Australian basketball phenom Thon Maker has declared for the 2016 NBA draft, and his story is perhaps the most intriguing of any of the potential players trying to get their break into the Association.
The 19-year-old was born in a village in South Sudan and sought refuge in Australia when he was five, as his family fled the civil war in Uganda.
He is now based in Canada where he attends Orangeville District Secondary School and is considered a ‘five-star recruit’ – a title reserved for only the most elite high school basketballers in the world.
His mixtapes are the stuff scouts can only dream of: a towering 7’1″, 99kg giant with the ball-handling skills and finishing touches of a guard.
He is, by all accounts, an athletic miracle – but there is also a great deal of mystery and unknown about Maker.
His route to the NBA has been about as unconventional as you can get.
He came under the legal guardianship of controversial manager Edward Smith in 2009, who has taken Maker globetrotting over the past five years.
Full basketball schedule for the 2016 Olympics
He bounced around three schools in Lousiana and Virginia before shipping him off to Canada – seemingly to circumvent the NBA’s rule mandating that anyone who finished their high-school in the States must play a year of college hoops.
It was thought the power forward may head to the NCAA after being courted by Kentucky, Kansas, Indiana and Arizona State last year, but it’s been all quiet on that front since then.
Not that this unconventional route seems to have affected him too much, Sportsnet reporter Gare Joyce has been following him closely, and in his conversations with him said “he seemed like a great kid, smart, sociable, definitely committed.”
Maker’s announcement has thrown a spanner in the works coming into draft day on June 23.
Firstly, his eligibility for the draft is dependent on a decision by the League.
A foreign player can be eligible for the draft if “the player is or will be at least nineteen years of age during the calendar year in which the Draft is held, and, at least one NBA Season has elapsed since the player’s graduation from high school.”
But it’s not a done-deal and the NBA has the right to reject his application.
If he does become eligible, where he lands is a complete mystery.
Many pundits have him as a lock in the top 10, given his tremendous upside and – but there’s still just so much scouts don’t know about Maker.
He’s untested against bigger bodies in college, seems to struggle at times with contact, and hasn’t been the consistently dominant figure that fellow Australian Ben Simmons has been.
At the 2015 Nike Hoops Summit, he could only manage two points and 10 rebounds whereas Simmons was just one assist and a board from recording a triple-double.
The NBA hasn’t seen a prospect with Maker’s dimensions and skills for a very long time – but the NBA also hasn’t seen much of Maker at all.
He could be a terrifying force, a middling role-player or a Bennett-like bust – analysts will pretend to, but no-one really knows yet what Maker will turn it to be.
Whichever way it goes, it will be fascinating to watch.
Chris Vincent
Roar Pro
Yeah that is a great read
Liam Clark
Roar Guru
True, by 2020 the majority of the players will be in their prime. We will also have an indication as whether Simmons will live up to potential or not
Swampy
Guest
Scouting reports aren't great. It sounds as if he has regressed a lot and is quite weak bodied. Needs a lot of gym time. On the upside he appears to be eloquent, smart and keen to work. He'd be a massive risk. A team with multiple first rounders could definitely burn one on him and then stick him in the D League for a couple of seasons. Most reports suggested he would need at least two years in college. You should read Gare Joyce's link to Taj McDavid's story. It's the other side of declaring from HS
B-Rock
Roar Guru
The boomers will probably peak at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, which at that point the core of the team will be in their prime (24-28 in basketball) with Simmons (25), Maker (24), Exum (24), Mills (31), Delly (29) with veterans like joe ingles (32), Aron Baynes (32), etc the future looks bright. Bogut will be gone by then at age 35. Medal chances will depend on Simmons fulfilling his potential and the depth improving further. There was 58 Aussies playing college div 1 basketball this year, with Jonah Bolden, Isaac Humphries, etc all looking like potential solid role players for the national squad.
Liam Clark
Roar Guru
An Olympic team consisting of Ben Simmons, Patty Mills, Thon Maker (if he is eligible), Matthew Dellavedova, Joe Ingles, Andrew Bogut and Dante Exum along with some NBL players will be fascinating to watch and definitely one of the better national teams.
B-Rock
Roar Guru
Most likely will go in the second round, very unlikely to be top 10... while his highlights are impressive, and he has plenty of potential, he has a long way to go before he is ready to play in the NBA. While most players benefit from a year or two in college, im not sure his game would suit college basketball. Going straight to the NBA (or most likely the D-League) would probably be best for him if he lands in the right place.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
There's actualky a third guy they expect to be drafted as well. Saw an article about him but cannot think of his name.
Scott Pryde
Expert
The Boomers are on the up Jake, The players you mention, plus you have to remember Bogut is still going around and there are a few others in the NBA. The NBL was also quality this year and there a stack of players there who can match it - Kevin Lisch I believe declared Australian citizenship as well.
Pat Malone
Guest
Better get in the gym fast, and stay there
Jake
Guest
So Australia could have 2 top 10 players in the NBA draft? With Ben Simmons being the other. Is Maker eligible to play for Australia? We could have the makings of a reasonably competitive team with Dante Exum, Patty Mills, Matthew Dellavedova etc