2023 5-star WR Makai Lemon 'shuts it down' with commitment to Oklahoma

It is still over 16 months until Los Alamitos (Calif.) High wide receiver Makai Lemon can officially sign with a school, but waiting wasn’t an option for him.

The 6-foot, 180-pound 5-star junior has over 20 offers, and he has found the school he feels is best for him.

Oklahoma is the school.

Lincoln Riley and the Sooners offered Feb. 16 and it got off to a great start. The communication was strong and Zoom calls happened often, and that pushed the Sooners toward the top of the list.

“I was honestly really liking USC a lot early, and that was my No. 2 school, but Oklahoma is the best for me,” Lemon said. “Michigan was up there for me, too, at one time. But it was really down to USC and Oklahoma, but I have known for a while it was Oklahoma.”

Visit to Norman sealed the deal

On June 19, Lemon traveled to Oklahoma for the first time and it couldn’t have gone any better.

He had already built a strong relationship with wide receivers coach Dennis Simmons through Zoom and over the phone, so after spending time on campus, meeting everyone in person, and getting a feel for the environment, it was a wrap.

“I knew before I left that visit to go back home that I was going to Oklahoma,” Lemon said. “That feeling was there early on the visit, so I knew. I went into the visit with Oklahoma on top in my mind, then after spending time there, I knew it was the school.”

After keeping it inside for around a month, Lemon let the Sooners’ staff in on his decision.

“I told coach Simmons first about three weeks ago,” Lemon said. “He kind of had an idea, but he was super-excited as soon as I told him about my commitment.

“I talked to him on Monday, and they were on vacation, so as soon as coach Riley got back, we talked, too. We talked that Thursday, and he was stoked about the news. We talked about the plan at Oklahoma, and we all had a great week.”

Staying together

Lemon is not the only player from Los Alamitos heading for Norman. His teammate and close friend Malachi Nelson committed to the Sooners on July 18. Like Lemon, Nelson is in the 2023 class and he is a five-star quarterback ranked No. 2 in the country.

The two have been playing together since they were 7-years-old, and they could be another deadly combo in Riley’s offense.

“Malachi going to Oklahoma did have an impact on my decision,” Lemon said. “I liked Oklahoma a lot for me, too, but being able to stay with him and play together in college is great.

“We have a great connection. I think we have something special going now in high school and it could be amazing in college. We both love the Oklahoma offense, so to be able to play in it together is amazing.”

Done with recruiting

Lemon may be young, and he is the type of talent schools will not stop recruiting, but he would not have committed this early if he did not feel he found his next home.

Lemon did not think he would make a decision before his junior season, but the fact that he did, says a lot about how he feels about Oklahoma.

“I am shutting it down,” Lemon said. “I made the perfect decision at the perfect time, and I am done with recruiting. Feeling how I feel and knowing what I know, my decision is made.

“The more I thought about it, the more I knew there was no reason to drag this out. I am 100% committed to Oklahoma, and I feel great about my decision or I would not have committed.”