Tyrese Maxey, a South Garland High School (TX) senior signed his National Letter of Intent to play at the University of Kentucky on Nov. 14. The 6’3″ five-star point guard ranked #2 in the Class of 2019, verbally committed to UK back in May after leading the South Garland team to the Texas state semi-finals.
Big Blue Nation fans had the opportunity to watch Maxey up close at this past weekend’s Kentucky Lake Showcase at Marshall County High School. South Garland played three games in the Showcase starting with a 76-67 win over Hillcrest Prep (AZ) with Maxey earning Player of the Game honors with 28 points and eight rebounds.
In their second game on Friday, South Garland beat Superior Collegiate (FL) 67-52, MVP honors again going to Maxey with 17 points and 11 rebounds. South Garland finished their weekend sweep with a 58-49 win over DME Academy (FL) and Maxey picked up his third game MVP with 23 points and four rebounds.
It wasn’t hard to take a fast liking to Maxey who was quick to smile, a talented player and generous with his teammates. Kentucky Head Coach John Calipari was on hand watching Maxey from the sideline in South Garland’s first game on Friday. Maxey said he wasn’t nervous because he has played in front of Calipari many times now.
When asked when he first drew interest from Calipari, Maxey said with a smile, “End of my sophomore year and I actually didn’t get to play much because I had three fouls in like the first two minutes of the game. He left at halftime…but he came back to a game my junior year.”
Other than the Kentucky Lake Showcase, Maxey said the only other time he has played in Kentucky was his seventh grade year in a tournament in Louisville.
Maxey said UK has always been his dream school and he has been working hard everyday in the gym for a chance to go to Kentucky and along with his parents, is happy one of his goals is now complete.
“I feel like Coach Calipari gives me the best opportunity to maximize my potential”, Maxey said. “He brings the best out of everybody.”
