When the mysterious Australian basketball prodigy Thon Maker declared his intent to enter the 2016 NBA Draft, two things stood in his way.
One of those hurdles has been overcome.
The NBA have reportedly approved his application, clearing the way for the 19-year-old to potentially enter the league.
MEET THE MYSTERIOUS AUSTRALIAN BASKETBALL PRODIGY, THON MAKER, WHO’S ABOUT TO SHAKE UP THE NBA DRAFT
It was never a sure thing that Maker would be allowed into the draft, as he only finished high school last year, and hadn’t completed a year of college.
The NBA rules stipulate that if you haven’t completed a year of college (as the majority of players have), you must be 19-years-of-age and graduated one full year ago.
Having finished at Orangeville District Secondary School in Canada this time last year, Maker only barely met the requirements, and the NBA did have the option of knocking him back.
He’s certainly taken an unorthodox route to the NBA, fleeing Sudan as a child and relocating to Australia, then spending his teens jumping between high schools in America’s south before finishing up his education in Canada.
The second hurdle that stands in his way is that he is very much an unknown quantity.
His high school mixtapes are breathtaking – a 7’1″ power forward with exceptional ball-handling skills.
But he is untested against bigger bodies and it would be a big risk for teams looking to take him high up in the draft.
Projections have him going anywhere from the top 5 to the second or third round, so it will be fascinating to see what happens come June 23.
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