Maybe Makur Maker’s decision will be the spark.
Could this climate be the lighter for a wave of historically black colleges and universities infiltrating AAU high school basketball elite circles?
When the 6-foot-11-inch Kenyan native from Hillcrest Prep in Phoenix made the decision on Friday to bring his talents to Howard University, joining a Bison team that only won four games last year, Twittersphere lost it.
Some supported the decision.
“Congratulations Makur! Not only has she made one of the best decisions of her life … she has changed HBCU athletics forever! Howard U is the best school in the world. You will be immensely empowered the first day. There is no other place like this on earth. ”
And then there were others who just didn’t get it and probably lacked interest in trying.
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“Why? Go to a team that won’t even sniff out the NCAA tournament smh,” one person tweeted.
“I understand what you’re trying to do, but you’re not going to prove anything to NBA scouts,” another tweeted.
But sadly, @SpvritFN doesn’t seem to understand the fact that NBA scouts follow talent. That is why there are NBA scouts assigned to Asia, Europe, Australia, and Africa to search for global talent for the league.
But I digress.
Maker, the 16th recruit in the country according to the ESPN 100 class of 2020, It will probably be one and ready at Howard next season. And although his decision could launch a movement, Andy Schwarz of The collegiate professional league, a group whose mission is “to allow athletes to directly benefit from their talent,” believes that given the circumstances surrounding Maker and the programs he was considering, he was cornered.
“This is great for Howard,” Schwarz said. “If I thought this is a harbinger of a future trend and broader than just Howard for HBCUs overall, then I might be more excited, but it’s measured enthusiasm.”
Of the schools Maker had narrowed his options to, both Memphis and Kentucky have solidified their rosters for next season, and UCLA is currently going through a dogfight with clothing brand Under Armor, and has a new Athletic Director. These variables could have contributed to Maker’s decision to choose Howard. And according to Schwarz, the G League Select Team, a league development team associated with the G League, has already taken a guy of his height of around 7 ft 2 (Maker is 6-11).
“I don’t know if your situation is unique, but it’s certainly unusual,” Schwarz added. “Perhaps the Gen-Z athlete is looking beyond who has the best facilities and the best TV deals.”
Looking at the monetary athletic budgets for Division I PWIs (predominantly white institutions) in 2020, Maker’s decision is surely in a league of its own.
As the country embraces its racist past, Mikey Williams, one of the top 3 prospects for the class of 2023 according to the ESPN 100 ranking, winked at the idea of playing for an HBCU last month.
“Going to an HBCU wouldn’t be so bad …”
With the NCAA schedule for a name, image and license proposal Still looming, many black athletes are finding their voice now.
If they cannot receive financial compensation for their blood, sweat, and tears, they want to dig deep into the pockets of institutions built by and for their community.
For example, imagine a school like Howard earning $ 11 million in revenue from his basketball program. This is what the University of Oregon men’s basketball team put together in 2019. Anything close to $ 11M would be a significant financial boost for a Howard basketball program that generated just $ 851,072 in 2018.
Recently, player interest in HBCUs is gaining strength as Trevor Keels, a rising five-star, garnered three HBCU bids, and five-star rising youth Brandon Huntley-Hatfield, picked up four of the his.
This is precisely the moment.
But will it be like the others? Will it just happen?
“All it takes is one person to change history,” All-Star NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony said 10 times last month. “I think it is a better opportunity for this new generation, this next generation, to go to an HBCU and be accepted and contribute something different to an HBCU.”
Perhaps Markur is the creator of the difference.
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