KU adds transfer in Liberty University sophomore center Evan Maxwell

By Gary Bedore     May 13, 2016

Liberty's Evan Maxwell (15) gets fouled going up for a shot in the first half against William & Mary on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015, in Lynchburg, Va. Maxwell, a 6-foot-10 sophomore big man, is transferring from Liberty to Kansas University.

Former Liberty University center Evan Maxwell, a 6-foot-10, 245-pound sophomore out of Clarks Summit, Pa., is headed to Kansas University on a basketball scholarship, Maxwell told the Journal-World on Friday night.

Maxwell, who visited KU earlier this week, chose KU over Baylor, Cincinnati and Virginia Tech and perhaps others.

KU coaches cannot comment on transfers until paperwork is received and processed.

Maxwell, who averaged 10.0 points and 4.8 rebounds a game his sophomore season for the Flames (13-19), is a graduate of Abington Heights High School.

Maxwell hit 63.7 percent of his shots (128 of 201) and 63 of 99 free throws (63.6) his sophomore season at Liberty.

He totaled six blocks, 10 steals, 17 assists, 68 turnovers on the season, logging 21.5 minutes per game.

He started 30 of 32 games as a sophomore.

Coming out of high school, Maxwell chose Liberty over Monmouth, his only other Div. I offer.

Sources say Maxwell will be a scholarship player at KU, thus the Jayhawks still have two scholarships to award for the coming 2016-17 season.

Maxwell showed improvement his sophomore season, as he went for 2.1 points, 1.1 rebounds and 6.0 minutes a game his initial year at Liberty.

“He has good hands, great spirit and teachability, humility, unselfishness and a knack to score the ball,” first-year Liberty coach Ritchie McKay told the Scranton Times last season. “I thought, ‘Man, we’ve got a really good player here.’ I think he’s gotten to the point where he’s not just settling for being above average,” McKay added. “He’s trying to touch greatness.”

He had 22 points and eight boards last season in a loss to Princeton.

“The guys listen to him,” McKay told the Times. “And when you work as hard as he works, I think the other players take the onus and say, ‘I have to step up my effort because, look at Maxwell. He’s giving his very best.'”

Maxwell told the Scranton Times his improvement was helped by his losing 25 pounds the offseason between his first two seasons.

“I’ve gotten a lot stronger, too,” said Maxwell, quicker and more agile his sophomore campaign. “I used to be able to push people around because I was heavy. Now I’m not as heavy, but just as effective.”

Diallo update: Kansas University freshman Cheick Diallo scored nine points and grabbed 10 rebounds in Friday’s NBA Combine scrimmage in Chicago. After that effort, he told ESPN’s Jeff Goodman he will definitely hire an agent and stay in the draft.

Zagsblog.com says Diallo will sign with an agent Monday.

“This is the time for me to go to the next level,” the 6-9 Diallo told Goodman of ESPN.com. “And I’m trying to show the NBA the things I do well — block shots, rebound and run the floor. I can guard multiple positions.”

Diallo interviewed with 12 NBA teams at the combine and according to ESPN’s Chad Ford also told the NBA execs he planned to stay in the draft. He said he will likely work out personally for eight to 10 teams starting next week.

“I am so appreciative of the opportunities I have. I never could have imagined all this five years ago,” said Mali native Diallo, who has been playing ball five years.

He told Zagsblog.com: “The NCAA suspended me for 3-4 months so I came in late, nothing I can do. I was behind everybody. I could not help the team. Sometimes I played three, four minutes in the game but I’m a team player, I don’t get mad, I’m happy for my team every time.”

Of his time at KU, he told Zagsblog that getting a late start while the NCAA examined his high school academic materials, didn’t help any.

“If it’s not NCAA stuff, if the NCAA didn’t suspend me, definitely I play more….I was behind everybody. I just come in late, nothing I can do. I was not mad at the coach. Not mad at anybody, Just keep working hard every day,” he told Zagsblog.com.

Diallo has encouraged other players, including Udoka Azubuike, to sign with KU, Zagsblog reports.

“Basically, I’m not selfish, I do things for Kansas,” Diallo said. “I’m not going to say, ‘Bro, don’t come here.’ I’m not going to say that. He’s asking me. I say, “Kansas is nice.’ If he (Azubuike) committed, fans love you, coach loves you. My time here is totally different. It’s NCAA stuff. It’s totally different.”

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