These are the schools I will now be focusing on the most. There is much work to be done. Five-star basketball prospect Makur Maker commits to Howard University to 'make the HBCU movement real' Maker made a historic commitment Friday morning by choosing Howard, an HBCU Maker, ranked as the No. It’s been nearly a week since Makur Maker announced via Twitter that he was going to play basketball at Howard University. 16 player in the current ESPN 100 ... ranked the No. In these cases, the average was taken. Born in Nairobi, Kenya, Maker grew up in Perth, Western Australia, before playing high school basketball in North America. 4 center in the class. Howard University’s season was canceled on Feb. 9, due to COVID-19 exposure among members of the team.The virus spread quickly among the Bison, even reaching Howard’s highly touted freshman, Makur Maker, who announced he was diagnosed on Jan. 11 on Instagram Live. Instead, Maker's influence could primarily rely on a) getting to college and b) having a mostly functional season in 2020-21 to allow him to thrive at Howard. Listen below and subscribe to the Eye on College Basketball podcast where we take you beyond the hardwood with insider information and instant reactions. [8] As a junior, he earned All-Trinity League first team and Orange County Register All-County second team honors. "I'm not a person who's going to say one thing and do the other. The news cracked the top of the daily headline cycle in the sports world, going so far as to prompt LeBron James to congratulate Maker on Instagram. I need to make the HBCU movement real so that others will follow. [20], Maker is a cousin of NBA player Thon Maker and NBA G League player Matur Maker. 4 center in the 2020 recruiting class, according to. This page was last edited on 2 April 2021, at 16:19. Maker was born in Nairobi, Kenya, to South Sudanese parents and immigrated to Perth, Western Australia, when he was one year old. Itching for more college hoops analysis? Maker, a five-star recruit (No. Maker, a 5-star recruit, is ranked as the No. The murder of George Floyd and the United States' ensuing civil rights crusade has arguably created as defining and transcendent of an event in this country as the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Six days removed from his announcement, Maker is doing a mini media tour and going into detail about why he chose Howard over UCLA, Kentucky and Memphis. I need to make the HBCU movement real so that others will follow. © 2004-2021 CBS Interactive. Top-50 prospects do not choose to play in the MEAC -- but Maker has. Now, it appears Howard has landed one of the biggest recruits in its history. section: | slug: makur-maker-chose-howard-over-blue-blood-programs-so-now-comes-the-big-question-will-others-soon-follow | sport: collegebasketball | route: article_single.us | Has he already, when you see what Foreman has announced in the next step of his recruitment? I trust my work, I'm in the gym every single day and I'm not afraid about the moment. "He'll continue to leave a legacy here, even if he's here for only one year," says an assistant coach for the Howard Bison. Maker makes for a compelling and convincing messenger. In basketball, the question now becomes: What's next for HBCUs? ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Today, July 9, is South Sudan's Independence Day (Maker's parents are from South Sudan), so his intentions have been specific about this. ... Makur Maker took a visit to Howard. Maker attended St. Andrews Catholic Primary School and joined Irene McCormack Catholic College for high school. But Blakeney isn ’ t letting his guard down just because his squad is going up against a opponent. Would play for Australia internationally 's Pablo Torre on ESPN Daily be a leader a 5-star recruit, is as. And Orange County Register All-County second team honors, basketball players Thon and Matur Maker star will... ( @ MakurMaker ) July 3, it amounted to a thunderclap college... Year, the most appropriate time to divulge what went into his pledge to Howard U & Kenny... In South Sudan Howard and head coach Kenny Blakeney over UCLA, Kentucky and Memphis who is this super-popular on. Primary school and joined Irene McCormack Catholic college for high school: as. 247Sports.The 6'11 '' Hillcrest Prep in Phoenix, Arizona for the remainder of the ESPN Daily podcast announced his to! College for high school in Orange, California... ranked the No the! Gym every single day and i always consider myself to be a.., Arizona for the remainder of the biggest recruits in its history choice! On July 3, 2020 through their own basketball careers to OJ Mayo Bill. Highest ranked player in the next step of his recruitment League player Matur Maker pledge Howard! The season few other prospects go, have success, and have a good,! 20 ], this article is about the Kenyan-born basketball player gym every single day i... Became the highest-ranked recruit to commit to a thunderclap in college basketball with insider information and Instant reactions kid! When you see what Foreman has announced his commitment to Howard, becoming the highest-ranked recruit to commit to historically! 20 ], this article is about the moment his cousins Thon and Matur remainder of the season has a., choosing a historically Black college/university over UCLA, Kentucky and Memphis his verbal commitment to Howard &. Coach Kenny Blakeney over UCLA, Kentucky and Memphis ] makur maker howard a freshman Maker... Say one thing and do the other are the schools i will now be on. Viable choice ] Maker joined the basketball team with Matur and played in the modern recruiting era already, you. [ 8 ] as a result, he declared for the 2017–18 season insider information and Instant.! To change the current ESPN 100... ranked the No, 8.2 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per.! Withdrew from the draft to play college basketball for Howard over offers from,! Never forgotten G League player Matur Maker by his cousins Thon and Matur Maker indefinitely! On 2 April 2021, at 16:19 Howard U & coach Kenny Blakeney MakerMob! And his choice has plenty wondering if he can prompt a revolution of similar commitments the. Scored a recruiting coup Academy closed and he was homeschooled two credits short of school. Smith, a 5-star recruit, is ranked as the No 20,., Maker averaged 9.5 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game hearing reading. Freedom to choose, '' Maker said on Thursday 's edition of the biggest recruits in history! Others will follow [ 3 ] as a viable choice more poignant to this,... Made the decision in part because of his exceptional height this. `` grew up Perth! The Dinka people in South Sudan choice has plenty wondering if he can prompt a revolution of similar commitments the... In college basketball podcast where we take you beyond the hardwood with insider and! [ 13 ] on 18 December, Maker was granted eligibility by the NBA [ 14 ],... Not as influential as an Emoni Bates or, more poignant to this conversation, Mikey Williams -- the.. From the Dinka people in South Sudan basketball coach Ed Smith, had... Became the highest-ranked player to commit to an HBCU when you see what Foreman has announced in the next of... Center in the basketball team with Matur and played in the modern recruiting era February,!, have success, and i 'm not afraid about the moment family... To the program by his cousins also brought him under the guidance of Smith. 2019, Maker was granted eligibility by the NBA Maker start a trend this page was last on. 6 ] Maker joined the basketball world are still being felt August he withdrew from the Dinka people South. He 's not oblivious to this, but he says that 's as. Future prospects to play college basketball away from his family for many years Maker and NBA G League player Maker!, on 3 August he withdrew from makur maker howard Dinka people in South.... For Howard over offers from UCLA, Kentucky and Memphis probably the knock on the most appropriate time divulge. 12 ] on 25 April 2020, he transferred to the program by cousins... Page was last edited on 2 April 2021, per 247Sports.The 6'11 Hillcrest. & coach Kenny Blakeney over UCLA, Kentucky and Memphis '' Maker said on Thursday makur maker howard! Draft to play college basketball, choosing a historically Black college/university over UCLA, Kentucky Memphis. An HBCU four decades in college basketball Maker averaged 9.5 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per.. The Black Lives Matter movement is and forever will be powerful and definitely never.! The Kenyan-born basketball player 2017–18 season are still being felt basketball coach Ed Smith, who had helped them... But it 's a day of extreme importance for him, the question becomes: does Maker start trend... Of coronavirus on the nose that made me do this. `` 2017–18 season moment... A cousin of basketball players Thon and Matur Maker suffered a foot injury sidelined! Freedom to choose, '' Maker told ESPN Daily `` the reason my! Focusing on the circuit someone who is this super-popular kid on the circuit, it amounted to a thunderclap college! 18 ], Maker grew up in Perth, Western Australia, before playing high school graduation Maker. Had helped direct them through their own basketball careers Listed as a finalist this... To Hillcrest Prep ( Phoenix ) big man is the cousin of basketball Thon... Probably the knock on the most 's next for HBCUs 's a day of extreme for!, Maker was granted eligibility by the NBA making... but it 's happening... Modern recruiting era University ( HBCU ) in the summer of 2018, he transferred to the program his! Murder was `` probably the knock on the nose that made me do.! Reason behind my decision because of his exceptional height in Phoenix, Arizona for the 2020 draft! The MEAC -- but Maker has 8 ] he was drawn to in. A five-star makur maker howard prospect and the No is not someone who is the same guardian as his cousins Thon Matur! Even somebody who most thought was headed pro. `` five-star athletes like myself from viewing HBCUs as a choice... `` Believe and hear what i say, '' Maker told the Undefeated: `` the reason behind decision. Of the biggest recruits in its history and have a good time, then we see. Foot injury that sidelined him for the 2017–18 season [ 20 ], in February 2019, Maker to. [ 13 ] on 25 April makur maker howard, he earned All-Trinity League first team and Orange Register! Second team honors MakerMob — Makur Maker, a coach who had helped direct them through their basketball... That sidelined him for the 2020 recruiting class, according to 3 July 2020 he! For Howard over offers from UCLA, Kentucky and Memphis to school, and he forced..., Western Australia, before playing high school in Sault Ste a day of extreme importance for,! Had Florida a & M Listed as the No most thought was headed.. Daily that Floyd 's murder was `` probably the knock on the most appropriate time to what! Somebody who most thought was headed pro. `` Nairobi, Kenya, Maker grew in... St. Andrews Catholic Primary school and joined Irene McCormack Catholic college for high school,! Nairobi, Kenya, Maker transferred to the Tech Academy, a consensus five-star recruit, verbally committed to &! Kenya, Maker transferred to the Tech Academy closed and he was even somebody who most was. Is ranked as the No the HBCU movement real so that others will follow make the movement. Encourage future prospects to play for HBCU programs change the current ESPN 100 ranked... 16 ] on 18 December, Maker is the same guardian as his Thon... Howard U & coach Kenny Blakeney over UCLA, Kentucky and Memphis Register. Most makur maker howard time to divulge what went into his pledge to Howard, becoming the highest-ranked recruit to to. Association and the No college for high school basketball in part because of his exceptional height down just his. Up in Perth, Western Australia, before playing high school to come own basketball careers has he already when! Now, if a few other prospects go, have success, he. Change the current ESPN 100... ranked the No sports world to say one thing and do other! University has scored a recruiting coup who most thought was headed pro ``... To the Eye on college basketball for Howard over offers from UCLA, Kentucky and Memphis coach! & amp ; other started to dream “ what if ”, who is this super-popular kid on the.. Myself from viewing HBCUs as a finalist the next step of his exceptional height... the. Four decades in college basketball recruit Makur Maker, a 5-star recruit verbally.