[OhCanada-Participant]

 Does anyone have new information clarifying Thon Makers mysterious eligibility and recruitment. It seems hard to believe he will be academically eligible after playing highschool ball in three countries which could be insight as too why he failed to perform in the showcases All American and Hoop Summit and even went 2-13 in the Bio Steel All Canadian showcase. Sounds like there is a lot hanging over the kids head. A move internationally doesn’t seem like a good idea for him. 

Does he go pro which is something he denied he would do at the Hoop Summit?

Does he go to a prep school or finish at Orangeville Prep?

Or does he go to college and risk being deemed academically ineligible?

 

 

 

[omphalosParticipant]

As an Australian, I was pretty excited about Maker when he came onto the scene a couple of years ago, he was a legit 7 footer with fluidity and huge upside.

However, he hasn’t really developed into his frame yet, he’s determined to be a perimeter guy and spends his time working on a handle that really won’t be that useful as a PF/C and just doesn’t seem to have any great discernible trait outside of his size.

If he went pro he’d be out of the league fast and would have to pull a Whiteside.

He’s not a Joel Embiid where it’s obvious what he’ll be able to do once he’s healthy so people will wait on him.

There are serious questions about whether he has a position in the NBA in the near future.

I think he should go to a school that’s going to feed him the ball a lot in college and he should commit to spending at least two years there right off the bat so his body can mature at the very least.

Georgetown would be ideal with their history of giving their big guys opportunities to develop an offensive game, both in the distant past and more recently with Greg Monroe.

But it’s hard to see Maker picking a school like Georgetown, he’s almost definitely going to try for a Kentucky-level school.

I will say that UNC would be a great fit for him.

Roy Williams loves playing through his big guys and he could help Maker build his body in the same way Zeller, and to a lesser extent Henson did.

I think he stays another year in high school in Canada which apparently has a really good training facility which will allow him to develop his body a bit more.

He desperately needs a stronger lower body and core to hold position a bit better.

I’m still hoping he’ll be a valuable contributor to the Australian national team alongside Exum and Simmons, but I don’t think he’ll be a #1 pick level talent like he was hyped to be.

The upside of that is that he’ll probably actually play for Australia knowing he won’t get on team USA.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[omphalosParticipant]

As an Australian, I was pretty excited about Maker when he came onto the scene a couple of years ago, he was a legit 7 footer with fluidity and huge upside.

However, he hasn’t really developed into his frame yet, he’s determined to be a perimeter guy and spends his time working on a handle that really won’t be that useful as a PF/C and just doesn’t seem to have any great discernible trait outside of his size.

If he went pro he’d be out of the league fast and would have to pull a Whiteside.

He’s not a Joel Embiid where it’s obvious what he’ll be able to do once he’s healthy so people will wait on him.

There are serious questions about whether he has a position in the NBA in the near future.

I think he should go to a school that’s going to feed him the ball a lot in college and he should commit to spending at least two years there right off the bat so his body can mature at the very least.

Georgetown would be ideal with their history of giving their big guys opportunities to develop an offensive game, both in the distant past and more recently with Greg Monroe.

But it’s hard to see Maker picking a school like Georgetown, he’s almost definitely going to try for a Kentucky-level school.

I will say that UNC would be a great fit for him.

Roy Williams loves playing through his big guys and he could help Maker build his body in the same way Zeller, and to a lesser extent Henson did.

I think he stays another year in high school in Canada which apparently has a really good training facility which will allow him to develop his body a bit more.

He desperately needs a stronger lower body and core to hold position a bit better.

I’m still hoping he’ll be a valuable contributor to the Australian national team alongside Exum and Simmons, but I don’t think he’ll be a #1 pick level talent like he was hyped to be.

The upside of that is that he’ll probably actually play for Australia knowing he won’t get on team USA.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[sweaterflexParticipant]

An ESPN insider article hinted that he would most likely only be eligible for the second semester if he tried. They made it soumd like he is most likely to stay an extra year at Orangeville with his brother Matur.  I doubt he would go pro, raw big men are not as in demand internationally (Jeremy Tyler for example).  On the bright side he did weigh more than Skal and Nerlens at the combine so there is hope he’ll continue to put on weight. 

[sweaterflexParticipant]

An ESPN insider article hinted that he would most likely only be eligible for the second semester if he tried. They made it soumd like he is most likely to stay an extra year at Orangeville with his brother Matur.  I doubt he would go pro, raw big men are not as in demand internationally (Jeremy Tyler for example).  On the bright side he did weigh more than Skal and Nerlens at the combine so there is hope he’ll continue to put on weight. 

[MopgrassParticipant]

 I’m ignoring all the anti-Thon noise. I think he’s s special player even if he got out-muscled in the World Classic. He’s as hard a worker as anyone in the class and I don’t bet against hard workers… especially when the they’re exceptionally smart. That combination along with his skills and size make him a lethal future player. 

Yes, he has a weak core…. today, but he’s added tons of muscle in the last two years. I expect that to continue. If there’s a problem, this kid can zero in on it. I don’t think he will, but he’s the only guy who could plausibly go above Simmons (though, again, I’m pretty sure no one will). 

[OhCanada-Participant]

I really like what I saw from that Skal Labissierre kid and Brandon Ingram. Jaylen Browns shot didn’t fall during the all-star games but it has been improving fast. You can’t make a definite statement saying Maker is the only guy who can be better then Simmons this early in the classes development.

I think Simmons is a sure thing to have a huge impact in the NBA. Labissierre has the most upside. Maker has the most intriguing skill set. But my favourite player in the class is Diamond Stone and I think he will shock a lot of people next year in Maryland.

 

[ncballer]

I have a huge man crush on Skal.  The guy is lethal from everywhere on the floor and is going to challenge Simmons for the number 1 pick.  I think Brown gets by a lot with athleticism and strength, something that might hinder his transition to college (think Stanley Johnson).  Simmons is going to take college basketball by storm.  

I think that when it is all said and done that Skal, Simmons and Ingram (being bold and biased from NC) will be the best players from this class.  Ingram’s development has been phenomenal this past year and there are rumblings of him ending up being in the top 5.  6’10", 7’4" wingspan, with his ball skills, shot and work ethic don’t come around often.  I don’t think he will take college basketball by storm due to the physicality, but when he puts on muscle….we have a future superstar on our hands.  I am praying that my guy is right about him in regards to going to UNC.

Maker impressed me in his head to head matchup with Harry Giles in the HSOT.  I do understand that he does not have an ideal frame that looks easy to put muscle on, but I think he could be a very high level starter.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ncballer]

I have a huge man crush on Skal.  The guy is lethal from everywhere on the floor and is going to challenge Simmons for the number 1 pick.  I think Brown gets by a lot with athleticism and strength, something that might hinder his transition to college (think Stanley Johnson).  Simmons is going to take college basketball by storm.  

I think that when it is all said and done that Skal, Simmons and Ingram (being bold and biased from NC) will be the best players from this class.  Ingram’s development has been phenomenal this past year and there are rumblings of him ending up being in the top 5.  6’10", 7’4" wingspan, with his ball skills, shot and work ethic don’t come around often.  I don’t think he will take college basketball by storm due to the physicality, but when he puts on muscle….we have a future superstar on our hands.  I am praying that my guy is right about him in regards to going to UNC.

Maker impressed me in his head to head matchup with Harry Giles in the HSOT.  I do understand that he does not have an ideal frame that looks easy to put muscle on, but I think he could be a very high level starter.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[OhCanada-Participant]

I really like what I saw from that Skal Labissierre kid and Brandon Ingram. Jaylen Browns shot didn’t fall during the all-star games but it has been improving fast. You can’t make a definite statement saying Maker is the only guy who can be better then Simmons this early in the classes development.

I think Simmons is a sure thing to have a huge impact in the NBA. Labissierre has the most upside. Maker has the most intriguing skill set. But my favourite player in the class is Diamond Stone and I think he will shock a lot of people next year in Maryland.

 

[MopgrassParticipant]

 I’m ignoring all the anti-Thon noise. I think he’s s special player even if he got out-muscled in the World Classic. He’s as hard a worker as anyone in the class and I don’t bet against hard workers… especially when the they’re exceptionally smart. That combination along with his skills and size make him a lethal future player. 

Yes, he has a weak core…. today, but he’s added tons of muscle in the last two years. I expect that to continue. If there’s a problem, this kid can zero in on it. I don’t think he will, but he’s the only guy who could plausibly go above Simmons (though, again, I’m pretty sure no one will). 

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