“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”. Over the last few months high-profile high school basketball prospects have begun to more seriously consider HBCU’s (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) to attend rather than the usual powerhouse division 1 basketball institutions. Normally, and over the past few years, these type of thoughts and conversations have been pipe-dreams rather than having a chance to become reality. Now, that is no longer the case.

This morning history has been made as Makur Maker, cousin of NBA player Thon Maker, has committed to Howard University and their head coach Kenny Blakeney over Kentucky, Memphis, and UCLA. In addition, Maker becomes the first and highest ranked prospect to commit to an HBCU since ESPN’s recruiting database began in 2007.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CCLA7Q7B-7N/

The news was released via Maker’s Twitter account where he stated, “I was the 1st to announce my visit to Howard & other started to dream “what if”. I need to make the HBCU movement real so that others will follow. I hope I inspire guys like Mikey Williams to join me on this journey. I am committing to Howard U & coach Kenny Blakeney #MakerMob.

The Phoenix, Arizona native made news when he announced Howard was on his list of schools last year, and even more headlines once he visited the campus during their annual homecoming event. He has now become a central cog in the conversation of top talented prospects bringing attention and power back to their community through attending HBCU’s such as 2023 5 Star Mikey Williams has done over the last few months.

On your side my boy let’s shock the world!!! @MakurMaker https://t.co/XJ4JrgFmTH

— Mikey Williams (@619PRESIDENTIAL) July 3, 2020

Williams has become another high profile athlete who has begun to not only weigh the decision, but, publicly discuss what attending an HBCU would mean. In a recent Instagram post he stated, “This has been a thought for years..this didn’t just recently pop up in my head..What a lot of coaches don’t understand is that we don’t need them..WE CONTROL OUR OWN NARRATIVE!! I’m very thankful that God blessed me to be in the position to do that..We write our own stories..we determine what the next page in life is going to be..why does it always have to be the big universities? Why does it always have to be the big names? Have you ever thought about helping your own people out?? WE ARE THE REASON THAT THESE SCHOOLS HAVE SUCH BIG NAMES AND SUCH GOOD HISTORY..But in the end what do we get out of it?? What a lot of Top level athletes don’t understand is..If you’re a pro..than you’re a pro no matter what college you go to..even if you don’t go to college..if you’re a killer..YOU ARE GOING TO KILL ANYWHERE. Not enough people speak on things like this and I’ve been meaning to do so and put some word out but I figured this would be the perfect time to do it..Im going to keep it short and simple..I just wanted to let everybody know that I AM RIDING FOR MY PEOPLE! IM 10 TOES BEHIND THE BLACK COMMUNITY!! Any way I can help or make a change in the black community best believe I am going to do that. Only God knows what the future holds..But when that time does come that I have to narrow my schools down to whatever number it is…there WILL be multiple HBCU’s on that list! And they won’t just be there for show.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CA_POziJMMi/

Maker and Williams are both NBA level prospects and it will be intriguing going forward what Maker, and eventually Williams’, decisions mean for the college basketball landscape.

5 star basketball recruit, @MakurMaker, picks HOWARD UNIVERSITY over Kentucky, UCLA, and Memphis. @HowardU

“I need to make the HBCU movement real so that others will follow.” https://t.co/bR369VOLgE

— Anthony Antoine FOX 26 (@AnthonyTVNews) July 3, 2020

Make sure to keep checking back to RESPECT.Mag for more on #TheAltWithMel news!

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The post Five-Star Hooper Makur Maker Commits to Howard University appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.