Matur Maker makes his mark
By: Jonathan Givony
Thon Maker's brother, Matur Maker, had an outstanding weekend at Adidas Nations, leading Asia Pacific to the championship game where the team lost to Zion Williamson and a host of elite high school recruits. The South Sudan native, by way of Australia, averaged 26 points in 28 minutes per game through six contests, getting to the free throw line 14 times per game.
A year or two older than most of the high school players he matched up against, Maker's aggressiveness and hunger for scoring stood out in this setting. He was utilized frequently in isolation situations against opposing big men, changing speeds powerfully, getting low with his dribble and showing some real wiggle with the ball. Maker attacks the rim ferociously at every opportunity, not being afraid of contact. While not a high-flyer, he's quick off his feet and likes to throw his body around. He made some nice plays passing on the move, even if he also had some wild moments throwing the ball around carelessly, as his feel for the game is still a work in progress.
Standing 6-10, with a 7-2 wingspan, Maker has good size and length for a power forward, but has only added three pounds to his lanky 195-pound frame since April 2015, according to official measurements. His thin lower body is a concern projecting forward to the pro game, as he is very upright in his stance defensively and gets knocked off balance easily. We had the same concerns about his brother, though, and Thon has been able to overcome that quite nicely, having a strong rookie season in the NBA.
Besides his frame and defense, the biggest key to Maker's outlook might be the development of his outside shot. He hit just 5 of the 21 3-pointers he attempted in Houston, sporting a slow and low release with just average touch. However, he has always been a good shooter from the free throw line, so it's possible that he can continue to develop this part of his game.
Graduating high school this winter in Canada right before he turns 20 years old, Maker will apply for an NCAA waiver and attempt to take the college route, according to his guardian, Ed Smith. Should that not materialize, due to complications with his eligibility, one option could be to head to Serbia to play for prospect factory Mega Leks, with an eye toward entering the 2019 NBA draft. Maker has been training intensely with his brother, giving him access to an NBA coaching staff. That should speed up his growth considerably.
Makur Maker -- the youngest player on the Asia Pacific team -- also had a strong weekend, averaging 19 points and 13 rebounds per 40 minutes in 18 minutes per game. At 16 years old, Makur has a projectable frame that should fill out in time, with a more developed upper and lower body than his cousins, Thon and Matur, showed at the same age.
Makur has an intriguing skill level, capable of making face-up jumpers with a nice-looking stroke while handling the ball and finding the open man in transition. He does a nice job of covering ground defensively as well, especially on the pick-and-roll, where he can hedge out well past the 3-point line and recover in time to make a play at the rim. Makur is still working on improving his awareness-level and feel for the game, as he tends to play outside his comfort zone at times and can be a step-slow to react defensively.
Makur will play at GTA Prep in Toronto next year, according to his guardian, Smith, and is on the NCAA track, currently slated to graduate high school in 2020 after reclassifying.
Latin American clinic
One of the highlights of the weekend was watching the Latin America squad come together as a team and notch three wins over elite U.S. and Canadian prospects, finishing in third place.
Composed of players aged 17-19 from Brazil, Argentina, Panama, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay and Puerto Rico -- and coached by former NCAA assistant Walter Roese -- the Latin America team played organized, disciplined and fundamentally sound basketball, putting on a clinic for the younger North Americans on the importance of sharing the ball, competing hard on defense, boxing out and other small details that make a difference at the highest levels.
The addition of such a diverse team is one of the things that makes Nations an essential event for NBA teams to scout. It would cost tens of thousands of dollars and be extremely time-consuming for scouts to travel all around South America watching these prospects, and the fact that they compete against the best U.S. high school players makes for an excellent evaluation setting. It also forces the Americans to operate at their highest intensity after a long summer of AAU basketball, as these international players come hungry to show themselves and don't take possessions off.
Yago Dos Santos, a 5-9 point guard fresh off winning rookie of the year honors in Brazil, was perhaps the most entertaining player at the camp. A jet with the ball, he punished lazy U.S. big man defenders with pull-up 3-pointers for not stepping out on the pick-and-roll, and also did a great job of finding the open man in drive-and-dish situations. He also hit a ridiculous 27 of 58 3-pointers in just six games in Houston, some of which came from NBA range.
His primary target for passes was chiseled Brazilian big man (of Nigerian descent) Michael Uchendu, who gave highly touted 2019 recruit Charles Bassey (also Nigerian) fits on the offensive glass by simply playing harder and being more physical. Uchendu averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds per game in six contests in Houston, although the fact that he was a year or two older and significantly more mature physically certainly contributed to that.
A third Brazilian, Gabriel Galvanini (who goes by Jau), was the team's Swiss Army knife, making timely 3s, finding the open man, guarding multiple positions, throwing his mature frame around in the paint, and rebounding at an excellent clip. If he can consistently guard perimeter players and develop a more reliable jump shot, he could emerge as an NBA prospect down the road thanks to his strong feel for the game.
Jonathan Salazar, a 6-5 bulldog of a combo forward from Panama who goes to high school in California, guarded everyone from point guards to big men, rebounded ferociously and made plays in the open floor using his athleticism and toughness. He will likely see his recruitment skyrocket after the way he shut down highly touted U.S. prospects at this event.
NBA Global Academy begins to reap fruit
One of the most ambitious ventures undertaken by the NBA in recent years is the Global Academies initiative. The NBA is actively scouting and recruiting elite-level talent around the world to join their six academies in China, India and Senegal, with the goal of giving emerging prospects a pathway to high-level education and professional basketball. The NBA Global Academy is headquartered in Canberra, Australia, at the renowned BA Centre of Excellence, where a handful of prospects from South America, Asia, India and Africa spent much of 2017.
Arguably their most promising talent at the moment is a big man from Cameroon, Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua, who only started playing basketball in 2015. We first watched Tchamwa Tchatchoua in February at the NBA Basketball Without Borders Global Camp in New Orleans during All-Star Weekend. We were amazed to see the progress he made in just six months, as he completely reconstructed his shooting mechanics (making 3-pointers impressively in warmups and even one in-game), and showed better hands and much softer touch around the basket.
He mentioned that the goal at the NBA Academy is to take at least 4,000 shots per week, of which he tries to make at least 2,500. That hasn't translated fully to game settings yet, as his production was up and down at the event -- not entirely surprising considering he has barely played in any organized 5-on-5 contests in his short basketball career
JTT, as he's affectionately called, impressed nevertheless with his tremendous physical tools. He has a 7-2½ wingspan, tree trunks for legs and impressive athleticism, being quick off his feet, a menace running the floor in transition and powerful with his finishes thanks to his 38-inch vertical leap. He sets bruising screens, showed the ability to switch onto guards, contains big men in the post with his strength and is a monster on the glass. Best of all, his intangibles appear to be off the charts, as he immediately established himself as the team's translator, leader and hardest worker, asking the many coaches in attendance for extra instruction and the chance to get shots up before and after practices.
Graduating high school in December 2018 in Australia, JTT told us after a game that he's planning on going to college in 2019 (possibly in January), and his improved grades and English may even land him a scholarship with an elite-level academic school. He appears to be the perfect case study for the NBA Global Academy and its future.
By: Jonathan Givony
Thon Maker's brother, Matur Maker, had an outstanding weekend at Adidas Nations, leading Asia Pacific to the championship game where the team lost to Zion Williamson and a host of elite high school recruits. The South Sudan native, by way of Australia, averaged 26 points in 28 minutes per game through six contests, getting to the free throw line 14 times per game.
A year or two older than most of the high school players he matched up against, Maker's aggressiveness and hunger for scoring stood out in this setting. He was utilized frequently in isolation situations against opposing big men, changing speeds powerfully, getting low with his dribble and showing some real wiggle with the ball. Maker attacks the rim ferociously at every opportunity, not being afraid of contact. While not a high-flyer, he's quick off his feet and likes to throw his body around. He made some nice plays passing on the move, even if he also had some wild moments throwing the ball around carelessly, as his feel for the game is still a work in progress.
Standing 6-10, with a 7-2 wingspan, Maker has good size and length for a power forward, but has only added three pounds to his lanky 195-pound frame since April 2015, according to official measurements. His thin lower body is a concern projecting forward to the pro game, as he is very upright in his stance defensively and gets knocked off balance easily. We had the same concerns about his brother, though, and Thon has been able to overcome that quite nicely, having a strong rookie season in the NBA.
Besides his frame and defense, the biggest key to Maker's outlook might be the development of his outside shot. He hit just 5 of the 21 3-pointers he attempted in Houston, sporting a slow and low release with just average touch. However, he has always been a good shooter from the free throw line, so it's possible that he can continue to develop this part of his game.
Graduating high school this winter in Canada right before he turns 20 years old, Maker will apply for an NCAA waiver and attempt to take the college route, according to his guardian, Ed Smith. Should that not materialize, due to complications with his eligibility, one option could be to head to Serbia to play for prospect factory Mega Leks, with an eye toward entering the 2019 NBA draft. Maker has been training intensely with his brother, giving him access to an NBA coaching staff. That should speed up his growth considerably.
Makur Maker -- the youngest player on the Asia Pacific team -- also had a strong weekend, averaging 19 points and 13 rebounds per 40 minutes in 18 minutes per game. At 16 years old, Makur has a projectable frame that should fill out in time, with a more developed upper and lower body than his cousins, Thon and Matur, showed at the same age.
Makur has an intriguing skill level, capable of making face-up jumpers with a nice-looking stroke while handling the ball and finding the open man in transition. He does a nice job of covering ground defensively as well, especially on the pick-and-roll, where he can hedge out well past the 3-point line and recover in time to make a play at the rim. Makur is still working on improving his awareness-level and feel for the game, as he tends to play outside his comfort zone at times and can be a step-slow to react defensively.
Makur will play at GTA Prep in Toronto next year, according to his guardian, Smith, and is on the NCAA track, currently slated to graduate high school in 2020 after reclassifying.
Latin American clinic
One of the highlights of the weekend was watching the Latin America squad come together as a team and notch three wins over elite U.S. and Canadian prospects, finishing in third place.
Composed of players aged 17-19 from Brazil, Argentina, Panama, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay and Puerto Rico -- and coached by former NCAA assistant Walter Roese -- the Latin America team played organized, disciplined and fundamentally sound basketball, putting on a clinic for the younger North Americans on the importance of sharing the ball, competing hard on defense, boxing out and other small details that make a difference at the highest levels.
The addition of such a diverse team is one of the things that makes Nations an essential event for NBA teams to scout. It would cost tens of thousands of dollars and be extremely time-consuming for scouts to travel all around South America watching these prospects, and the fact that they compete against the best U.S. high school players makes for an excellent evaluation setting. It also forces the Americans to operate at their highest intensity after a long summer of AAU basketball, as these international players come hungry to show themselves and don't take possessions off.
Yago Dos Santos, a 5-9 point guard fresh off winning rookie of the year honors in Brazil, was perhaps the most entertaining player at the camp. A jet with the ball, he punished lazy U.S. big man defenders with pull-up 3-pointers for not stepping out on the pick-and-roll, and also did a great job of finding the open man in drive-and-dish situations. He also hit a ridiculous 27 of 58 3-pointers in just six games in Houston, some of which came from NBA range.
His primary target for passes was chiseled Brazilian big man (of Nigerian descent) Michael Uchendu, who gave highly touted 2019 recruit Charles Bassey (also Nigerian) fits on the offensive glass by simply playing harder and being more physical. Uchendu averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds per game in six contests in Houston, although the fact that he was a year or two older and significantly more mature physically certainly contributed to that.
A third Brazilian, Gabriel Galvanini (who goes by Jau), was the team's Swiss Army knife, making timely 3s, finding the open man, guarding multiple positions, throwing his mature frame around in the paint, and rebounding at an excellent clip. If he can consistently guard perimeter players and develop a more reliable jump shot, he could emerge as an NBA prospect down the road thanks to his strong feel for the game.
Jonathan Salazar, a 6-5 bulldog of a combo forward from Panama who goes to high school in California, guarded everyone from point guards to big men, rebounded ferociously and made plays in the open floor using his athleticism and toughness. He will likely see his recruitment skyrocket after the way he shut down highly touted U.S. prospects at this event.
NBA Global Academy begins to reap fruit
One of the most ambitious ventures undertaken by the NBA in recent years is the Global Academies initiative. The NBA is actively scouting and recruiting elite-level talent around the world to join their six academies in China, India and Senegal, with the goal of giving emerging prospects a pathway to high-level education and professional basketball. The NBA Global Academy is headquartered in Canberra, Australia, at the renowned BA Centre of Excellence, where a handful of prospects from South America, Asia, India and Africa spent much of 2017.
Arguably their most promising talent at the moment is a big man from Cameroon, Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua, who only started playing basketball in 2015. We first watched Tchamwa Tchatchoua in February at the NBA Basketball Without Borders Global Camp in New Orleans during All-Star Weekend. We were amazed to see the progress he made in just six months, as he completely reconstructed his shooting mechanics (making 3-pointers impressively in warmups and even one in-game), and showed better hands and much softer touch around the basket.
He mentioned that the goal at the NBA Academy is to take at least 4,000 shots per week, of which he tries to make at least 2,500. That hasn't translated fully to game settings yet, as his production was up and down at the event -- not entirely surprising considering he has barely played in any organized 5-on-5 contests in his short basketball career
JTT, as he's affectionately called, impressed nevertheless with his tremendous physical tools. He has a 7-2½ wingspan, tree trunks for legs and impressive athleticism, being quick off his feet, a menace running the floor in transition and powerful with his finishes thanks to his 38-inch vertical leap. He sets bruising screens, showed the ability to switch onto guards, contains big men in the post with his strength and is a monster on the glass. Best of all, his intangibles appear to be off the charts, as he immediately established himself as the team's translator, leader and hardest worker, asking the many coaches in attendance for extra instruction and the chance to get shots up before and after practices.
Graduating high school in December 2018 in Australia, JTT told us after a game that he's planning on going to college in 2019 (possibly in January), and his improved grades and English may even land him a scholarship with an elite-level academic school. He appears to be the perfect case study for the NBA Global Academy and its future.
