Maze
Wichita Eagle
Maze
Photo by Kelly Glasscock
Bobby Maze, while playing for Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College, makes a reverse layup against Coffeyville CC in the NJCAA regional basketball tournament.
Dave Hooker audio:
- Dave Hooker and John Adams interview Hutchison (Kansas) Community College head coach Ryan Swanson about his star basketball player, Bobby Maze.
- Dave Hooker and John Adams interview UT basketball coach Steve Forbes about landing Bobby Maze
- Dave Hooker and John Adams interview Bobby Maze about signing with UT and even get some freestyle rap
Tennessee found the solution to its point guard issue when junior college All-American Bobby Maze signed a basketball letter of intent Wednesday to play for the Vols next season.
“Stevie Wonder could see this is where I needed to be,” said Maze, who transferred from Oklahoma to Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College last year. “They’ve called me ‘The Solution’ here, so you do the equation: What better place could I be?”
It certainly adds up for Tennessee, which announced last Friday that incumbent point guard Ramar Smith would not return to the team.
Maze, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound seasoned point guard, averaged 20.7 points, 6.7 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game last season and led the Blue Dragons with 55 steals.
Maze arrived in Knoxville for his visit Tuesday and fell in love with the campus and facilities while growing even more comfortable with the coaching staff.
“The plane landed and I breathed in that Knoxville air,” Maze said. “You see those seats in the arena and how high they go up, and all the sellout crowds, the Jumbotron screens everywhere, the practice facility. You have every tool here to be successful.”
Maze said he has some classwork to finish up to gain full eligibility, and said he has no doubt he will get that done.
“This is a done deal,” Maze said. “I wanted to play on a team where I had a chance to win a championship, and the players here at Tennessee are the best players you could want to play with.
“I like how everyone bonded on this visit.”
Maze said the relationship between Hutchinson head coach Ryan Swanson and UT assistant Steve Forbes was a factor.
“That helped me a lot, just knowing Coach Forbes was the guy who gave Coach (Swanson) his first job,” Maze said, referring to Forbes’ stint as head coach at Barton (Kan.) Community College. “Then you’ve got Coach (Bruce) Pearl, and how all of the coaches made me feel like I was a part of the family.”
Maze said he plans to enroll the first term of summer classes at UT and take part in the Pilot Rocky Top summer league at Bearden High School in June.
“I’m definitely going to play,” Maze said. “I’ll give you some summer league action.
“I haven’t seen this much orange in my life. I know basketball is a real big deal here, and that’s what it’s all about.”
Maze visited Cincinnati last weekend and was scheduled to visit Kentucky this weekend.
“There’s no need for me to go visit Kentucky,” he said. “There’s not a better situation than this.”
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 299
dfreeman writes:
aMAZEing!!! Welcome aboard!
brownsvillevol writes:
well it seems DSaVol owes marc-ash an apology as well.
WVVOLFAN writes:
176 days until "It BB time in TN'
Go Vols, welcome aboard Bobby.
Ironcity writes:
Glad to have another point guard. To get one this late that has played in a top conference is very fortunate. Now lets make sure he graduates so both UT and Oklahoma can benefit!
Silent_Fulmer writes:
yawn....oh, I mean, WOW! I like that countdown better than Ashley's WV!
JeffBleedsOrange writes:
SWEET! STAY OUT OF TROUBLE BRO!
maholt49#632667 writes:
I assume the guy can play...just hope he has the smarts to stay in school and graduate. The rate we are going with our academics a scholarship will taken away by the NCAA.
marc_ash#231781 writes:
Good pick up for the Vols. He actually decided he would be a Vol last week, but he wanted to come to campus to make it "official". The UK visit was a smoke screen, he never intended to sign with UK.
Should be a great pick up for the Vols. He has a chance to start next year if he can take care of his academics.
Welcome to Knoxville officially Mr. Maze.
tennesseePhatz writes:
Cool,
All Tennessee needed last year was a true point guard that could shoot the ball when needed. My confidence level in Ramar, Howell was pretty bad. They just never showed up when it counted. Ramar will never develop a jump shot. Next years team should be awesome if the point guards play up to the potential expected. All of the other pieces of the puzzle is in place so we should be competing for a SEC title and taking one step at a time. First all must pass their grades to play and stay out of trouble. Go Vols
spikeyd10#222219 writes:
A very nice catch.....and the timing couldn't be better, if he has half the skills people say he has....Maze, T. Smith, Hopson, Chism, and Prince sounds like a pretty potent starting five to me. Welcome to the BIG ORANGE NATION Bobby. Keep your nose clean, and CBP will afford you the opportunity to be successful in his system. I think as much as Bobby Maze was looking for an up tempo system, CBP's system was looking for a Bobby Maze. Anyone agree?
marc_ash#231781 writes:
tennesseehurk,
A good pt guard doesn't need to shoot the ball as well as he does finish, make the good pass and hit free throws. Ramar could get to the rim (sometimes) but then often made bone head decisions. Not to mention, he couldn't hit a free throw in the clutch to save his life.
Often wondered what could have been if Ramar could have gotten the ball to someone instead of taking it into Odenland couple years ago.
Ramar's problem was he couldn't shoot or pass with any regularity/consistency. Maybe Maze can.
BADGES0413 writes:
Dear Knox News,
If you do a little research you can find a picture of this guy that is more foucsed. My great grandfather started a little company many years ago and took some really good pictures that still hold up after 100 years. I will pitch in a buck and a quarter if it is a cost issue.
Sincerely,
Fidel Kodak
P.S.
I really like this pick up, Point Guard has been a Problem since CJ graduated.
marc_ash#231781 writes:
spikeyd10,
I agree.
MrBamSeydu writes:
hahaha, this is awesome!!! players are committing to UT before they even SEE UK's campus saying things like "it's not even worth my time".
UT basketball > UK basketball
marc_ash#231781 writes:
yemmusdarb,
UK was a smoke screen. They didn't have room for him in Lexington anyway. Besides, he didn't like that style of play.
UK will always get great recruits, but Pearl can field a great team...and that's what is important.
TurboFan writes:
McB, please go to the pencil sharpener, your point is missing.
What is Bobby's middle initial. I'm hoping it's an A.
brownsvillevol writes:
well mcbrimm they pulled back their scholly and then tried to extend it again and maze said no thanks i'm going to tennessee.
brownsvillevol writes:
you're right marc,kentucky will always land good recruits and florida as well.tennessee is joining the pack and becoming a great program.this is good news for ut and pearl.no doubt we will compete for the sec again.
invisiblekid writes:
WD40plusVol, what are you talking about, McRib makes a fine point. Maze saw the error of his ways and realized that UT was a much better choice than Maryland.
bowerst#242774 writes:
The dream is becoming a reality, and Knoxville, Tennessee is becoming a basketball town. Thank you, Mr. Pearl.
tennesseePhatz writes:
Don't Judge me wrong about Ramar and Howell. Howell could get the ball up the floor without turnovers. He just lost his confidence and never regained it. He wasn't an assist type of person who would penetrate and dish it off if needed. Ramar just couldn't shoot a jumper and was out of control at times. Any good team has to have a guard that can take the pressure off the wing and post players, otherwise teams will zone you up and force you to play their style. Now if these guys are as good a mentioned, it's all fair play. You have to bring it to the Vols next year and be ready for anything.
gobigo00 writes:
I hope all the attitude is what this team needs with the loss of Duke, and not something that wrecks what has made this team such a close group. Maybe it's the way the KNS has spun this with the mug shot photo and taking all Mazes' "me" qoutes that gives me an uneasy feeling about this guy. I'm sure BP knows what he's doing. Good luck BM.Go Vols!
lilmoorevols writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
GreerVol22 writes:
"Stevie Wonder could see".....not exactly PC but funny. lets just hope "The Solution" is not another "The Future" alah Kelly Washington.
UTvols12342000 writes:
The greats have always had attitude, always had an aire of confidence about them. Think Bird, Magic, Jordan. They couldn't help it. When you master something mentally and can play at a level above your peers, it is just natural to exude that aura. If you are forcing it, of course, then please take your lil butt and go home. It is really easy to judge, IMO. How do they practice and what is their work ethic? If you work like Legend Lofton, then you can walk the court at TBA with as much confidence and attitude as you like.
Go Vols!
superk#226173 writes:
Looks to be a fine upstanding member of the community.
VU writes:
Congrats on the commitment of your newest thug. I'm sure Ramar and Duke won't have anything on this dude.
brownsvillevol writes:
well bob bryd tigirl i can only say you a-"maze" me with your stupidity.if any program has a miriad of problems it's yours.7 players last season were arrested on a maginitude of charges from assault to car theft.one player faied a ncaa tournament drug screen and had to be suspended for one year.this is what we were discussing yesterday when you continuosly put your foot in your mouth.the drug screen was not given internally but by the ncaa had allen failed an internal drug screen he would still be able to play for memphis but that is why the ncaa chooses one player from each participating team.and now you two recruits that can't pass high school and one that has already been involved in a murder.wow go u of m.
volfaninVA writes:
Before anyone goes and throws Jordan Howell under any more busses, just remember... his game began to go south about the same time his teammate and roommate, Chris Lofton, confided in him about the situation that he was going through. He was the only player on the team that knew about Lofton and kept it to himself. I'm willing to cut Jordan a break here.
brownsvillevol writes:
vu cograts on being the only bed wetter from the sec in the ncaa tourney.you shouldn't be talking smack but still burying your head over that dreadful loss.
volunteer4life2 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
VolNot writes:
You boys are cracking me up! You have a pretty good year (Sweet Sixteen and all), recruit a couple of HotDogs with ATTITUDE (but lacking in ACADEMICS) and now you are the new basketball experts of the world and the standard of excellence for the SEC. Don't get me wrong -- Coach Pearl is great. He has inspired more life into VolBasketball that anyone since Ray Mears. But until you can take it to the next level, both by winning and by the character of your players you are kidding yourselves. Maze didn't visit UK because UK had investigated him and found serious flaws in his character and academic commitment. Maybe Coach Pearl can tame his attitude and inspire him to become a fine student-athlete (rather than merely athlete). I hope so. If he can and does you may have found a winning point guard. Time will tell.
volsthetruth writes:
Lets look @ the facts... If I was a head coach (MD) Would I take a guy thats 2 credits short (can go to summer schoolto get them) or sign a guy who was charged with Rape and was let go by Butler Univ. (I think Im not 100 % about the school.) Who would you choose? B.Maze has never SMOKED where are yall getting this stuff from....
vol88 writes:
wearmemphis...call back when you beat us.
in anything.
invisiblekid writes:
Yep, those recruits that Calipari has signed are angels, nothing says class like being linked to a murder investigation involving your cousin:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008...
brownsvillevol writes:
wearememphidiots i already told you l. little was not a vol when he got drunk on his birhtday and tragedy stuck.what does it matter if four arrests were at the same time.sounds like you're making excuses.what does andre have a degree in skoking weed or failing ncaa tournament mandated drug screens.the tattoo you speak of is only worn by one vol and that's tyler smith who's father recently passed away from cancer in september.he wears it for his own personal reasons concerning his fathers death you insensitive punk.and finally we just didn't win one reg season game we won 30 and we made to the third round not the second idiot and what was priceless was watching the tigirls lose a 9 point lead and getting totally riped in overtime by kansas to still not win a national title in any sport.oh and by the way memphis has had many juco players in it's history.idiot.
invisiblekid writes:
Depends on your religion General but personally I disagree.
marc_ash#231781 writes:
Volnot,
"Maze didn't visit UK because UK had investigated him and found serious flaws in his character and academic commitment."
I'm all for fans of opposing teams giving their opinion on things, but you have absolutely no idea why Maze didn't visit UK. Maze was a serious consideration even before he committed to Maryland, but didn't want to compete with a then crowded back court.
Before you talk about why a young man didn't sign with a rival team, at least get your facts straight.
marc_ash#231781 writes:
WEAREMEMPHIS,
First off, why are you here? Nobody gives a hoot about who memphis has signed since the season has ended, so why should you even care? Go back to your site, nobody cares about memphis.
Next, you want to justify your players actions because they all "happened at the same time"? Wow, ok...lets justify Ramar and Duke because they happened at the same time. What a dumb argument.
"The trouble with Dozier, not only was dropped but they considered pursuing charges against her for assault based on eyewitness accounts." OK, this has got to be about the dumbest comment I have ever heard from anyone with a brain. So, the 200+ pound 6'10 Dozier was assaulted by his girlfriend? Wow, you memphis fans really are a piece of work.
As for your comment about Tylers teardrop, it is to commemorate the passing of his father from Cancer. I have to say, your "one for all the dead homies" comment was by far one of the most tasteless I've seen in a while. I'm not surprised one bit.
wagee12 writes:
McBrim fish, you're damned right we'll take him. Now, go tickle your mommy with feather duster! Tiger High fans, eat your heart out, BTW, all-time basketball mark now stands at Tennessee 12 wins, Tigger High 7 wins. How does such a great and powerful basketball school have such a losing record to a school with very little enduring tradition in hoops??? University of Mempho, suitcase, community college!
marinevol writes:
Wearmemphis, you say that even the players that get kicked off Memphis' team graduate? Other than pointing out how easy it is to get a degree from Memphis, what was your point?
invisiblekid writes:
On the topic of tattoos for a second, Angel Garcia was named to have the best tattoo by the Courier-Journal in Louisville:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008...
invisiblekid writes:
My mistake...wrong link:
http://www.courier-journal.com/blogs/...
knoxvegas75 writes:
OK why can't we all just get along. Memphis does have a good program, and so does UT.
We both have had problems with our players and other school officials. We have each has our own scandals and I bet we both will have more to come.
College life is a time for young men and women to develope and learn from lifes lessons.....
hey at least we arn't San Diego State Fans and Alum.......
just get over your bitter fights....
marinevol writes:
I never have understood all the hostility from Memphis fans. I usually pull for Middle Tennessee, Austin Peay, Tenn. Tech, Memphis and all the other mid-major schools in Tennessee, whether they are OVC, Sun Belt or Conference USA. They're all like our little sisters, and we should pull for them to do well.
marc_ash#231781 writes:
WEAREMEMPHIS,
Who really cares how far you get, if you don't win a championship? I'm sure you guys will enjoy your runner up banner ceremony next season? Yea, yea...come back with "well at least we get past the sweet 16". Great, good for you...you also have had a basketball program a lot longer than UT. I think Pearl has done more with the Vols in 3 years than Cal has done this whole time. How many years did it take him to win his first tourney game?
How quickly you forget.
marc_ash#231781 writes:
Lets see....how many conference USA teams made it to the NCAA tourney or the NIT?
yea, that would be 1.
If you are going to try to make a point, at least don't don't be a moron and try to make it in that manner.
marinevol writes:
Actually, of all the mid-major schools UT has played in either football or basketball, Memphis has given us a better game than many of them.
mempuss writes:
Vols>Tigirls!
VolCane7979 writes:
I LOVE THESE MEMPHIS FANS!!!!!!! It's great how pathetic and insecure they are that they feel the need to come on a Tennessee website and point out how much further they advanced in the tournament. Since they can't beat us in ANYTHING, even basketball, they have to toot their little horns about something. One football win in 1996 and, well, ummmm... hmmm. 66-62. See your non-championship butts next year, boys.
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