THON MAKER: 8th Grader DOMINATES in 3rd Game of Nike EYBL!!!

THON MAKER: 2012 Nike EYBL

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Written by: Prospect-Central

There are many things eighth graders normally don't do. For starters, eighth graders normally don't play on basketball teams made up of seventeen-year-old's.  If by chance there is a young baller gifted enough to play up in competition, they certainly aren't a focal point of the game plan.  Then again, there aren't many 7-foot eighth graders named Thon Maker!!!

In his third game for the 17U Jackson Tigers, Thon Maker put on a performance, that in my opinion has to be one of the more memorable in recent AAU basketball history.  The eighth grader led the Tigers in scoring, rebounds & blocks, while helping them to a three-point victory over a decent team in Athletes First (Oklahoma). The seven-footer finished the game with 19 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists & 5 blocks and even nailed two 3-pointers.  In an event like the Nike EYBL, those are some pretty impressive numbers...and for an eighth grader...there're down right ridiculous.

Thon Maker is not the only young phenom playing for the 17U Jackson Tigers.  The #1 player in the class of 2015 Malik Newman is one of the best players on the team and in his first game for the Tigers dropped 26 points in only 14 minutes of action...WOW!!!  As far as Thon is concerned, he's averaging 16 points, 8 rebounds & 3 blocks in his first three games of the third session of the Nike EYBL.  He's also shooting 50% from behind the arch.  With his length, mobility, ball handling and range on his jumper, Thon Maker reminds me of a combination of Manute Bol, Kevin Garnett & Kevin Durant...if that's even possible.

When Prospect-Central first featured Thon Maker back in July of 2011, he was virtually an unknown player.  It wasn't until an article from Yahoo Sports five months later when his name really started to blow up.  Even after Yahoo Sports featured Thon however, there were those that still wondered if he was just a tall kid playing against inferior competition.  It appears now that Thon Maker is indeed the real deal...and over the next four years...should have a number of high school baller's meeting their Maker!!! * Below are stats from the 2012 Nike EYBL of Thon Maker and the 17U Jackson Tigers followed by a recap video of the 3rd session of the Nike EYBL and 3 videos of Thon.
3rd Session 2012 Nike EYBL Statistics: Jackson Tigers vs Southern Stampede / Jackson Tigers Vs. Baltimore Elite / Jackson Tigers vs. Athletes First / Jackson Tigers vs. Indy Spiece / Jackson Tigers vs. Team Takeover

THON MAKER: The Shaker...The Faker...The Last Second Shot Maker!!!

Thon Maker: Class of 2016

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Written by: Prospect-Central

You got to be kidding me….right???  Did he really just do that???  How old is he again???  These are all question you might ask yourself after watching Thon Maker play basketball.  I sure had to ask myself these questions after I saw young Thon play for the first time.  If you love basketball, it’s hard not to get excited over the future potential this young man possesses.

Standing 6’11’’ is one thing.  Standing 6’11’’ and going into the 8^th grade is something entirely different.  That’s right,  Thon Maker is nearly 7 feet tall and only 14 years old!!!  Now I know what you are thinking.  Can he play basketball???  One word….One syllable…YES!!!  Time and time again you see a player with great height and excellent length, but can’t play a lick of ball.  This is definitely not the case with Thon Maker.  As the expression goes, “He’s got the skills to pay the bills.”  Let’s not forget, he also has 5 years to hone these impressive skills before he even steps foot onto a college campus.

Thon Maker is a 14 year old Sudanese native who currently resides in Earlwood, Australia.  If he lived in the United States he would be in the high school graduating class of 2016.  In May, he was 1 of only 100 players from 26 states and 3 countries to be invited to the prestigious John Lucas International Middle School Combine.  He played with some of the best 8th & 9th graders in the world and he not only held his own, he left the camp as the best future prospect out of all of them.  At least this was the opinion from the coaches and staff that attended the camp. 

Besides his incredible physical attributes, what impressed coaches the most about this fourteen year old was his incredible ball handling abilities, soft touch around the rim, nice stroke and overall high energy level he displayed throughout the camp.  He showed everyone in attendance that he was not just another tall kid; he was in fact a very skilled basketball player.  Thon also showed a great demeanor throughout the camp.  Something that will be duly noted by all scouts and coaches in attendance.    

I know it is quite early in the basketball career of Thon Maker, but it is hard not to speculate on the type of player this fourteen year old can become.  He has the size and skill not normally seen in someone his age as well as a work ethic and humbleness needed to take his game to new heights. Even though Thon does not live in the United States, he is still a name to definitely keep track of from the class of 2016.  I don’t know what the future holds for Thon Maker, but I can assure you I will be watching anxiously to see how it plays out.
                                                                                                                                                
*Thon Maker has moved to the United States and officially enrolled at Metairie Park Country Day School in Metairie, Louisiana.  He will play his AAU basketball with reigning 13U National Champions Dunk Dog Elite (formally LA Select) and current #1 player in the Class of 2016 Khalea Turner.  As the saying goes..."The RICH get RICHER!!!"