Five-star recruit Maker commits to Howard
Five-star high school basketball recruit Makur Maker announced his commitment to Howard University on Friday morning. Maker is now the highest-ranked college basketball prospect to commit to a historically black college or university.
Maker also considered UCLA, Kentucky and Memphis before announcing his commitment to Howard.
“I was the 1st to announce my visit to Howard & others started to dream ‘what if,'” he tweeted. “I need to make the HBCU movement real so that others will follow. I hope I inspire guys like Mikey Williams to join me on this journey. I am committing to Howard U & coach Kenny Blakeney.”
Williams is a highly touted recruit in the class of 2023 whose mother played softball at Hampton University, Howard's rival school. He is also considering playing college basketball at an HBCU.
“On your side my boy let's shock the world!!!” Williams responded to Maker's announcement.
The cousin of Detroit Pistons forward Thon Maker, Howard's star recruit is a 6foot-11 combo forward with a unique skill set for a player his size. He is a rim-protecting big man with ball-handling skills and a three-point stroke that has potential to be consistent at the NBA level.
Maker averaged about 15 points and eight rebounds with Dream Vision on last spring and summer's Adidas grassroots circuit. He visited Howard's campus last fall, and his guardian, Ed Smith, cited the Bison community as a reason for his decision.
“A lot of people are comfortable with familiarity. Kids could say, ‘I would feel welcome that I'm not just an athlete — I'm part of a community,'” Smith told ESPN. “On the visit at Howard, that was the main difference. Just for me on the outside looking in, he's part of the fabric. You're not just the athlete or the Black athlete.”
Historically black colleges and universities have struggled to compete with power schools in recruiting highprofile high school athletes. 76ers forward Kyle O'Quinn (Norfolk State) and Rockets forward Robert Covington (Tennessee State) are the only current NBA players to be selected in the NBA Draft out of an HBCU.