Seven-footer KU recruit wows crowd at Sunrise showcase (+video)
Thon Maker’s weekend trip to Kansas has been a success, according to the 7-foot center who is one of the most sought-after basketball recruits in the Class of 2016.
It started Friday night when Maker and his academy team, Athlete Institute, hailing from Ontario, sat behind the KU bench for the Jayhawks’ 109-72 season-opening victory over Northern Colorado.
And it continued Saturday afternoon when Maker scored 20 points and eight rebounds before fouling out in a 90-85 loss to Advanced Prep International at North High, in part of the Tornado Alley Showcase hosted by Sunrise Academy.
“It’s been great,” Maker said. “We had fun last night watching the game and the drive here to Wichita was good, also. It was pretty cool yesterday at the game. It was packed out. It always looks better when it’s packed out.”
Maker is believed to be a sure-fire NBA talent with his lanky 7-foot frame and guard skills, which makes him one of the top prospects yet to commit for next season.
He recently released a list of six schools that had made his final cut, KU included. Saturday, Bill Self and top assistant Kurtis Townsend were in attendance along the baseline during Maker’s game.
Maker certainly felt the love from KU in the past 24 hours, with all the attention showed to him and the student section chanting his name during the game on Friday night.
“It makes me feel comfortable,” Maker said. “If you’re to play in front of fans and they’re showing you love like that, you’ve got to play your heart out for them.”
Maker emphasized how his recruitment is still wide open and he wants to finish his recruiting visits before making a final decision.
Until then, attention will follow him wherever he goes. That’s something that Athlete Institute coach Brandon Lesovsky and his team is already used to after Maker arrived earlier this year to the academy.
“He’s going to be somebody that everybody is always gravitating to because he just has that infectious personality,” Lesovsky said. “He’s great to be around and he’s just a fantastic kid.”
Teammates back up that assessment.
Quinton Gray, who was the team’s point guard last season, thought the team would have to adjust to Maker and his high-profile recruitment. That was never the case.
“He’s just a great guy and he’s like a brother to me,” Gray said. “I treat him like I do all of my other teammates. He’s there as a friend and is a great teammate. He’s going to do great things.”
Maker spent several minutes signing autographs and interacting with children, never fazed as one after another came to ask him for his signature or a picture. That ability to handle the attention is what impresses his coaches and teammates the most.
“He just flashes that big smile,” Lesovsky said. “I don’t think it’s something that overwhelms any of us, which I think could happen pretty easily if you had a different kid other than Thon and how he handles it.”
Maker was one of several high-profile recruits to play at North on Saturday, which drew a sizable crowd that ranged from recruiting junkies to aspiring youths to everyday basketball fans.
The second day’s session on Sunday will be held at Hartman Arena in Park City with three games, the first at 10 a.m. Admission is $10.
“I was a little shocked,” Sunrise coach Luke Barnwell said. “I thought it was pretty packed, so hopefully this is something we can make an annual thing. We hope people really enjoyed this.”
One person who enjoyed himself was Maker, who nodded and smiled at Self and Townsend when he exited the court.
“It’s pretty good,” said Maker, speaking on his relationship with KU. “It was just reassurance that they’re still around and I’m still around. We’re still in it.”
This story was originally published November 14, 2015 at 8:16 PM with the headline "Seven-footer KU recruit wows crowd at Sunrise showcase (+video)."