“The timing was perfect,” Hicks said.

The audition took place in March in a hotel in D.C. Hicks and other prospective contestants first completed a written test consisting of 50 questions, then continued on to a mock game if they answered more than 35 questions correctly.

In June, Hicks was invited to fly to Los Angeles for a taping of the show in July.

Caleb A. Gibson ’99, Hicks’ roommate in Washington and in Winthrop House during college, said Hicks spent hours poring over newspapers and fact books in preparation for the show.

“He basically sat in his room reading almanacs all day,” Gibson said.

Hicks said he had no great expectations when he went in for the taping.

“My goal was just not to make a complete fool of myself on TV,” he said.

He definitely achieved that goal of not being embarrassed, with the help of some favorable categories.

Hicks, who was general manager of the a cappella group Krokodiloes while at the College, said he felt pretty confident about answering questions from the “Musical Ups and Down” category on Friday’s show.

Hicks said most of his winnings will go towards his law school tuition, but he is considering splurging and joining the Law School’s Wine Society.

“I really am a pretty frugal guy and tuition is pretty expensive, but now I can be a little more extravagant in going out and the finer things in life,” Hicks said.

According to Grant Loud, promotions manager for “Jeopardy!,” Hicks’ $22,000 performance on Friday’s show was “definitely within the company of the 20 highest one-day totals.”

The highest one-day total belongs to Myron Meyer of Minnesota, who won $50,000 this September.

Hicks said he was happy to have the chance to represent his law school and alma mater.

“I was glad I didn’t let Harvard down,” he said.