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Tyrese Maxey is going to be a big-time player at Kentucky, but with one year still remaining before he enters college, he is making an impact on the recruiting trail, pitching the idea of teaming up in Lexington with other top talents in the 2019 class.
Two of the most notable players Maxey is recruiting to Kentucky? 16th-ranked Keion Brooks and 15th-ranked Jalen Lecque, according to Ben Roberts of the Lexington Herald-Leader. The three are part of the Team USA training camp in Colorado this weekend.
Tyrese Maxey tossing alley-oops off the backboard to Jalen Lecque during breaktime. Maxey also told me he's been recruiting Lecque, a guard who just picked up a UK offer recently.
— Ben Roberts (@BenRobertsHL) June 1, 2018
Asked Tyrese Maxey yesterday who he was recruiting the hardest on UK’s behalf. First name he mentioned: Keion Brooks, who’s draining jumpers this morning pic.twitter.com/Ivgc7ozYND
— Ben Roberts (@BenRobertsHL) June 1, 2018
Kentucky has recently gained some steam on Lecque, a 6’4 combo guard with elite athleticism, as they have picked up the last two predictions in his 247 Sports Crystal Ball.
As for Brooks, it still looks to be a battle between Kentucky and Indiana, with Michigan State also in contention. Lecque is also looking at North Carolina and Oregon, among others.
Maxey seems to be a popular player in the class, and could have an impact in recruiting Brooks and Lecque. James Wiseman has also said that he would like to play with Maxey at the next level.
A class with Maxey, Lecque, Brooks, Wiseman, and potentially Vernon Carey Jr. would be a huge get for Kentucky.
It certainly helps that Maxey has turned into one of the best players 2019 has to offer. He’s been lighting it up on the spring AAU circuit,
Now, Maxey has been arguably the best player at the Team USA training camp:
Just taking scrimmages into account, Kentucky commit Tyrese Maxey has been the best player here at #USABMU18. Has been terrific the last two days. Getting by guys with his first stel, hitting 3-pointers.
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) June 2, 2018
Corey Evans also praised Maxey for his play and personality.
A bottle of energy and known for his outgoing, charismatic personality, the under-18 bunch needs some character and Maxey might be the guy. Outside of his entertaining playing style, it is his broad ranging abilities that makes him what he is. He has some sneaky Malik Monk tendencies where he can go off on his own ten-point runs at the blink of an eye, a spurt he enjoyed on Friday evening. Headed to Kentucky next year, Maxey has begun to loosen up in the thin air of Colorado Springs and as he continues to do so, under-18 squad may have found its alpha.
Kentucky got a good one here.