Five-star center Makur Maker listed Howard University as one of his final four college choices. At 6-foot-11, Maker is the top-rated player in Arizona and 18th nationally in the 2020 class, according to 247 Sports.
Maker visited Howard last October, and its apparent the Bison intrigued him enough to seriously consider the historically black college along with power programs, UCLA, Kentucky and Memphis.
Maker’s potential choice of Howard would create shock waves across college basketball. Howard’s considered to be on the lower-tier of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. They finished 4-29 last season. However, the hiring of DC native and Duke alum Kenny Blakeney has garnered a new set of eyes on the program.
Blakeney’s imprint on the program shows with Maker’s consideration. The head coach also used his local ties to land a marquee matchup with Notre Dame of the ACC at Howard on Martin Luther King Day next year.
Even if Maker doesn’t choose Howard, being in consideration with blue bloods like UCLA and Kentucky is very significant for their program.
HBCU’s have been long overlooked by top players. Top recruits have flocked to Power 5 schools. But, Maker could be a modern-day pioneer that could shift the landscape of college basketball recruiting. His presence in the program could draw other top recruits to Howard. Other programs in the MEAC and SWAC — the two biggest HBCU conferences in the NCAA — would benefit.
