As expected, Thon Maker, the 7-footer from Orangeville Prep in Ontario, will reclass to 2015 and would then be eligible for the 2016 NBA Draft.
Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress.com immediately installed Maker as the projected No. 10 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft.
Maker Tweeted: “I’m on track to graduate this year but a lot of hard work ahead this summer! No shortcuts on this road to success. #built4this”
Ed Smith, Maker’s guardian, previously told SNY.tv that if Maker does reclass, he would definitely visit Kentucky and Kansas, and possibly other schools as well.
Smith also indicated he would sit down with the NCAA to make sure that Maker is likely to pass through the NCAA Clearinghouse. If not, he would consider following Emmanuel Mudiay’s path and potentially playing in China or Europe.
Meantime, Smith said playing for the Australian U19 team this summer at the World Championship in Crete is out.
“Unfortunately not,” Smith said. “Our school year ends June 23 in Canada. We have not made one practice in Australia yet due to his academic workload and our national schedule [at Orangeville Prep].”
FIBA.com quoted Australian National Team coach Adam Caporn as saying he was targeting the top Australian players in North America, including Maker, LSU-bound Ben Simmons, 2016 big man Isaac Humphries of La Lumiere (IN) and UCLA forward Jonah Bolden.
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