We are only in the middle of summer but Markelle Fultz has already had a year to remember. In February he was named 1st-team All-Washington Catholic Athletic Conference at DeMatha High School. In March he scored 10 PTS in the McDonald’s All-American Game and in April he set a Nike Hoop Summit record with 5 STL in a win over the World Select team. Earlier this week he was 1 of 12 players named to the final roster for team USA in preparation for the FIBA Americas U18 championship, and next week he travels to Chile to try to win a gold medal. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Markelle before he heads abroad, and this fall you can see him try to help the Washington Huskies get back to the NCAA tourney for the 1st time since 2011.
After playing on the JV team as a sophomore at DeMatha Catholic High School you grew 3” and became 1 of the top players in class of 2016: was the growth spurt the key or has your all-around game just improved a ton over the past 2 years? It was more of a confidence thing and I made my game more versatile.
Your team was loaded: how did you like playing with guys like DJ Harvey (the 1st freshman since Adrian Dantley in 1969 to start for DeMatha’s varsity team from day 1)? I knew that if I passed it to somebody they would make a shot or get to the rim.
After getting scholarship offers from several great programs (Arizona/Louisville/Maryland/Georgetown) you committed last August to play at Washington and said, “The main reason I am going to Washington is my connection with Coach Romar”: how long have you known him, and what kind of connection do you 2 have? I have known him since I started playing JV. He is like a father figure who looks after me and hopes for the best for me.
In the 2016 McDonald’s All American Game you had 10 PTS/6 AST for the East in a 7-PT loss to the West: which of your teammates impressed you the most? I was cool with everybody out there on both teams: I got along with everyone.
At the 2016 Nike Hoop Summit you set a record with 5 STL in 18 minutes in a 101-67 win over the World Select team: how did you like playing with 4 guys who are going to Duke (Marques Bolden/Harry Giles/Frank Jackson/Jayson Tatum) and how good are the Blue Devils going to be next season? They are very talented players and it was fun to play with them. We got along very well and they will be very good if they play together and do what Coach K tells them to do.
Last year Coach Romar’s recruiting class was ranked among the best in the nation but 2 of his freshmen were picked in the 1st round of last month’s NBA draft (Marquese Chriss/Dejounte Murray): are you entering college with an idea about how long you want to stay or are there certain factors along the way that will affect that decision? My goal is just to help the Huskies get back to the NCAA tourney. I am not worried about the NBA right now and will just take it day by day: if I feel like I am ready after 1 year then I will look at my options.
You are 6’5” and have a 6’9” wingspan: which position did you play in high school and which position will you feel most comfortable at in college? I played the 1 in high school and think I will play the 1 in college, but I feel comfortable at any position.
You have given a lot of credit to your trainer Keith Williams, whom you have worked with for more than half of your life: what aspect of your game has he helped you with the most, and are you worried about flying 3000 miles away from him? Keith helped me with my entire game and taught me everything that I know, but I am confident enough to be on my own because he trained me so well and still sends me videos so that I can keep improving.
Next week you will play for team USA at the FIBA Americas U18 championship in Chile: how do you like playing for Coach Shaka Smart and what did it mean to you to make the final cut earlier this week? It is always an honor to represent your country. Shaka gets everyone involved and is very enthusiastic so we will just try to go down there and win a gold medal.
You previously said that you want to be an accountant: is it just so that you can count your own money if you make the NBA or have you always been into numbers or what?! I have always been good at math and if I make it to the NBA I want to be able to look after my money myself. If I do not end up playing pro basketball then I can still use my degree to have a good job.