Thon Maker is at least 23 years old

[bondom34]

I actually work heavily with conspiracy, unexplained phenomenon and the like. I'm usually pretty damn good at spotting doctored evidence like photos. These look legitimate to me and it falls in line with what I already told you about how most teams took him off the draft board because with conviction they believe Maker to be 21-23 years old, not 19. So you're claiming draftexpress is the guru, yet why were most NBA teams ruling him out against their advice? Doesn't add up chief.

Actually what doesn't add up is people claiming a random internet poster would know more about this than both the US government and a bunch of people literally paid to do this.

I'd add that it doesn't say in the yearbook he's in the graduating class. It just has him at the school that year.

If I'm wrong I'm wrong, but going off a reddit post isn't proving something to me.

in australia, yearbook's are only for the graduating class (year 12)

Everywhere? And is there a definitive source that every Aussie yearbook is only for 1 class? Not a single school does otherwise? This is just too shady.

[OkcSinceSGA]

They are pretty much the top draft site on the internet, its not at all like that. But hey, random reddit guy = reliable, OK.

I actually work heavily with conspiracy, unexplained phenomenon and the like. I'm usually pretty damn good at spotting doctored evidence like photos. These look legitimate to me and it falls in line with what I already told you about how most teams took him off the draft board because with conviction they believe Maker to be 21-23 years old, not 19. So you're claiming draftexpress is the guru, yet why were most NBA teams ruling him out against their advice? Doesn't add up chief.

Actually what doesn't add up is people claiming a random internet poster would know more about this than both the US government and a bunch of people literally paid to do this.

I'd add that it doesn't say in the yearbook he's in the graduating class. It just has him at the school that year.

Bro... the US government quite frankly has A LOT slip through the cracks and using them as the standard is a reach. Know how many tax evaders live here? Know how many people lie about unemployment, disability, social security every day and never get caught? You can literally go to an appointment, fake a mild condition and be placed on permanent disability. Not to mention that he was in Africa till 5 supposedly and then Australia till 14 or 15 supposedly (which was actually more like 18) and didn't touch American soil till HS.

This random reddit poster happened to go to the same school or whatnot. That's more believable than this crap story from Maker which doesn't add up at all timeline wise. Also let me ask again. Why did most teams reportedly remove Maker from the board and determine he's 21-23 (reported by Sports Illustrated) if the almighty Draftexpress guru's have him listed as 19 years old?

[CrookedJ]

There may be something to this.... or there may not... One thing is clear though, one of the "classmates" around him on that page is now 23 or 24 years old. Its not a for sure thing that they were all the same age.

Found this story on fellow Sudanese refugee Susan Chuot who is on the same page, she was 20 in 2012 ( or perhaps in 2013 when this was published) making her 23 or 24 now.

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2013/08/09/sudanese-refugee-makes-afl-history


I see that this person's FB profile is in the OP, but I thought something in the news with the same name as the year book was a little more convincing.

[bondom34]

I actually work heavily with conspiracy, unexplained phenomenon and the like. I'm usually pretty damn good at spotting doctored evidence like photos. These look legitimate to me and it falls in line with what I already told you about how most teams took him off the draft board because with conviction they believe Maker to be 21-23 years old, not 19. So you're claiming draftexpress is the guru, yet why were most NBA teams ruling him out against their advice? Doesn't add up chief.

Actually what doesn't add up is people claiming a random internet poster would know more about this than both the US government and a bunch of people literally paid to do this.

I'd add that it doesn't say in the yearbook he's in the graduating class. It just has him at the school that year.

Bro... the US government quite frankly has A LOT slip through the cracks and using them as the standard is a reach. Know how many tax evaders live here? Know how many people lie about unemployment, disability, social security every day and never get caught? You can literally go to an appointment, fake a mild condition and be placed on permanent disability. Not to mention that he was in Africa till 5 supposedly and then Australia till 14 or 15 supposedly (which was actually more like 18) and didn't touch American soil till HS.

This random reddit poster happened to go to the same school or whatnot. That's more believable than this crap story from Maker which doesn't add up at all timeline wise. Also let me ask again. Why did most teams reportedly remove Maker from the board and determine he's 21-23 (reported by Sports Illustrated) if the almighty Draftexpress guru's have him listed as 19 years old?

This random reddit poster claims to have gone to the school. They may not have. And this was faked to multiple governments if this is the case, US and Aussie.

Maybe teams moved him from the board because he wasn't that great a prospect?

[Dr Aki]

Actually what doesn't add up is people claiming a random internet poster would know more about this than both the US government and a bunch of people literally paid to do this.

I'd add that it doesn't say in the yearbook he's in the graduating class. It just has him at the school that year.

If I'm wrong I'm wrong, but going off a reddit post isn't proving something to me.

in australia, yearbooks are only for the graduating class (year 12)

Everywhere? And is there a definitive source that every Aussie yearbook is only for 1 class? Not a single school does otherwise? This is just too shady.

imagine if every year, this particular high school (years 7-12) had a yearbook showing upwards of 700 kids

having one just for the graduating class is common sense

[OkcSinceSGA]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/JakeLFischer/status/745966263525122050[/tweet]

This is a Sports Illustrated writer. Has nothing to do with his play. Specifically says "due to age".

[bondom34]

in australia, yearbook's are only for the graduating class (year 12)

Everywhere? And is there a definitive source that every Aussie yearbook is only for 1 class? Not a single school does otherwise? This is just too shady.

imagine if every year, this particular high school (years 7-12) had a yearbook showing upwards of 700 kids

having one just for the graduating class is common sense

I know high schools that do that.

[shugknight]

18, 19, 23, 28.. It doesn't matter, he was going to be a bust.

[OkcSinceSGA]

Also that Reddit user was kind enough to post a video for those who think it's a photoshopped picture.

https://vid.me/ncxK

[OkcSinceSGA]

If anyone is interested in investigating stuff like this (I'm a research/Google whore lol) look at this article in regards to Ilyasova. http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/ulker-implicated-in-ilyasova-scandal.aspx?pageID=438&n=ulker-implicated-in-ilyasova-scandal-2003-06-13

[OkcSinceSGA]

[eagereyez]

Also that Reddit user was kind enough to post a video for those who think it's a photoshopped picture.

https://vid.me/ncxK

Well that pretty much solves the case. Thon the Con.

[spacemonkey]

Also the people saying "It worked out for so and so alright" are missing the point entirely. These teams are drafting 18 or 19 year old's because they are thinking hey we may get a 15 year player out of this who has a lot of potential to grow. When the real scenario is you may get 8-10 years out of a guy and since he's say 25 he doesn't have much upside, that's a REALLY big deal and should be severely penalized. I would go as far as to giving teams the option to completely void said player's contract if they PROVE beyond a reasonable doubt that the age was faked. If they so choose too they can re-negotiate a much smaller contract too maybe.

I definitely appreciate and agree that draftees should not be lying about their ages no matter what.

However, teams clearly don't go into the draft hoping for 15 year investments outside of the "sure things" and even sometimes not then. Someone drafted 10th is unlikely to stick with a team for their entire career as they become valuable pieces in the trade machine.

With that said, yes, Maker should not have lied because now Milwaukee who thought they were getting a 19 year old who they can shape how they want, are allegedly getting a 23 year old whose prime developmental years are already behind him. He's already hardened, and you can't exactly just fire up the kiln again.

[Dr Aki]

looks like another person has come forward with a 2007 Aranmore photo of a year 9 schoolboy named thon maker

Spoiler:

[RIP Kobe]

could it be possible that it's just another person with the same name in those year books?

[OkcSinceSGA]

looks like another person has come forward with a 2007 Aranmore photo of a year 9 schoolboy named thon maker

Spoiler:

Is that from the same Reddit?

[spacemonkey]

Can anybody in the know say whether or not the Bucks drafted Maker knowing this (or at least suspecting it)?

[GoldenAntlers]

There is a huge thread dedicated to this on the Bucks forum.

[Dr Aki]

looks like another person has come forward with a 2007 Aranmore photo of a year 9 schoolboy named thon maker

Spoiler:

Is that from the same Reddit?

yeah, same thread as the original one i posted, different reddit user to the first 4 photos though

[OkcSinceSGA]

Can anybody in the know say whether or not the Bucks drafted Maker knowing this (or at least suspecting it)?

Considering that he blatantly lied multiple times when asked after and immediately before the draft, I honestly think the Bucks said "F it, we will give him the benefit of the doubt". You'd have to think if the Bucks knew his true age they would come out and say something like "Okay so, we do know he is 22 or 23 years old. That being said, we believe in him and drafted him for his skillset, not his age.". Something basically revealing the truth, but reassuring that they KNOWINGLY made the choice even with the age. Otherwise it's just safer to assume they got conned.