Notre Dame Target Thon Maker Will Declare For 2016 NBA Draft
One of Notre Dame's only two big man targets in the 2016 class now hopes to forego college altogether.
Ontario (Canada) Athlete Institute center Thon Maker will declare for the 2016 NBA Draft, he released on Sunday night via a Bleacher Report video.
Notre Dame, Arizona State, Kansas and UNLV had all been considered contenders for the 7-foot, 210-pound center's services.
The five-star prospect already took an official visit to Kansas over the March 5 weekend, reportedly visited UNLV over the March 19 weekend, and had set visits for Arizona State (April 18 weekend) and Notre Dame (April 25 weekend).
It's unclear at the time of this story if Maker still plans to make those remaining visits, although it'd seem unlikely given his intent to play professionally. One source did not return a contact attempt on Sunday night regarding if Notre Dame was staying involved in the recruitment.
In the earlier stages of his recruitment, Maker attempted to reclassify to the 2015 class, then had to return to the 2016 cycle after the academic workload proved too hefty to finish in time.
After spending two years at Orangeville Prep, now his guardian hopes enough academic work has been completed to go straight to the professional leagues. The NBA requires prospects to be one year out of high school and at least 19 years of age during the calendar year of their respective draft.
Maker still has to receive approval from the NBA to go forward with the process. According to ESPN, Maker turned 19 in February, so the NBA decision pends on if they can convince the league he was a member of the 2015 class, then completed a prep year.
“We believe that Thon has fulfilled the academic requirements to be eligible for the 2016 draft," Edward Smith, Maker's legal guardian, told Bleacher Report. "He will apply for the 2016 NBA Draft and await approval from the NBA.”
CBS Sports NBA Draft analyst Sam Vecenie tweeted Sunday night that, off the top of his head, Maker would project anywhere from No. 17 to No. 20 overall in the upcoming draft.
"We have guys like Deyonta Davis there," Vecenie wrote. "Thon’s even more of a project than Davis, but ceiling is way higher."
Notre Dame is still recruiting Austin (Texas) St. Stephen's Episcopal center Jarrett Allen to round out its 2016 class. The 6-10, 225-pound Allen is ranked as the No. 20 overall player nationally, and officially visited Notre Dame over the Oct. 9 weekend for the Navy football game.
He's also taken official visits to Houston, Kentucky and Kansas, in addition to numerous unofficials to nearby Texas. Allen plans to make a decision in the coming weeks.
The Irish could now also look to the graduate transfer market to bring in an immediate impact big man for next season.