Shon Plack
Kansas Scouting Director

Follow @PBRKansas

Jordan Maxson (Maize South, 2017) is a 6-foot 190-pound right-hand hitting outfielder and recently committed to play at Kansas State.  Maxson was named All AVCTL-II 2nd Team in 2014 and was selected 1st Team All AVCTL-II in 2015.  In July he represented Team Select in the PBR Future Games at Grand Park in Indiana. 

At the plate, starts from a tall stance and used a leg kick to generate power.  He has loose hands and a short path to contact, creating balls with back spin to the pull gap. Maxson runs 7.10 60 and hand an exit velo of 91 mph. In the outfield, Maxson has a clean exchange and over-the-top release.  He makes accurate throws at 83 mph.

Here is a closer look at how Maxson landed at Kansas State.

PBR: What were your expectations about the recruiting process? Was it as expected? Easy/Difficult?

Maxson: My expectation with the recruiting process was that it was going to be an easy process.When I first started getting recruited I had no idea where I wanted to go to school, or any idea of college. But it actually did end up being an easy process as getting recruited was
a fun experience.

PBR: Did location or distance from home play a factor in your decision?

Maxson: Location was a big part to me, because I want my family to be able to see at least a couple of my games, and I didn’t want to be too far from home. I also wanted to be able to drive to and from home, and not take a plane.

PBR: Where did Kasnas State first see you? How did your relationship develop with them?

Maxson: Kansas State first saw me at a PBR event in Manhattan that I went to early in my sophomore year. They talked to me a lot at the camp, and right after the camp they said they were very interested and wanted me to take a visit. I eventually took an unofficial visit, and loved the time I was there. My first impression on the team was great, and I liked the way Coach Hill and Coach Sawyers ran the program. I was interested in the program. Our relationship developed by talking a lot throughout the school year and summer, as they came to watch me play ball when they could. They gave me an offer on my first trip, and I was so in shock, to this day I still can’t believe it. I waited almost an entire year to commit, but the fact that throughout that year Coach Hill and Coach Sawyers were still very interested in me. And I think that’s what made the relationship develop more, is them recruiting me as hard as they did.

PBR: Who is the best player you have faced in your state, and why?

Maxson: The best player I have played in my state is Nolan Williams. It just happened to seem like every time we faced his team in summer ball, we could never get that kid out, and he always made great plays on defense against us.

PBR: Describe you experience at the PBR Future Games.

Maxson: My experience going to the PBR Futures Games was an experience I will never forget. Showing up to the field that first day, and seeing the hundreds of coaches from all over the country there was a great experience for me. I loved how the camp was ran, the first day was an evaluation day, where you ran a 60, took batting practice, and threw from your position. Which was a great way to get college coaches interested in you the first day. The next 2 days were game days, and it was nonetheless the best competition I’ve ever faced. I never got up to bat and saw lower to mid 80’s. It was always high to low 90’s, which in my opinion is more intense and way more fun to hit against. Not only that but the experience with my team was the best part of the whole tournament. I got to know and become friends with some of the best guys in baseball on Team Select, and got to know some great coaches. Matt Yarber will always be the best BP thrower ever.

PBR: What advice would you give to young baseball players striving to get where you are?

Maxson: My advice to young little leaguers, never give up, keep a good work ethic, and play as many sports as you can until you absolutely have to stop playing them. Growing up I never would have imagined being in the position I am today committed to a great program. I feel it is a great lesson for little leaguers growing up that they should never give up on what their goals are. Young athletes need to understand that it takes a lot of work to get where I am at today, I encourage them to get up in the morning and go hit baseballs off a tee, or play catch with somebody, anything they can do to get themselves better each and everyday. I also encourage playing as many sports as they can, because I feel like cross training a young man’s body is a crucial key when they are young, to how good of an athlete they are when they are older. They should also remember to keep their grades up, and do not get involved in things they shouldn’t, as they need to surround themselves with positivity in their lives.

PBR: What do you do in the offseason to keep yourself in baseball shape and prepare for the upcoming season?

Maxson: In the offseason I play football and basketball. I feel that cross training my body during the offseason can help with certain things in baseball. Football helps with my hand eye coordination and mental toughness part of baseball. Basketball gives me daily speed and agility, keeps the hand eye coordination up, and increases vertical each year for me. After summer ball I take off about 2 months of baseball, and then start back up around November again, training in my free time for the season to come.

PBR: What is the most memorable moment in your baseball career to this point?

Maxson: The most memorable moment in my baseball career was the PBR Futures Games. I have never had so much fun, and gotten so much recognition in my life than I did at the games.

PBR: What other schools were on your short list before you made your final decision?

Maxson: Other schools on my short list were: Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Arkansas, West Virginia, North Carolina, Illinois, and Wichita State.

PBR:  When did the recruiting process really start to heat up for you? Was there a particular game or event that you feel turned the corner for you?

Maxson: The recruiting process heated up for me around the very last weeks before I committed. I was told that I had a limit on my offer, and that is when I began to feel rushed in the process, I just didn’t have an idea of where I wanted to go. An event that was a turning point for me was that KState called me on that first day, September 1st, where college coaches can call Juniors, and they were the first ones to call me and were excited to recruit me. Every time I talked to them they were always excited about me and I liked that feeling.

PBR: Preview your high school season for us. How do you feel your team will be? What are your expectations and goals? Name some players that will play a key role for Maize South in 2016.

Maxson: I feel my team will take a rebuild year this year, but that does not mean we will not be good. There’s expectations to keep tradition of going to state at our school, and I feel that we have the leadership and team to do it again this year. We are going to have guys fill some spots as we graduated 10 seniors last year and 8 of them started. A player that will play a key role in our lineup is sophomore Bradyn Weins, he showed good potential last year when he suited up varsity with us for a few games, even got a rally started, and has quick hands. Another player is freshman Grant Bumgardner, he is a big freshman, willing to work hard and do whatever it takes to be the best. I feel like he will have no trouble filling in our outfield, and swinging the bat in our lineup as a freshman. As well as Brett Parke, I played with Brett during the summer and needless to say when he is seeing the ball, he is the most confident and hardest batter a pitcher will see. He gets the barrel to the ball, and has a great arm, with good speed for the outfield. Bryce Sell has shown tremendous work ethic in wanting to be a better pitcher each and every day. He works hard on his mechanics and spotting up his pitches on a daily basis making him a great pitcher. There’s no doubt in my mind when he pitches teams are going to have trouble hitting him.

PBR: Where do you play in the summer? And what has been your most memorable experience with them?

Maxson: In the summer I have joined a new team, the Kansas City Barnstormers. I am new to the team, but have played in All Star games with most of their players, and they are a great group of guys. I am excited to get to work with the Barnstormers this summer.

For More PBR News

Kansas Insider: 2016 Uncommitted Second Basemen

Kansas Insider: 2016 Uncommitted Third Baseman

The Hotlist: Uncommitted 2017 Infielders

MO-KAN Recruiting Notebook