Thon Maker won’t be at the Nike Hoop Summit, but a ton of NBA scouts will.
A USA Basketball spokesman told SNY.tv that 145 NBA scouts had been credentialed for the event as of Monday.
Ironically, the 7-foot Maker won’t participate in the event after having originally been on the World roster. He announced his plans to enter the NBA Draft — pending league approval — and will work out instead of participating in the Hoop Summit. Arizona-bound forward Lauri Markkanen also withdrew, while Kansas-bound big man Udoka Azubuike was added as a replacement, his guardian confirmed to SNY.tv.
The game will be broadcast live on ESPN2 at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday from the Moda Center in Portland,
Headlining the U.S. roster are three-time USA Basketball gold medalists Terrance Ferguson (Advanced Prep International/Dallas, Texas), Josh Jackson (Justin-Siena H.S./Prolific Prep Academy, Calif./Southfield, Mich.) and Jayson Tatum (Chaminade College Prep/St. Louis, Mo.), who have won FIBA U17 and U19 world championships and are 19-0 together in major international competitions.
They are joined by: Jarrett Allen (Saint Stephen’s Episcopal H.S./Austin, Texas), Marques Bolden (De Soto H.S./Dallas, Texas), De’Aaron Fox (Cypress Lakes H.S./Katy, Texas), Markelle Fultz (DeMatha Catholic H.S./Upper Marlboro, Md.), Wenyen Gabriel (Wilbraham and Monson/Manchester, N.H.); Jonathan Isaac (IMG Academy/Naples, Fla.), Frank Jackson (Lone Peak H.S./Alpine, Utah), Joshua Langford (Madison Academy/Huntsville, Ala.) and Payton Pritchard (West Linn H.S./West Linn, Ore.).
The ESPN 100 for the class of 2016 lists Tatum second, Josh Jackson third, Fox seventh, Fultz 10th, Frank Jackson 11th, Isaac 12th, Ferguson 13th, Langford 14th, Gabriel 15th, Allen 19th, Bolden 20th and Pritchard 52nd.
Fox and Gabriel have signed a National Letter of Intent with the University of Kentucky; Fultz signed with the University of Washington; Isaac signed with Florida State University; Langford signed with Michigan State University; Pritchard signed at the University of Oregon; and Frank Jackson and Tatum signed with Duke University. Allen, Bolden, Ferguson and Josh Jackson remain uncommitted.
The 2016 World Select Team features ESPN’s top-ranked player for the class of 2017, DeAndre Ayton (Hillcrest Academy, Ariz./Bahamas), and four players who have committed to U.S. colleges. Andres Feliz (West Oaks Academy, Fla./Dominican Republic) signed a National Letter of Intent with the University of South Florida, Justin Jackson (Hill Academy/Canada) signed with UNLV, and Harry Froling (Australian Institute of Sports/Australia) verbally committed to Southern Methodist University for the 2017-18 NCAA season.
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