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After Makur Maker was seemingly written off Kentucky’s potential frontcourt options next season, he now looks like a legitimate option.
Maker, who is currently testing the NBA Draft waters, recently said that attending college was now a very real option, partly due to COVID-19 preventing him from working out for teams and improve his stock, which is quite low at the moment.
Now, Jon Rothstein reports that the Wildcats and UCLA Bruins are the favorites for Maker if he attends college.
Sources: Kentucky and UCLA are the favorites to land 5-star prospect Makur Maker if he doesn't stay in the 2020 NBA Draft and opts for college basketball next season.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) May 10, 2020
Also considering Memphis, Auburn, and Oregon.
Maker is unlikely to play in the G League next season.
Adam Zagoria added this:
UCLA and Kentucky have been ‘the most consistent in communicating’ with 2020 Makur Maker, source confirms. He and his camp are awaiting updated NBA Draft / NCAA deadline dates and will go from there. He’s prepared to spend a year in college. https://t.co/oclqIDdBUa
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) May 10, 2020
Based on Maker’s recent comments, it’s not much of a surprise to see both teams leading the pack.
“Out west I’d consider UCLA and maybe Oregon, but if I’m not out west, I’d consider Kentucky, you know Kentucky has everybody they produce pros like Anthony Davis, Boogie Cousins, coach Calipari has it all and maybe Auburn also,” Maker told Evans Daniels.
Maker, who plays at Hillcrest Prep in Phoenix (AZ), is rated as a five-star prospect at 247 Sports, where he’s the 17th-ranked overall recruit and the third-best center in the country.
Even though Kentucky landed Wake Forest transfer Olivier Sarr, he’s the only true center on the roster, so getting another talented center like Maker would be ideal, especially if Sarr is denied an immediate eligibility waiver.
I highly doubt Maker will be an option for the Wildcats if they land Evansville transfer DeAndre Williams, which would put the roster at 12 scholarships, and John Calipari doesn’t take a full roster into the season.
But there’s a very real chance Williams lands elsewhere, so if he does, Maker could be the guy who Calipari focuses on to finish the 2020 class.
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