Heralded Hairston to visit

By Gary Bedore     Sep 19, 2003

Detroit Renaissance High basketball guard/forward Malik Hairston, who will make his official campus visit to Kansas University this weekend, has been compared to NBA greats Jalen Rose and Scottie Pippen.

One other player, too.

“I’d say Malik is similar to a Magic Johnson-type player in terms of his ability and charisma and how he can grab a game,” said Speedy Walker, who has worked with the 6-foot-5, 190-pound Hairston the past six years as director of Detroit’s “The Family” AAU program.

“I think that’s why people compare him to Jalen — not so much styles of play as the fact they can both dominate and make their team win. They can take over and will their teams to win.”

Walker glows in praise of Hairston, who averaged 22 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and three blocks per game his junior year at Renaissance High.

“He’s arguably the best player in the country,” Walker said of Hairston, who has visited Ohio State and UCLA and is also considering Michigan, Michigan State and Virginia Tech.

“Malik just turned 16. Age-wise, he should be a junior. By right, he’s the best junior in the country bar none,” Walker added.

A brilliant student, Hairston advanced early academically and is a year ahead of most students his age.

“He’s just a hard-working kid with a deep passion for the game,” said Walker, who last summer used Hairston at every position except center. “He shoots it, passes it, rebounds it extremely well.”

Rivalshoops.com has ranked Hairston its No. 6 player in the country.

“He is a force on the offensive end of the court. It doesn’t matter if he’s hanging out on the perimeter and shooting threes, or pulling up for the 15-footer or doing damage in the paint,” said rivals.com analyst Shay Wildeboor, who this summer watched Hairston play at the USA Developmental Festival in Colorado and at the Nike All-America basketball camp.

“You do not want to put the ball on the floor against Malik and try to take him to the basket. He’ll send your shot into the stands,” Wildeboor said. “He’ll battle and battle for rebounds. He’ll tip in shots. He’s active around the basket. He fights for everything.”

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