Anonymous
Years ago
According to Ausbball, Lemanis will meet with Maker about playing for the Under 17 Australian team in August.
How can this be though? Doesn't Under 17 mean that you have to be 16 years old or younger to be eligible to play?
Maker is already 17 (turned 17 in February)
MACDUB
Years ago
No. Its generally under 17 as at last years FIBA qualifying series.
Same thing goes for under 19.
Age is determined when Ocenia qualifying occurs - which is always in the preceding year.
You will find a lot of people will be 17 at the WC in August.
Bugger. I was hoping this Junior tournament would allow Isaac Humphries to dominate and get World recognition for his age group. I guess with Maker in there, it will give Humphries very little court time :(
Are you serious? Lemanis is going to meet with him to try and convince him to play for the Under 17's in August.
Read here: http://zagsblog.com/articles/thon-maker-top-prospect-in-2016-to-meet-with-australian-national-team-coach/
You need to get your facts right.
He is 17 years old. What makes you think otherwise?
Steven
Years ago
Under 17s is misleading they should call it under 18s because all players born in 1997 are eligible. Forgetting the countless Maker threads for a moment it would be a handy frontline of Maker, Humphries and Froling amongst others, add Jock Perry and we have some serious potential.
Is Maker better than Humphries at this point in time?
I honestly don't think Maker is better than Humphries. Hype on Maker is ridiculous.. Humphries would dominate him on the low block, not even an argument
Melbourne Boy
Years ago
C'mon now, Humphries is legit but his strength is his length advantage in the block against everyone his own age, he doesn't have that adventage vs Thon.
Going the other way, Thon Maker is a 7 foot point forward! There's a reason espn has him a clear #1.
Maker would be 190lbs max! Going up against someone who's a good 30-40lbs heavier, he doesn't stand a chance.
And I read somewhere that maker shoots below 40%, for a 7 footer that's pretty terrible. I'd still go with Humphries, more skilled imo
But really can't compare Maker and Humphries.. same position but different games. Both would be useful on the U17 team. They'd actually compliment each other really well on the U17 team. An inside-out game with those 2 would be unstoppable at Worlds
KingJames
Years ago
If Maker is better then Humphries it isn't by that much.
Humphries more skilled than Maker? lol
Thon Maker is what he is because of his ridiculous skill set at his height and length.
Steven
Years ago
Thon Maker with the ability to play all three frontcourt positions. Imagine a twin towers pairing of Maker and Humphries not a bad thought.
still both so young and room to keep growing:
17y.o 2/25/97 Thon maker 7'1", 205 pounds, 7'2" wingspan.
16y.o 1/5/98 Issac Humphries 7', 230+ pounds?, 7'+ wingspan?.
2 highly skilled, possibly 7'1"+ big men.
future front court looking good...
GWB
Years ago
I am glad to read this.... very smart move. Get Thon in the national program... NOW... they don't call him 2016's best prospect for no reason.
GWB
Years ago
I am glad to read his handler is supportive of it.... this is very good... Australia could become a VERY scary team in 16-20
To think that the U17 team could start Maker (Power Forward) and Humphries (Centre) and have back ups in Froling and Perry as well as interchange these players you would have to be high on there chance for Gold.
that's not counting any of;
Vasiljevic
Akintola
Wilson
William McDowell-White
Clark
Noi
Anonymous
Years ago
Perry and Froling, in my opinion, are sorely over rated. Nevertheless that is a good lineup
Willie McDowelll-White and his brother Daryl are not going to play any longer, as per another thread the news coming from QLD, apparently.
Aussiebballer
Years ago
If he plays does that lock him in to Australia for the Senior national team?
Ie he would have to play for Australia at the WC and Olympics, unless we release him.
Still too much speculation and hype, all of them are young and not yet tested. Wait until under 17 worlds to see how they go there and then when they complete school, at least.
Mick
Years ago
Getting back to the original post and Ariel 90 kind of touched on it, I think it raises a fair question whether birth dates of kids from some backgrounds can be reliably known. I've seen how islander kids smash the local boys in rugby in age groups up to U16 and even beyond and it does cause a lot of kids to drop out and parents to question legitimacy of islander kids that shave and come to game with P plates on ! Having said that these Maker kids are no doubt the real and will succeed regardless. I assume Cher Maker still at school (Scots) is his older brother ? Seen him play a few times, would have picked him for 19-20??
@Mick, the OP doesn't appear to have brought up the race issue, you and some others may have done so, perhaps we all need to look beyond the colour of a player's skin mate?
Op was asking about the under 17 classification, as stated in preceeding posts it is more like 17 and under than under 17 for the worlds.
Best we forget the issue of how mature some kids look and accept that if they are there and can play, eventually the age thing and maturity will even itself out.
Ceres 43
Years ago
Yeah, FIBA rules are U17 means 17 and under, which is different to our local rules.
What did the white Australian parent say to the other white Australian parent?
"Hey this black kid is really good, he must be a lot older then my kid."
The argument with Thon Maker's age is identical to the Islander argument in Junior Rugby League...
Steven
Years ago
Would also like to see him play for Australia. Could form a formidable frontcourt with Simmons, Bairstow, Humphries etc
Melbourne Boy
Years ago
Except islanders generally have birth certificates and hit puberty early, they don't come to Australia, sit a test and get a DOB given to them.
of course when you have 2 years to register your birth it is easy to manipulate
Steven
Years ago
Are we going to see alot of dumb comments in regards to his age, wouldn't blame him if he didn't want to play for aust.
Ariel 90
Years ago
I'm not saying this this kid/adult should get respect for his game, he can flat out play. And i would place in the same category as Simmons and Exum. Its just when a kid who was supposedly 16 at the time can drive on a full licence and take half of the NSW metro kids to games at the Australian Junior Championships it has to raise suspicions in most peoples minds?.
^Are you seriously saying that you have observed this or are you trolling?
Continued hate for the Sudanese Australian guys, and you call yourselves basketball fans? More like racial fans! Humphries is of Welsh origin and Maker of Sudanese origin, get over it. I would rather have both of these guys in the team moving forward. The Boomers are looking very strong for years to come.
No doubting Thon Maker's age. If he didn't have a birth certificate he would have been given a date of birth of 1st Jan or 1st of July depending what part of the year they were born. When accessed as a refugee he can't be given any other date of birth unless he had a birth certificate. Case closed!
Isaac
Years ago
If Maker is good and representing Australia, why would anyone get too upset about age advantages that suit us?
Can I RT Isaac's post in a forum.
Have you guys seen this boy? He looks really young to me. Complete baby face.
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