Frosh Maddox has everything…well, almost

By Ric Anderson     Nov 14, 1987

At first glance, Kansas’ Mike Maddox seems to have it all.

He was a good high school basketball player, notching a 23-point per game average over three seasons at Putnam North High in Oklahoma City – an Oklahoma state record.

He’s smart, too, as he proved by racking up a 3.9 grade point average at Putnam North.

And he’s ambitious, judging by his 17-hour class schedule this fall.

So what else could a coach ask for?

Well…coach Larry Brown said he would like Maddox to have a better body. In fact, Brown joked earlier this year, Maddox has the worst body of anybody on the team.

“Yeah, I read that,” Maddox said, grinning. “There’s not a lot you can say about it. I guess I’d rather have him think I have a bad body and can play basketball than I have a great body and can’t play.”

Obviously Brown believes in Maddox, and probably for good reason. Maddox, as a center, averaged 25.6 points and 10.1 rebounds last year. He was named to the McDonald’s All-American team and played in the McDonald’s and Capital Classic tourneys. Also, he was named the Oklahoma prep player of the yar.

Despite Brown’s jibes, Maddox remains true to his coach. Maddox, an early signee, said Kansas always was a top choice because of Brown.

“I really liked coach Brown,” Maddox said. “I thought he’d give me a chance to be the best player I could be. And I liked the atmosphere here, because of the Final Four team and the national attention.”

So far, he said, he’s glad he chose Kansas.

“I think it’s gonna be a lot of fun this season,” he said. “I’m learning a lot of stuff from Archie (Marshall) and (Chris) Piper every day. They’re only making me a better player. So far the attitude’s been great. It’s still early, but everybody’s working hard and they know we have a chance to have a great year.”

Maddox said the adjustment from Oklahoma to Lawrence was easy, especially considering his parents moved with him.

“My parents lived in Kansas City for six years and I knew the area a little bit already,” he said. “They wanted to see me play. It helps a lot to have them here because you don’t have to go through such a big adjustment.”

Home also is a great place to study, and Maddox is doing a lot of that.

“I’m trying to get some of my harder classes out of the way this semester so I can have it a little easier by the time the bulk of the season rolls around,” he said. “I have to budget my time pretty wisely, but I figure if I sacrifice now, it’ll be easier down the road.”

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