Jason Maxiell runs through a drill Tuesday. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

        Jason Maxiell has started three games in his college career. He averaged 8.1 points as a freshman. Yet the University of Cincinnati sophomore is on the list of 50 preseason candidates for the John Wooden All-America team.

        He is listed by Lindy's magazine as the ninth-best power forward in the country and the most entertaining player in Conference USA.

        The Sporting News rates him as the nation's sixth-best power forward.

        “A lot of it has to do with history,” UC coach Bob Huggins said. “Because of Kenyon (Martin). Because of (Steve) Logan. Because the guys who have been here and done what they're supposed to do that had some ability have all fulfilled those expectations.”

        It is Maxiell's potential that has attracted national attention. He is a certain starter this season who will play roughly 30 minutes a game.

        He is UC's only proven post player.

        The 6-foot-7 Maxiell is more confident, more vocal, stronger and more skilled than a year ago. He has better footwork, better balance and more moves. His ball handling has improved.

        When he arrived at UC early in the summer 2001, he bench-pressed 195 pounds and leg-pressed 440. Now, he benches 275 and leg-presses 900.

        “Max is a guy who doesn't take any days off,” senior guard Taron Barker said. “He plays hard every possession. That's why, on a scale of 1to10, he's a nine instead of a six; last year he was a six because he was a freshman. He's made a big jump.

        “Max is a pro. Like Shaq in the post, he's got to touch the ball. He has to.”

        Maxiell appeared in all 35 games last season, mostly as UC's first substitute (he was Conference USA's Sixth Man of the Year). He averaged 6.8 rebounds, blocked 52 shots and dunked the ball 36 times.

        He had highs of 18 points (vs. DePaul) and 15 rebounds (vs. Coppin State).

        Maxiell got better as the season went on. He seemed to pick up more confidence around the first of the year, scoring in double figures in 11 of the last 23 games. All from a guy who averaged only 20.9 minutes a game.

        “What surprised me was how hard he worked and how well he listened from Day 1,” UC associate head coach Dan Peters said. “I can remember the very first day we ever had a workout, I pointed to the wall up there (in Shoemaker Center) where it says All-Americans and I said, "Jason, if you work like that while you're here, you'll be up there someday.”'

        During the summer, Maxiell was a counselor at the Nike camp in Indianapolis.

        After camp ends each day, the counselors - often some of the top players in the country - play games. UC coaches heard that Maxiell more than held his own.

        Among those playing: Arizona guard Jason Gardner, Notre Dame guard Chris Thomas and Xavier senior David West.

        “I was playing mostly against the guards, because they had me more on the perimeter than down low,” Maxiell said. “I just played, but they said I did pretty good. I couldn't tell.

        “It helped me know that I could handle perimeter pressure and take the ball a couple dribbles and put it up.”

        He expects to face a lot of double teams this year, something Maxiell said started toward the end of last season. UC needs him to stay out of foul trouble.

        A year ago, he told the Enquirer he just wanted “to get stronger and help the team with rebounds. I'm not worried about scoring this year, but next year ...” Is it time? “I know I'm going to be the only big man scoring down low, and that's what Huggs wants me to do,” Maxiell said.

        Said Huggins: “I think he's going to have games, but Max feels a whole lot more comfortable in a team concept. It took Kenyon until his senior year before he really felt comfortable ... being the go-to guy, and he was certainly capable of doing that before his senior year. I think Max is kind of that way. Max thinks team first.”

        E-mail mperry@enquirer.com

UC's Maxiell drawing wows Huggins exercising patience

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