from Dave Lomonico of Terrapin Times
Maryland secured commitments from twin 6-foot-9 big men Makhi Mitchell and Makhel Mitchell (Montverde Academy/Fla.) August 4, and afterwards we spoke to their coach with the DC Blue Devils AAU squad (Under Armour), John Perry. He discusses the four-star 2019 bigs, who are transferring from Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.) below:
Terrapin Times: First off, Coach, we know these two are only 2019 recruits and have a ways to go development wise, but what is your early take on their games at this stage? What do they each bring to the table?
John Perry: Well, Makhel brings you that traditional big man type of player. He likes to use his body around the basket a lot and plays with a lot of passion. His ranking (No. 93) isn’t as high as Makhi’s, partly because Makhel was hurt a couple years back-to-back. This year was really his coming out party, and he began realizing his potential. I think you’ll soon see his ranking go up the level of his brother’s.
Now, as far as Makhi (No. 46) is concerned, he is a little more versatile. He can play the ‘3,’ ‘4’ or ‘5.’ He can play facing the basket, away from the basket – pretty much anything he wants. He can finish left or right, step out and hit a jumper.
On the defensive side, they’re both pretty good shot blockers. They’re used to the contact inside and holding their own very well on the defensive end.
TT: And where would you say are their main areas of improvement?
JP: Both have to get more mentally tougher, to begin with. Having their minds right before a game and having them dial in is a main point for them. That’s one of the reasons we’re sending them to Montverde, because that coach is going to bring that focus that, I guess you could say, we haven’t been able to bring out. Getting them down there, I think that’ll push them over the hump.
Also, they have to keep working on running the full court and getting rim to rim…Then they have to keep getting their bodies in shape to be ready for Division I basketball at Maryland.
TT: Are they sticking with the DC Blue Devils, though?
JP: Oh yeah, they’ll come home [to D.C.] to play on the circuit and travel ball. I’ve been coaching them since Day 1 when they were seven years old.
TT: Since you’ve seen them since they were 7, were they guys that showed potential right away? When did you sort of know they could be special?
JP: When they were young, I honestly didn’t think they would get it. They were real playful. They enjoyed being kids in the atmosphere of playing basketball. But right around 12 years old, I started to dial in and make it more serious for them. They were already pretty tall and had that going for them, so we made it pretty clear being able to handle the ball was very important too. We made it very competitive for them, and they responded and began playing at a higher level. I figured they’d have a chance to play somewhere with their height, but they just needed that push.
Another thing is making sure they were right in the classroom. We figured if they could make it on the private school side, where it would be a little tougher for them, then they’d be OK.
TT: Was there a moment you recall when they came out of their shells? Anything strike you that made you say, ‘Hey, these kids have a chance to play high-major ball?’
JP: Right around 12, 13 years old, you could tell they were real smart and started thinking ahead. They had the physical tools, but then came the [basketball IQ]. They started finishing around the basket at that age too, which was a big step.
I was highly impressed with Makhel and Makhi, when we’d pull one of them off the court, the one that stayed in would really go to work. They’d really focus on making up for [their twin] not being out there.
They always had the potential to play at a high level, though, just because of their height and ability to run the court.
TT: Do they feed off each other on the court together? How do they work together?
JP: When they’re on the court together, they really dial in with each other. I’ve noticed that a lot more this season than any season in the past. They find each other on the high-low. Running in transition, they already know where each other will be and will pass each other the ball. And they know how to make space for each other to make plays individually. They’re very conscious of each other.
TT: Off the court, how are they similar and how are they different?
JP: They are similar in a lot of ways. I guess if one came and had a conversation with you and asked a question, the other would come around and ask an identical question. The mother tells me that a lot too. She’ll tell me, ‘I could’ve sworn the one just asked me that and the other asked me the same question.’
Also, they both seem to focus and pay attention to the same things. They’ll both point out similar things they notice on and off the court.
Very seldom are they not on the same page. Like, if you see them out in public, for example, they both have this quirk where they stand behind someone they’re talking to. It’s amazing; they won’t stand next to the person. It’s always behind them, and they’ll be carrying on a conversation.
The differences in them are Makhel is more emotional. He’s more apt to voice his opinion. Makhi is more laid back, and will listen to people before forming an opinion. But Makhi is also more of the decision maker in terms on making life-changing decisions for the both of them. They’ll both talk about it, but Makhi is the one who really puts it out there and has the influence.
TT: Why do you think these two decided to commit to Maryland so early in the game? They both have plenty of time to deal with recruiting. Why now?
JP: They’ve been around Maryland basketball since they were 12. I started getting them involved and taking them up there and introducing them to some players I knew like Roddy Peters and then Melo Trimble. They’ve known Melo since they started playing basketball, so they had that connection.
Plus [head coach] Mark Turgeon has seen them through the years, and it was something he said to them that hit home. He didn’t want to offer them anything until they showed on the court they deserved it.
So they already liked Maryland and Coach Turgeon a lot, and then [August 3] we all got together and talked. I talked to Makhi and Makhel about the business side of it, but they knew in their heart of hearts they wanted to go to Maryland. I said, ‘If this is something you really, really want to do, no one was going to stop you.’ And at the last second, while we were sitting there talking to Coach Turgeon, that’s what they decided to do. They were like, ‘Let’s go ahead and go this.’
I think they really wanted to get the commitment out the way and just focus on getting better now. They can really dial into school and improving their games.
TT: What do you think of Coach Turgeon and his staff and what they’re doing of there?
JP: Coach Turgeon has really put Maryland back on the map. He and his coaches are great. They’re true to their word, which I think really stays with the kids.
And Coach [Kevin] Broadus had been talking and following the twins for the last two years. He did a great job with them. He’s an honest type of personality too, and I really think that was a main reason why Makhel and Makhi decided to go with Maryland as opposed to somewhere else. Coach Broadus being [at UMD] really sort of solidified it.
TT: How do you see the twins progressing and what do you think their potential is at U
JP: Going down to Montverde and playing that national schedule, if they put in the work, which I know they well, they have the ability to be some real good kids playing basketball. I see them going a long way. They’ve got 24 months to get ready for Maryland, and after that I think they’re going to be ready to show they can play at a very high level.
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