Defense
Maker’s incredible height and quickness delivers as much of an impact on his defense as it does with his scoring ability. While his impressive perimeter game and crisp ball-handling skills are what put him over-the-top as an NBA prospect, his defense will likely be more of a surefire translation to the pro level.
True, he has the enviable advantage of towering over the majority of his peers, but he’s put his reputation to the test several times before, battling two fellow seven-foot prospects, DeAndre Ayton and Raekwon Long. While these still aren’t professional or even college level players, they serve as a useful comparison by which to assess Maker’s relative dominance.
There’s not a whole lot of film on Maker defensively, but according to those who were lucky enough to witness the showdowns first hand, Maker was dominant. Jeff Borzello explains in detail how the Sudanese prospect was able to shut down Ayton on both ends:
Official stats had Thon Maker with 23 points (seems low, to be honest) and 17 rebounds, DeAndre Ayton with seven points and six boards.
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) July 9, 2015
Defensively, the foundation is there — good bounce, elite length, and quick feet — but it remains to be seen how his IQ will translate to the team-oriented NBA defensive schemes. He’s still just high-schooler though, and true defensive mastery is something that comes only through professional experience, even for the most mature one-and-done college players.
Next: Mentality