Thon Maker is at least 23 years old

[Dr Aki]

From reddit Reddit Part II

i've placed the images behind spoiler tags cos they fill the screen

Spoiler:

video to prove these images weren't shopped

additional update on the corner of the page to prove all the kids on the page are ALL year 12 students, to stop debate over whether all the students are of different ages enrolled in an age-agnostic english program

Spoiler:

you can pause the video (above) at 0:11 to see the folded corner

2009, thon is in year 11 (age 16-17)

Spoiler:

year 10 photo

Spoiler:

another user claims to have graduated from Aranmore in 2007, shows thon maker was in year 9 (age 14-15), even shows the girl directly to his left (in the 2010 yearbook) in the front row

Spoiler:

Rough timeline of his journey from Perth schoolboy to NBA lottery pick
200x-2010
Thon Maker is enrolled in Aranmore Catholic College, a high school in Perth. He was part of the 2010 graduating class.

2010-2011
During this time he was discovered by Edmund Smith (should actually be Edward Smith, poster made a mistake), an extremely shady talent scout who worked mainly with Sudanese kids and had a reputation for being controlling. He saw Thon’s size, athleticism and potential but also knew it would never work with him being 18 already and still so raw and skinny.

2011
In early 2011, Thon Maker resurfaced as a 14 year old prodigy in Sydney where he joined the local club, St George Saints, an U/16 Division 2 squad. He didn’t attend school at this time and just played basketball, away from anyone who had previously known him and was a way to build credibility around his age. I suspect his age was somehow changed in the transition from Perth to Sydney.

Late 2011-2012
He had gone to camps in the US by this time and the highlight reels of the amazing “8th grader” had started to emerge.

2012-2015
Maker began 8th grade in the 2011-2012 season. Afterwards he was bounced around various schools, at least 3 in the US and a couple as well in Canada.

2016
Edmund Smith’s plan had succeeded and this was the first of his projects to get him a cut of NBA salary.
After hearing John Hammond’s responses on the radio I suspect he knew or suspected Thon was older, he just didn’t care. He connected personally with Thon and was willing to invest in his strong intangibles and it was an age range he could work with. Only time will tell if he made the right move. Obviously, being a raw 21-23 year old is completely different from being raw at 19.

TLDR: Thon Maker graduated high school in 2010 in Australia and 6 years later was drafted fresh out of high school. There is strong evidence to suggest Thon Maker could be as old as 23
Discussion is encouraged, happy for others to point out the flaws in this
edit: bonus anecdotal evidence found on the web, some from years back which support these claims

more anecdotal evidence:

Spoiler:

more anecdotal evidence of thon and his guardian Ed Smith being discussed on australian bball forums from 4 years ago (got these one from the bucks forum)

http://www.hoops.com.au/forum/30052-standout-thon-maker-withdraws-from-school/

http://www.hoops.com.au/forum/30058-thon-maker-quits-one-school-moves-to-another/

more anecdotal evidence from people who remember thon and his brother matur (got this one from the bucks forum as well)

Spoiler:

here's a FB of someone in that school graduation book who's 23 yo

Spoiler:

susan chuot's open facebook

[The Moose]

Good ole Thon Faker

[Daddy 801]

From reddit

i've placed the images behind spoiler tags cos they fill the screen

Spoiler:

video to prove these images weren't shopped

Rough timeline of his journey from Perth schoolboy to NBA lottery pick
200x-2010
Thon Maker is enrolled in Aranmore Catholic College, a high school in Perth. He was part of the 2010 graduating class.

2010-2011
During this time he was discovered by Edmund Smith (should actually be Edward Smith, poster made a mistake), an extremely shady talent scout who worked mainly with Sudanese kids and had a reputation for being controlling. He saw Thon’s size, athleticism and potential but also knew it would never work with him being 18 already and still so raw and skinny.

2011
In early 2011, Thon Maker resurfaced as a 14 year old prodigy in Sydney where he joined the local club, St George Saints, an U/16 Division 2 squad. He didn’t attend school at this time and just played basketball, away from anyone who had previously known him and was a way to build credibility around his age. I suspect his age was somehow changed in the transition from Perth to Sydney.

Late 2011-2012
He had gone to camps in the US by this time and the highlight reels of the amazing “8th grader” had started to emerge.

2012-2015
Maker began 8th grade in the 2011-2012 season. Afterwards he was bounced around various schools, at least 3 in the US and a couple as well in Canada.

2016
Edmund Smith’s plan had succeeded and this was the first of his projects to get him a cut of NBA salary.
After hearing John Hammond’s responses on the radio I suspect he knew or suspected Thon was older, he just didn’t care. He connected personally with Thon and was willing to invest in his strong intangibles and it was an age range he could work with. Only time will tell if he made the right move. Obviously, being a raw 21-23 year old is completely different from being raw at 19.

TLDR: Thon Maker graduated high school in 2010 in Australia and 6 years later was drafted fresh out of high school. There is strong evidence to suggest Thon Maker could be as old as 23
Discussion is encouraged, happy for others to point out the flaws in this
edit: bonus anecdotal evidence found on the web, some from years back which support these claims

more anecdotal evidence:

Spoiler:

Thing Shaker better pay that scout because whatever he did just worked.

[Goudelock]

The NBA (Offseason): Where discovering that your prized rookie has been faking his age happens!

[airaaron32]

Unless the Bucks scouts knew or had a strong suspicion already, someone needs to get fired.

[Masterfully]

So you're telling me he's the same age as Biyombo?!

[The_Ghost_of_JB]

I think I actually read about this before the draft. 23 years old is a little old for a project though.

[Devilzsidewalk]

I'm fine with re-doing the draft just to be fair to the Bucks. Draft night is my favorite night of the year - the more the merrier.

[OkcSinceSGA]

He's 23 going on 24. That's a big failure on the Bucks part for drafting him so high. Maybe they figured that this draft was weak as hell anyway, so why not take a 7'1 kid with length who could at least block some shots? They are length whores after all with their players (which isn't a bad thing really).

[XPeak]

First thing I always noticed about him is how cool his name is. It was almost unbelievable.

Now, seems like everything around him is unbelievable, even his age and true skillset.

Hope that if this is true, all those who allegedly cheat their age get really punished by the league. There are also people around them (like scouts, managers) that seem to organize these hoaxs.

[OkcSinceSGA]

Lol what's funny is just a couple days ago in an interview the lying scumbag straight up said...


Maker denied any impropriety regarding his age.

"It did get to me in terms of me hearing about it, but it didn't get to me personally because if it were true, I'd probably be like sideways about it, but it's not true, so I'm comfortable," he told The Boston Globe. "I'm not angry or anything. I've got to learn what I can say and what I can't say now."

[Von Bismarck]

It's been well known for a few years now that he's at least 3 years older than he says he is. I expected he'd be drafted in late second or stay undrafted. It was complete shock to me when the Bucks chose him.

Let's see how's that gonna work out, haha.

[Devilzsidewalk]

They need to start radiocarbon dating prospects at the draft combine. It's not perfect, but usually accurate to within about a year.

[Slava]

Worked out pretty well for Ibaka. Maker should be in his prime in a couple of years anyways, bucks can probably find a sucker to take him off their hands once they have to pay him more than rookie salary.

Weird thing is when they drafted Yi there were stories he falsified his age too.

[LofJ]

At least there's actual evidence for Maker being older than he says he is. With Ibaka and Biyombo I've yet to see any proof; it annoys me when people speak of them being older as if it was a fact.

[jpengland]

Jonathan Givony @DraftExpress
I first saw Thon Maker in 2012 in LA. His physical progression from then to now has been very similar to what you'd expect from age 15 to 19
Follow
Jonathan Givony @DraftExpress
Check his DX measurements: http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Thon-Maker-70462/ …. In 2013, he was 191 pounds. Around 216-220 now. Would be surprised if he's much older.

[13th Man]

Random Reddit user = more resourceful than the entire youth basketball system and Milwaukee Bucks organization. I mean how hard is it to dig up published info on the kid, way to perform your due diligence

[Hindenburg]

It is one thing to just lie about your age to NBA (plenty of players do it).

But it is completely different matter to go to Grade 8 and do 5-6 years of high school all over again just to scam your way into the league. That's huge, how can you trust this guy after something like that? Tells me he is not right in his head. If these reports are true I hope Silver bans this scumbag and his agent.

[OkcSinceSGA]

Worked out pretty well for Ibaka. Maker should be in his prime in a couple of years anyways, bucks can probably find a sucker to take him off their hands once they have to pay him more than rookie salary.

Weird thing is when they drafted Yi there were stories he falsified his age too.

Honestly you bring up a good point. I've heard some people who've dug up on Ibaka estimate his age more like 30-33 which as shocking as it sounds... may be legit. He's had a steady decline across the board the last 4 years and I have zero doubt in my mind he's older than 26 he is listed as.

Ersan Ilyasova is proven to be an estimated 32 years old also, which TBH is far more probable. Dude has a really old man's game and looks like a vet who's aged a lot when he's listed as 28. Then you have Biyombo who somebody showed apparently was more like 26-27 right now, not 23.

[bondom34]

Ah reddit, the reliable source for personal and confidential information on NBA players.