Malachi Booker

Malachi Booker, the fourth ranked basketball player in Texas and 48th in US in the class of 2027, made both varsity basketball and football. Booker is a defensive end and wide receiver in football, and a small forward in basketball. 

Currently Booker has offers to Kansas State University, but he hopes to play D1 basketball at the University of Alabama or Duke University.

Reaching this point has not been easy. Booker’s dad played D3 basketball at the University of Belhaven in Jackson, Mississippi. Booker joined club basketball in 4th grade, and later played for Salyards Middle School. 

“I began playing basketball because of my dad. He played in college and was really good, so he introduced the sport to me, and gave me tips,” Booker said. 

Every week Booker wakes up at 4:45 to go to train with John Lucas II, the Rockets Assistant Coach. Booker stays after school to attend the school practice and only at around 6 does Booker return home.

Working with Lucas, Booker has improved and developed his game. His shooting percentages have increased along with his confidence on the court.

“He’s helped me with my shooting game a lot. before I was a good shooter, but I wasn’t great. Now, on Friday against Houston Christian I hit five three pointers in the game,” Booker said. “My shots have been incredible since I started going to him, and my confidence has been up. I’ve been a better player.” 

Coming into freshman year, Booker initially thought adjusting to varsity was going to be hard, but senior Sam Humphries has been a mentor to Booker, facilitating his transition to varsity.

“I thought everybody was going to be mean about it and were not going to respect me. But the team has been really nice about it. Nobody really cared,” Booker said.

Being a varsity athlete, Bookers spends most of his day practicing basketball, which leaves him little time to work on his homework. 

Regardless of his new time constraints, he enjoys being on the varsity team because he finds a brotherhood bond. Booker says he feels like he is the little brother of the team because all of the other players are older than him. 

He hopes to be a mentor and help the future freshman develop their game and confidence.

“Even if you aren’t the best right now, you’re going to get better, it comes with age. I’m good right now, but I’m going to be probably 10 times better whenever I’m a senior. I’m going to be bigger, stronger, faster, and a better shooter,” Booker said.