[valentine]

This is not another mix-tape.  

Scouts Honor has been granted exclusive access to the vault of AI Prep – Makers High School. At this point, it is unknown how many others have access to the footage, however scouring the internet results in nothing other than mix-tape type footage and no real full-game analysis. 

Those wanting to see a greater body of Makers work (and not just the highlights) may wish to take a look. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YflrrBzqFzQ

 

What do you think?

[Sewok15Participant]

Every person with the internet has access to the footage if it is on youtube.

[Sewok15Participant]

Every person with the internet has access to the footage if it is on youtube.

[SeattleSuperChronicsParticipant]

 Looks slow

[SeattleSuperChronicsParticipant]

 Looks slow

[Andrew1984Participant]

 I guarantee he gets drafted in the top 14 picks or so, based on shot-blocking alone. 

[Andrew1984Participant]

 I guarantee he gets drafted in the top 14 picks or so, based on shot-blocking alone. 

[Sewok15Participant]

He is so weak inside I can see why teams have reservations about him. He simply cannot finish through any contact in a high school game in which he still had 40 points. The only play I saw him finish through contact was dunking on the little white kid after the steal. He was hitting his jumpshots but still doesn’t appear to be a great shooter but he could develop into a nice stretch 4 on offense.

Defensively it was more of the same he is long and can move pretty well for his size but he is weak. Their guards were not intimidated by him in the least and scored fairly easily when attacking right at his body. He obviously needs to add strength because at this point he is very weak even for a perimeter player in the NBA. He will get eaten alive inside.

That being said you can see potential. I would have liked to see him play in college as I’m sure many scouts also would have. It seems like he was in such a hurry to get drafted even though he is a major project for a reason. If you are a team that can afford to take a flyer on him in the end of the first round it could be worth it…but right now he makes Skal look like Ben Wallace.

[Sewok15Participant]

He is so weak inside I can see why teams have reservations about him. He simply cannot finish through any contact in a high school game in which he still had 40 points. The only play I saw him finish through contact was dunking on the little white kid after the steal. He was hitting his jumpshots but still doesn’t appear to be a great shooter but he could develop into a nice stretch 4 on offense.

Defensively it was more of the same he is long and can move pretty well for his size but he is weak. Their guards were not intimidated by him in the least and scored fairly easily when attacking right at his body. He obviously needs to add strength because at this point he is very weak even for a perimeter player in the NBA. He will get eaten alive inside.

That being said you can see potential. I would have liked to see him play in college as I’m sure many scouts also would have. It seems like he was in such a hurry to get drafted even though he is a major project for a reason. If you are a team that can afford to take a flyer on him in the end of the first round it could be worth it…but right now he makes Skal look like Ben Wallace.

[aidenmcdonald25Participant]

 I’ve watched the following videos that are not mixtapes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsJO8Eue2vI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZhTv3hN21s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZhTv3hN21s

Thon Maker is not weak inside. His footwork needs improvement to match his speed. He is quick like Olajawun or Garnett so his game should not be in the deep post like a Shaq or a Dwight Howard. Anybody with an iota of basketball acumen would understand this. I always hear that teams have reservation on him. That is pure BS. Teams have reservation based on the limited information they have on Maker. As more and more tape comes out, we are starting to see a player with:

1. A high basketball IQ (look at the reads he has in these videos)

2. An endless motor 

3. High level athleticism for his size which will allow him to guard multiple positions on the floor and multiple defensive schemes. His athleticism will also allow him to be a terror in a motion type offense and tremendous in your early offense.

4. A player who’s shooting stroke is fluid and has potential to be a floor spacer at 7 feet.

5. A player who is playing HS ball so defensively he cannot use his bar arm to ward off offensive attacks so he is exposing his chest to hits which limits his explosiveness. That’s why you see NBA players holding off defenders with an arm bar on contact. In these videos he has two hands up like all hs and college kids.

6.  A player who forces the issue at times because he wat probably the main option on his team and had to force shots. Sometimes "my miss is better than your miss" comes into play. Westbrook use to be like this earlier in his career and he has improved.

7. A player who moves unlike any other 7 footer I have seen. 

Maker will get stronger in the league but I’m sure teams are not stuck on the big bulk thing as those days have passed. The game is changing right before your eyes and some of you are still stuck on stu…

Look how scrawny Steph Curry is for a guard when he came into the league. He got better with hard work. From all accounts we’ve heard is that Maker is a hard worker, a humble kid, an intelligent young man, and a great teammate.

He will not slip past 16 in this draft!

[Sewok15Participant]

Steph Curry was kind of weak coming into the league but he was still a better finisher around the rim than Maker and he is almost a foot shorter.

I do see potential in Thon because his length and athleticism but he is not some sort of next level athlete. If you go back and watch Jonathan Bender high school games I would imagine they look similar to Thon’s games. He isn’t anywhere near ready to contribute in the NBA in my mind.

[Sewok15Participant]

Steph Curry was kind of weak coming into the league but he was still a better finisher around the rim than Maker and he is almost a foot shorter.

I do see potential in Thon because his length and athleticism but he is not some sort of next level athlete. If you go back and watch Jonathan Bender high school games I would imagine they look similar to Thon’s games. He isn’t anywhere near ready to contribute in the NBA in my mind.

[aidenmcdonald25Participant]

 I’ve watched the following videos that are not mixtapes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsJO8Eue2vI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZhTv3hN21s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZhTv3hN21s

Thon Maker is not weak inside. His footwork needs improvement to match his speed. He is quick like Olajawun or Garnett so his game should not be in the deep post like a Shaq or a Dwight Howard. Anybody with an iota of basketball acumen would understand this. I always hear that teams have reservation on him. That is pure BS. Teams have reservation based on the limited information they have on Maker. As more and more tape comes out, we are starting to see a player with:

1. A high basketball IQ (look at the reads he has in these videos)

2. An endless motor 

3. High level athleticism for his size which will allow him to guard multiple positions on the floor and multiple defensive schemes. His athleticism will also allow him to be a terror in a motion type offense and tremendous in your early offense.

4. A player who’s shooting stroke is fluid and has potential to be a floor spacer at 7 feet.

5. A player who is playing HS ball so defensively he cannot use his bar arm to ward off offensive attacks so he is exposing his chest to hits which limits his explosiveness. That’s why you see NBA players holding off defenders with an arm bar on contact. In these videos he has two hands up like all hs and college kids.

6.  A player who forces the issue at times because he wat probably the main option on his team and had to force shots. Sometimes "my miss is better than your miss" comes into play. Westbrook use to be like this earlier in his career and he has improved.

7. A player who moves unlike any other 7 footer I have seen. 

Maker will get stronger in the league but I’m sure teams are not stuck on the big bulk thing as those days have passed. The game is changing right before your eyes and some of you are still stuck on stu…

Look how scrawny Steph Curry is for a guard when he came into the league. He got better with hard work. From all accounts we’ve heard is that Maker is a hard worker, a humble kid, an intelligent young man, and a great teammate.

He will not slip past 16 in this draft!

[natevalParticipant]

I’m starting to lean towards the Celtics taking him at 3. He has as high as an upside as anyone I really think in 5 or 6 years GM’s everywhere willl be kicking themselves. What’s his floor? He’s a young athletic 7 footer with a high motor who has range from 3. Maker has potential to be a top player in this draft, Celtics need a superstar. Im rolling the dice and going with the unconventional unpopular pick. 

[natevalParticipant]

I’m starting to lean towards the Celtics taking him at 3. He has as high as an upside as anyone I really think in 5 or 6 years GM’s everywhere willl be kicking themselves. What’s his floor? He’s a young athletic 7 footer with a high motor who has range from 3. Maker has potential to be a top player in this draft, Celtics need a superstar. Im rolling the dice and going with the unconventional unpopular pick. 

[nill650Participant]

 too many other quality bigs in the lottery for any team to take him in the top 10 imo.

with bender,poetl, davis,sabonis,chriss,elenson all in the mix for the lottery

Maybe he will go to the bucks at 10 because they like taking huge risks…but thats only if all of these other bigs are gone and even then they would take skal most likely. 

Maybe higher than 19 if some teams don’t see any other prospects that kill help them with as much potential, but I am guessing 19 to Denver is his ceiling and most likely going from 28 to the suns and no lower than the lakers 2nd pick at 32.

[nill650Participant]

 too many other quality bigs in the lottery for any team to take him in the top 10 imo.

with bender,poetl, davis,sabonis,chriss,elenson all in the mix for the lottery

Maybe he will go to the bucks at 10 because they like taking huge risks…but thats only if all of these other bigs are gone and even then they would take skal most likely. 

Maybe higher than 19 if some teams don’t see any other prospects that kill help them with as much potential, but I am guessing 19 to Denver is his ceiling and most likely going from 28 to the suns and no lower than the lakers 2nd pick at 32.

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