Not in the book: Vernon Maxwell “Mad Max” @VernonMaxwell11 was drafted 47th in the 1988 Draft. I was drafted 8th. Our career numbers in the pros were very similar. But Vernon played 4-years of college and scored nearly 2,500 points at Florida. I was two years younger. Vern kicked my ass 2 of our 4 meetings in college. And they beat us in 3 of 4. I scored a little under 1,100 points in two years and averaged 16 and 19 in those two years. I was in trouble all through high school and college for different reasons. With the cops, with school/cheating, etc. Vernon was always RUMORED to have been in trouble for things. Grades, partying, etc. *When Vernon left Florida he was the No. 2 scorer in Southeastern Conference history behind Pete Maravich. He averaged more than 20 points in both his junior AND senior seasons — BUT FLORIDA would erase all the points Vernon scored in those seasons due to his taking money from an agent and accepting a free round-trip ticket to go to a basketball camp. All of my bad behavior was covered up. Nothing ever made it to print. I went 8th in the draft. All of Vernon’s rumored bad behavior and BULLSHIT NCAA penalties were magnified — from the time he was in high school. He went 47th in the draft. I love Vernon Maxwell. I knew him when he was just “Vern”.
Not in the book: Vernon Maxwell “Mad Max” @VernonMaxwell11 was drafted 47th in the 1988 Draft. I was drafted 8th. Our career numbers in the pros were very similar. But Vernon played 4-years of college and scored nearly 2,500 points at Florida. I was two years younger. Vern kicked my ass 2 of our 4 meetings in college. And they beat us in 3 of 4. I scored a little under 1,100 points in two years and averaged 16 and 19 in those two years. I was in trouble all through high school and college for different reasons. With the cops, with school/cheating, etc. Vernon was always RUMORED to have been in trouble for things. Grades, partying, etc. *When Vernon left Florida he was the No. 2 scorer in Southeastern Conference history behind Pete Maravich. He averaged more than 20 points in both his junior AND senior seasons — BUT FLORIDA would erase all the points Vernon scored in those seasons due to his taking money from an agent and accepting a free round-trip ticket to go to a basketball camp. All of my bad behavior was covered up. Nothing ever made it to print. I went 8th in the draft. All of Vernon’s rumored bad behavior and BULLSHIT NCAA penalties were magnified — from the time he was in high school. He went 47th in the draft. I love Vernon Maxwell. I knew him when he was just “Vern”.
The NCAA really did Vernon wrong. So did the University of Florida. The NCAA really did me wrong. So did the University of Kentucky. I essentially had to leave school. Was terrified that the NCAA would interview me (they were about to). If I had told them the truth the school would likely received the death penalty. Myself, Eric Manuel, Chris Mills, Shawn Kemp, and MANY others remained quiet about it over the years. We ALL got screwed. We were kids. ALL of the coaches went on and coached for years at other places. Kentucky went on probation for a couple of years and then it was back to business. The NCAA and its member schools have never operated in good faith when it comes to the players. The school and NCAA took away 7 of our wins in 1988 and the MVP award I was given for SEC MVP. They said we played with an “illegal player” because supposedly someone took Eric Manuel’s SAT for him. Give me a break. It’s all pretty sad. They used us. And then we still felt some weird responsibility to protect them. They put me on the Dean’s List and made me Academic All-SEC - and I didn’t do shit in college. It was a joke. I have had a good relationship with some people at UK over the years since I left school. But the institution itself has always kept me at arms length. It sucks but at least now I understand it. I didn’t do them wrong. Ever. They needed me to be what they needed me to be.
@RexChapman @VernonMaxwell11 Vernon is so beloved in Houston!! Mad Max didn't back down from anyone including his own teammates. Only NBA player that I saw that absolutely would piss off Michael Jordan.
@RexChapman @VernonMaxwell11 He went to my high school - Buchholz in Gainesville, FL. I played basketball (poorly) there many years later. Absolute legend in Gainesville.
Fascinating anecdote & very humble of U to share @VernonMaxwell11's story. I attended @SyracuseU during the electrifying career of Late, Great @Crossover31's @Cuse_MBB '80s teams, but I remember that SEC era with U & Mr Maxwell well. Kudos for all your self-deprecation & self-reflection👍.