to vocalize through his pedal steel guitar. It was later popularly adopted by artists like Peter Frampton and many others.

His wife, Rose, said that musicians like her husband deserved a place in musical history.

“The musicians of the ’60s, ’70s. and ’80s created Nashville as Music City and we can’t let that get away,” Rose Drake said.

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Chicago saw another deadly weekend, with at least nine people killed and 26 others wounded a week after more than 40 people were shot, seven of them fatally.

A man was shot to death while trying to rob two people Saturday afternoon in Calumet Heights on the South Side, police said. Two men had been walking back to their car from a store about 3:45 p.m. in the 1500 block of East 95th Street when they began talking with the robber, identified as Xavier Johnson, police said. The pair entered their Volkswagen SUV and Johnson got into the backseat, struck one of them with a handgun and demanded their belongings, police said. One of the men pulled out a gun and shot Johnson, striking him in the forehead, left leg and chest, police said. He was pronounced dead at the University of Chicago Medical Center.About 30 minutes later, Kier Carmichael-Smith was in the parking lot in the 1300 block of East 47th Street when a light-colored car pulled up and someone inside opened fire, Chicago police said. The 27-year-old suffered multiple gunshot wounds and fled into a restaurant, police said. He was transported to the University of Chicago and pronounced dead, police said.Two women were shot — one fatally — during an argument with a man early Saturday morning on the Near North Side. The women, 31 and 26, were shot about 1 a.m. on the sidewalk in the 300 block of North State Street, police said. The younger woman was shot in the chest and taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, police said. The older woman was shot in the left thigh and taken to the same hospital in good condition, officials said.Hours later, two men were shot, one fatally, in Albany Park on the Northwest Side. About 6:05 a.m. Saturday, officers found the two men, about 30 and 56, in the 3400 block of West Sunnyside Avenue, police said. The younger man was shot in the head and pronounced dead at the scene. The older man was shot in the leg and taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, in serious condition.Later that day, a woman was fatally shot in Rosemoor on the Far South Side. The woman, 28, was arguing with someone in the 500 block of East 106th Street about 10:45 p.m. Saturday when she was shot in the left side of the chest, police said. She was taken to the University of Chicago and pronounced dead, police said. A person was found shot to death early Sunday inside a Gold Coast business on the Near North Side, according to police. The person was found unresponsive with gunshot wounds throughout his body in the 200 block of East Walton Place about 5 a.m., police said. He was taken to Northwestern, where he was pronounced dead, police said. A 69-year-old man was shot to death Friday evening in Austin on the West Side. The man was in a home in the 300 block of South Kilpatrick Avenue when someone pulled out a gun and fired shots about 5:45 p.m., police said. He was struck in the chest and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said.Hours later, a man was found fatally shot on the South Side. About 10:15 p.m., officers were responding to a Shot Spotter call in the 3400 block of South Indiana Avenue when they found the 40-year-old man with gunshot wounded to the chest, side and hand, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.A 19-year-old man was found fatally shot Sunday night in West Englewood on the South Side. Officers responded to a call of a person shot in the 1400 block of West 71st Place about 10:50 p.m. and found the man with gunshot wounds to his neck and body, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said. A 16-year-old boy was shot and critically wounded Sunday morning in an Albany Park drive-by on the Northwest Side. The teen was a passenger in a car in the 4400 block of North Central Park Avenue when a dark SUV pulled up and someone inside opened fire about 2:20 a.m., striking him in the left side of the face, police said. He was taken to St. Francis Hospital in critical condition, officials said. Two men were wounded in a shooting Sunday evening in the Loop near the Theater District. The men, 27 and 55, were in an alley just before 5 p.m. in the 100 block of North Wabash Street when someone opened fire, striking them both, police said. The younger man suffered a gunshot wound to the right hand while the older man was struck in the head, police said. Both were taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in fair condition, police said.

At least 21 others were wounded by gunfire in the city from 5 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday. 5 a.m. Last weekend, at least seven people were killed and 36 others were wounded in Chicago.

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Chicago saw another deadly weekend, with at least nine people killed and 26 others wounded a week after more than 40 people were shot, seven of them fatally.

A man was shot to death while trying to rob two people Saturday afternoon in Calumet Heights on the South Side, police said. Two men had been walking back to their car from a store about 3:45 p.m. in the 1500 block of East 95th Street when they began talking with the robber, identified as Xavier Johnson, police said. The pair entered their Volkswagen SUV and Johnson got into the backseat, struck one of them with a handgun and demanded their belongings, police said. One of the men pulled out a gun and shot Johnson, striking him in the forehead, left leg and chest, police said. He was pronounced dead at the University of Chicago Medical Center.About 30 minutes later, Kier Carmichael-Smith was in the parking lot in the 1300 block of East 47th Street when a light-colored car pulled up and someone inside opened fire, Chicago police said. The 27-year-old suffered multiple gunshot wounds and fled into a restaurant, police said. He was transported to the University of Chicago and pronounced dead, police said.Two women were shot — one fatally — during an argument with a man early Saturday morning on the Near North Side. The women, 31 and 26, were shot about 1 a.m. on the sidewalk in the 300 block of North State Street, police said. The younger woman was shot in the chest and taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, police said. The older woman was shot in the left thigh and taken to the same hospital in good condition, officials said.Hours later, two men were shot, one fatally, in Albany Park on the Northwest Side. About 6:05 a.m. Saturday, officers found the two men, about 30 and 56, in the 3400 block of West Sunnyside Avenue, police said. The younger man was shot in the head and pronounced dead at the scene. The older man was shot in the leg and taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, in serious condition.Later that day, a woman was fatally shot in Rosemoor on the Far South Side. The woman, 28, was arguing with someone in the 500 block of East 106th Street about 10:45 p.m. Saturday when she was shot in the left side of the chest, police said. She was taken to the University of Chicago and pronounced dead, police said. A person was found shot to death early Sunday inside a Gold Coast business on the Near North Side, according to police. The person was found unresponsive with gunshot wounds throughout his body in the 200 block of East Walton Place about 5 a.m., police said. He was taken to Northwestern, where he was pronounced dead, police said. A 69-year-old man was shot to death Friday evening in Austin on the West Side. The man was in a home in the 300 block of South Kilpatrick Avenue when someone pulled out a gun and fired shots about 5:45 p.m., police said. He was struck in the chest and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said.Hours later, a man was found fatally shot on the South Side. About 10:15 p.m., officers were responding to a Shot Spotter call in the 3400 block of South Indiana Avenue when they found the 40-year-old man with gunshot wounded to the chest, side and hand, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.A 19-year-old man was found fatally shot Sunday night in West Englewood on the South Side. Officers responded to a call of a person shot in the 1400 block of West 71st Place about 10:50 p.m. and found the man with gunshot wounds to his neck and body, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said. A 16-year-old boy was shot and critically wounded Sunday morning in an Albany Park drive-by on the Northwest Side. The teen was a passenger in a car in the 4400 block of North Central Park Avenue when a dark SUV pulled up and someone inside opened fire about 2:20 a.m., striking him in the left side of the face, police said. He was taken to St. Francis Hospital in critical condition, officials said. Two men were wounded in a shooting Sunday evening in the Loop near the Theater District. The men, 27 and 55, were in an alley just before 5 p.m. in the 100 block of North Wabash Street when someone opened fire, striking them both, police said. The younger man suffered a gunshot wound to the right hand while the older man was struck in the head, police said. Both were taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in fair condition, police said.

At least 21 others were wounded by gunfire in the city from 5 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday. 5 a.m. Last weekend, at least seven people were killed and 36 others were wounded in Chicago.

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