Thon Maker declares for the NBA.

Que?

And if your referring Thon and his handlers being dirty and a program taking him would be a major risk, you're correct

He'll be out of the NBA before he turns 25

It became pretty obvious he would never play in college, but I figured he would go overseas for a year.

How can he be eligible for the draft? How does he think he can get around the one and done rule? And can anyone summarize what's happened in the recruiting process? I've seen his highlights but I know nothing otherwise

They have to prove that he was part of the class of 2015 and did a prep year this year.

Technically that's allowed. For example, Jayson Tatum could not go to Duke this year and just lift weights at IMG for a year and go to the draft. However, Tatum will have a high school diploma in a month. Maker's situation isn't as clear cut from what I understand.

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He'll be out of the NBA before he turns 25

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I almost always expect this from kids that have such a hot mess of a process.

I will say this -- the picture of him from the article, he looks like he's put on some muscle. He needed to. He used to look like he was Shaq tall with Muggsy Bogues weight.

Not that it means he'll be a success. But at least he's putting in work. I'll remain skeptical until we see something.

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Rule states you have to be 19 & 1 year removed from graduating. He's already 19 but has to convince league he's eligible.

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From the link:

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NBA rules require players to be 19 years old and a year removed from high school. While Maker turned 19 in February, he attends Orangeville Prep in Canada. Essentially, the NBA has to buy the premise Maker was part of the 2015 class and did a post-graduate year for him to be eligible for the draft.

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Maker has been at Orangeville Prep the past two years after attending Metairie Park Country Day School in Louisiana for eighth grade and Carlisle School in Virginia for ninth and 10th grade.

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So was in 10th grade and then spent two years in Ontario (11th and 12th grade); yet has to be 1 year removed from high school?

And the plot thickens:
Thon Maker to remain in the Class of 2016 (june 18, 2015)

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Thon Maker made it official on Thursday night as he announced that he will not be enrolling in college until the 2016-17 season. There had been speculation that the top five prospect would graduate from Orangeville Prep (Canada) in December, in time to enroll in college for the second semester of next season.

Now that’s off the table.

“I’m definitely going to stay and play [the year] out,” said Maker, who is the No. 9 player in the Class of 2015, according to Rivals. “I’ll take my visits and play a year with my brother. I’m definitely going to stay in [the Class of] 2016.”

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He will be an international player...different rules

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From 2011 (and current) NBA CBA

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Article X 219
(c) For purposes of this Article X, an “international player” is a player:(i) who has maintained a permanent residence outside of the United States for at least the three (3) years prior to the Draft, while participating in the game of basketball as an amateur or as a professional outside of the United States; (ii) who has never previously enrolled in a college or university in the United States; and (iii) who did not complete high school in the United States.

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It still doesn't look like he fulfilled the requirements; namely the residency requirements of being classified as an "international player."

A cursory wikipedia search seems to show that he enrolled in school in Canada around September 5th 2014 which I assume would be near the start of his "permanent residence." Therefore, it has been less than 2 years and he can't be an international player.

But that's just my reading of the situation.

Yeah, he's a great kid and his handler has given him a bad name. He left country day during thanksgiving break without telling anyone. His handler had been shopping him around, trying to get himself some more money. Thomas has had very little say in anything in his life over the past 5 years.