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Philadelphia 76ers center Kyle O’Quinn said Saturday that he believes five-star prospect Makur Maker can start a new movement among high-profile recruits following his decision to play at a historically Black college.
Maker this month became the highest-ranked recruit to commit to a historically Black college or university when he announced he would be attending Howard University. He chose Howard University over the likes of Kentucky, UCLA and Memphis after visiting the program last year.
O’Quinn, who attended Norfolk State from 2008 to 2012, advocated for players to attend HBCU programs. He said he loved his time with the university and commended Maker for choosing Howard University.
I would always say everybody should go to an HBCU. I think HBCU’s are better than Duke, North Carolina and you name it. I went to one, I had a great time, but I think with the time’s changing now I think HBCU’s have a responsibility to put themselves in the competition in the talks with the other big schools. We have to answer the call too.
I like his courage to take that chance and go to a small university when he had other schools on his list. I think he can start something especially if he’s a success story and guys like myself and everybody else who’s been through it are cheering for him and we hope nothing but the best.
The idea of committing to play at an HBCU has gained traction in recent weeks following the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and countless others. Maker said the current racial climate in the United States heavily influenced his decision to attend Howard.
Everybody gotta take a stand and do something. If I’m doing this, it’s going to bring awareness to the choices that we have to make. As top recruits, we have to make choices that are responsible and to better our community and everything that is going on in this country today definitely had a big impact on it.
Maker committing to play at an HBCU will help generate massive interest and revenue in the Black community and would likely help enable programs in the future the opportunity to land the top prospects.
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