Thon Maker coming to Wichita!

[RoyalShock]

But not like you think

[shoxlax]

Yep this has been in the works for awhile. Nike or Adidas could really take it up a few levels. Last I checked Hartman Arena was being looked at.

[another shocker]

[QUOTE=RoyalShock;591563][URL="http://www.kansas.com/sports/college/wichita

well, i watched the mcdonalds all-american game in wichita, so this is just like what i think it should be.

[1979Shocker]

So what are the odds, with all of the players that could be coming in, that some stop by the university?

[WSUwatcher]

I'm sure they'd be welcome to make an unofficial visit, don't you think, 1979?

[shockmonster]

It maybe would depend on the status of the relationship of the Prep coach with Coach Kyle or another Shocker coach.

[ShockerNut2305]

Figured I would drag this one back up since he is petitioning the NBA to skip his year of college and go to the draft this year. Thoughts of any?

[Stickboy46]

Figured I would drag this one back up since he is petitioning the NBA to skip his year of college and go to the draft this year. Thoughts of any?

Not surprising, and they should let him. If he doesn't want to go to college, no point in forcing him. Don't need another "Ben Simmons"

[Dan]

College would expose Thon Maker - his "advisors" are doing the right thing.

[Art Bunch]

Then he can go the Mudiay route and play somewhere else for a year. Or spend a year just working out and getting ready. Not sure why a year-long virtual vacation could be perceived as a negative thing.

[pogo]

Maybe his advisors/handlers are tapped out and need the infusion of cash money.

[WSUwatcher]

I think they've come up with a perfectly good rationale: he's doing his year after "high school" -- after the end of 12th grade, that is -- now. The idea that a year of "college life" is going to make a greater difference for a kid like Maker (or Ben Simmons, for that matter) than a year of post-grad prep school would make just doesn't ring true to me. If this doesn't work for him, he'll probably just go pro overseas the way Emmanuel Mudiay did and then come back when it's NBA time.

What's kind of sad is watching big name programs -- and sometimes big name coaches (ahem, Coach Rug) -- try to prostitute themselves by desperately recruiting a guy who hasn't the slightest interest in college except as an admission ticket to the NBA draft. I'd like to see the whole charade end and players be eligible immediately after high school. Some will make bad decisions, but that's true now too, and the NBA's idea of allowing players to declare for the draft but then pull back is far more constructive than requiring a year of "college," in my view.

[pogo]

So what is the rationale between basketball and baseball in that a kid can play baseball right out of high school. Is it the farm system in baseball vs not nearly the system in the NBA

[RoyalShock]

So what is the rationale between basketball and baseball in that a kid can play baseball right out of high school. Is it the farm system in baseball vs not nearly the system in the NBA

I think that's exactly it. With baseball, the structure is in place to get a talented young player and shape his development for several years before expecting a contribution at the top level. The NBA likes immediate results, or at least contributions within a year or two. Disclaimer: I know little about the NBA.

[shocktheheart]

Drafted #10 by the Bucks