Photo - Larry Vaught
Midway through an early morning practice Monday for the McDonald’s All-American Game there was a loose ball on the court and both Kentucky signee Tyrese Maxey and West teammate James Wiseman, a Memphis signee, immediately dove for it. “If it is basketball, I am going to be competing,” said Maxey, a 6-4 guard from Texas and consensus top 15 national player. “I don’t know any other way to play. We’re here to compete.”
The game is Wednesday night but Maxey obviously is not taking practices lightly like some players did last year.
“I just thank God for this chance and I am very happy to be here. It’s a dream come true,” Maxey said. “I have great teammates and I am just out here to compete and have fun with multiple guys who can go to the NBA one day. God blessed me to be able to wake up this morning and play basketball. Some people couldn’t wake up this morning and play, so I am going to take it another opportunity to have a great day.”
No matter what drill his team was doing, Maxey was the first to take the ball and do it.
“That’s just the way I am,” Maxey, who averaged 23 points, seven rebounds and four assists per game for South Garland High School, said. “I don’t want to wait around. I want to be the first one up to compete. I want to get out there and go and set the pace for my team. We want to win. The East team is already talking about how they are going to blow us out (in Wednesday’s game) and they have so many top 10 players. But we don’t care about that. We just are going to play hard and win.”
The Kentucky signee is going to have a busy month as he will also play in the Nike Hoop Summit April 12 in Portland and the Jordan Brand Classic in Las Vegas April 20.
“I am extremely proud of him,” Tyrone Maxey, the player’s father, said. “I sit back as a coach and basketball fan and ex-player, and the McDonald’s All-American Game is epitome of high school. It’s very prestigious to watch year after year and admire all the great players in the game.”
Tyrone Maxey and his wife, Denyse, are in Atlanta to watch their son play and will also be in Las Vegas and Portland.
“To have Tyrese get to play in these games is great. All this has been goals he had,” Tyrone Maxey said. “It’s such a blessing to see a kid work hard, set goals and see the goals come to fruition. It’s a humbling experience but one none of us will forget. I can still remember even when I played that Larry Johnson made the McDonald’s Game and him coming back to Dallas and sharing the experience with us.”
The future Wildcat is glad his parents are here and will be at the other all-star games as well.
“It’s wonderful to have them here. They may not have the opportunity to come to all my games in the future, so I am happy they could get out here and support me just like they always have,” Maxey said. “I am really looking forward to the next few weeks. I get to play the game I love on a national stage, so I am going to have a blast with it.”
Maxey’s versatility can be the best part of his game and he’s content to rebound, pass and defend as well as score to help a team. Sometimes an unselfish player doesn’t shine in all-star settings where offense is the point of emphasis for many players.
“I am going to go out there and do what I do to win. If that means score or get the clutch rebound or guard the best player, I will show what I will do,” Maxey said. “Winning is important. It’s always important. We played a little one on one drill today and I won it and I was very happy about that.
“I love being competitive. The coaches are pushing us and the (NBA) scouts like that they are pushing us.”
Around 100 NBA scouts were at Monday’s practice and will be back for the practice Tuesday.
“I really don’t think about it. As long as you play your game and don’t try to do anything special, then you will be okay. You can’t play one way just because NBA scouts are around,” Maxey said.
