The recruitment of Thon Maker has always been a strange one to say the least.
First of all, Maker could’ve been apart of the 2015 class, but he decided to stay another year at Orangeville Prep in Canada to play with his little brother. Also, it’s common knowledge around recruiting circles that whichever school Maker decided to attend, there would’ve been a chance the NCAA would get involved for violation purposes.
Saying all that to say this, maybe Maker is electing to bolt to the NBA because he knows he would be facing complications from the NCAA.
The schools on Maker’s list were Arizona State, Kansas, Notre Dame, St. John’s and Indiana.
While Maker plans on making the NBA jump, it won’t be as easy as you think.
Jeff Borzello of ESPN broke it down perfectly:
The biggest question concerns Maker’s eligibility to be drafted. NBA rules state that a player must be at least 19 years old and one year removed from high school. Maker turned 19 in February but still attends Orangeville Prep (Canada). Maker’s case for eligibility would come down to convincing the NBA that he was a member of the 2015 class and decided to do a post-graduate year. Maker spent eighth grade at Metairie Park Country Day School (Louisiana), then ninth and 10th grade at Carlisle School (Virginia), before moving to Orangeville Prep for the past two years.
Maker is a 7-foot power forward, who can put the ball on the ground and knock down the outside shot.
His camp is expecting to hear back from the NBA very soon.
