Through the winter and into the spring, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that 2020 five-star center Makur Maker was a lock to turn down the college route and explore his professional options. And then in April, the 6-foot-11 center put pen to paper, submitting his paperwork to officially declare for the NBA Draft.
At the time, though, Maker announced he would not be hiring an agent and would leave the door open for a potential move to the college ranks, singling out UCLA, Oregon, Kentucky, and Auburn as four possible options should he withdraw. And then on Sunday, college basketball insider Jon Rothstein doubled down on Maker’s interest in college, reporting that Kentucky and UCLA had emerged as the favorites in the five-star center’s recruitment, at least among schools.