Tyrese Maxey, a 2019 UK commit, is always positive on the court.
Just how good is Texas guard Tyrese Maxey, a 2019 Kentucky verbal commitment?
If Matthew Hurt, who is on the USA under 18 team with Maxey now, is right, then he’s really, really good.
“He runs the point guard spot great. He can pass and shoot and attack the rim,” said Hurt, who is also being recruited by UK. “He finds me at the right spot. He does talk a lot, but he is pretty cool off the court. Everything he does on the court is always positive. He will be out giving high fives, clapping. If you make a mistake, he will right there cheering you on. There’s just not anything not to like about him.”
Maxey has played against incoming UK freshmen guards Keldon Johnson, Ashton Hagans, Immanuel Quickley and Tyler Herro.
“Keldon Johnson plays really hard all the time and has a really good motor. But they are all special talents,” Maxey said.
Of course, most also consider Maxey a special talent. He’s already being compared to former UK point guard Brandon Knight, who led UK to the 2011 Final Four and has had a successful NBA career.
“I look at his game. He’s fast, knocks down shots, plays pretty good defense,” Maxey said. “It is good to be compared to someone in the league.”
Knight also had a contagious personality and terrific work ethic and desire to win, all traits that Maxey also seems to have.
“I like to have fun,” Maxey said. “Playing basketball is fun. That’s one thing I like to do and I can do that and still play hard. My dad always made me play hard. He preached that. He always told me you didn’t have to have talent to give effort. He pushed me to give that extra effort and it just became natural.”
Maxey averaged 22.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.1 blocked shots per game last season while leading South Garland High School to its first state tournament berth. In his three-year prep career of 75 games, he’s averaged 21.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.4 blocks per game.
He likes being on a USA team this talented because of how it allows him to change his game.
“I don’t have to do as much. I can expand my game,” Maxey said. “I just get a feel of what playing in college will be like because there are more athletes on the court with me. It lets me prepare for the future when I will be surrounded by talented teammates.”
He’s been working “on being a good leader” and knows Calipari will count on him for leadership once he gets to Kentucky. He says everyone on the under 18 team is trying to “feed off each other” but he knows leadership, especially for a point guard, becomes much more important in college.
Recruiting analysts like the way the five-star guard can score frequently and in a variety of ways. He had 46 points in a state tournament semifinal loss.
“He’s just one of those guys with a knack for scoring in whatever way it takes,” Rivals.com recruiting writer Krysten Peek said.
(STORY BY LARRY VAUGHT)
