Newest Jayhawk Evan Maxwell speaks Saturday after Friday’s commitment to KU

By Gary Bedore     May 14, 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, who on Friday night revealed plans to transfer to Kansas University, explained the decision-making process on Saturday morning.

“I visited Virginia Tech and Baylor. I had visits scheduled for Arizona and Cincinnati, but ended up canceling them after the Virginia Tech visit because I liked that so much,” said Maxwell, a 6-foot-10 sophomore from Clarks Summit, Pa., who will sit out next season in accordance with NCAA rules, then have two years of eligibility remaining starting in 2017-18.

“Kansas came into the picture and it seemed like a very good fit. They came in a little bit late in the process. They did a good job getting to know me as quickly as possible. I took my (campus) visit (mid week) and just being there, I knew it was the place for me. I knew it was the right people. Everything down to my parents and the way they were with the whole (coaching) staff and their wives. Every little part of it seemed the perfect fit. It was kind of a God thing. I didn’t think it would be right because I didn’t know them (before visiting). I prayed a lot. He made it clear to me. That’s what it was. I was there, felt it and knew it.

“I’m honored to say I belong to the best basketball program in the country. It’s a pretty cool opportunity,” Maxwell added.

Maxwell — he averaged 10.0 points and 4.8 rebounds a game his sophomore season at Liberty — said on his KU visit, “I got to meet all the guys. It was Finals Week so I didn’t get to spend a lot of time with them. They are great guys. I got to spend time with the staff. They were all there. I got to know each one of them individually a little bit, got to spend a lot of time with the staff.

“I want to be around them and learn from them. I feel they could help me grow as a basketball player and help me become the man I want to become. My role is basically up to me. I think I could either sit the bench two years or I could start for two years. It’s up to me and how hard I work. The biggest part of it is the fact they believe in me and I know they believe in me and I believe in them. With that right there, we can make anything happen. They know I’m coming to work. I know they won’t be easy on me. They will push me to be at the absolute best I can be. Since I want to be the best I can be, it’s a perfect match. I have a long way to go and a lot of growth. They know that. I know that. They are willing to help me get to that point. We both want the same thing for my future and the future of Kansas basketball.”

In a perfect world, Evan would be playing college ball with his brother, Seth, in two seasons at KU. Seth is a 7-foot senior-to-be at Abington Heights.

“A lot of A-10 schools and Ivy League schools, Patriot League schools,” Evan said of which schools are recruiting his brother. “I know his recruiting is going to pick up when he goes to the next AAU circuit and all that. I know a lot of good schools, American Conference and Big 12 and Big 10 schools are planning to go watch him next circuit. We don’t know if that’s in the future. I think that’s all up to God’s plan what he has for us. We see it working out that way possibly. This whole decision (to attend KU) was not based on that obviously.”

More on Evan Maxwell in Sunday’s Journal-World and kusports.com.

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