Monsignor Martin League Player Spotlight Series: Makai Horton, G
Western New York is an underrated basketball hotspot chockful of promising, talented recruits. The 2019-2020 Monsignor Martin League (Buffalo NY) was highly competitive and produced many memorable moments for both teams and individuals alike. This series will focus on the…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingWestern New York is an underrated basketball hotspot chockful of promising, talented recruits. The 2019-2020 Monsignor Martin League (Buffalo NY) was highly competitive and produced many memorable moments for both teams and individuals alike. This series will focus on the individual members of the 2020-2021 Nichols Vikings.
Makai Horton – Guard – Class of 2022
Makai Horton, after having spent a majority of 2019-2020 starring on Junior Varsity, appeared in the last 4 Nichols Varisty games of the season. In the stretch, Horton averaged 2.8 points per game, 1.5 rebounds per game, and 0.8 assists per game. Though Horton’s contributions did not translate to victories, it was clear to those that watched the Vikings closely that Horton was able to make a positive impact and gain the trust of his teammates and coaches alike.
The most accomplished facet of Makai Horton’s game is his ability to change the tone of a game by playing up-tempo. Horton is simply blazing fast; in his small 2019-2020 sample size, he used his speed to weave in and out of defenders, create transition opportunities, and rush back to protect the basket on defense. Oftentimes, when he had the ball in his hands, his constant energy and movement led to open opportunities for his teammates.
One area that Horton can improve upon is his ballhandling. Since he is so dynamic with the basketball in his hands, it is imperative to his team that he earns many opportunities in running an offense. For Horton, an offseason of drills will do wonders for his confidence and consistency in handling the ball during games. For example, while Horton impressed me by showing he can change speeds with his dribble, sometimes he struggled with keeping the basketball close to his hip. Horton would be served to practice keeping his dribble lower, which would make it more difficult for opponents to jar the ball loose from him.
Nichols would benefit tremendously if Horton is able to break out in 2020-2021. Along with being one of the best overall athletes on the team, he brings a unique ability to change the pace of the game by pushing the pace on offense and crashing the glass on both ends of the floor. Horton makes a great “sixth man” candidate, though it would not surprise me if he is near the top of the list in minutes played by the end of this season.
**All Stats Come From Maxpreps.com. All Analysis Is My Own.