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Could 2016’s top recruit make a move into the Class of 2015?

Thon Maker

Kelly Kline/adidas

Kelly Kline

While a number of recruiting dominoes have fallen in the Class of 2015, 11 of the top 20 players in Rivals.com’s rankings remain uncommitted. For many players who make the decision to wait until the spring to commit/sign with a program, factors such as player and coaching departures have a significant impact on their thought process. What is also a factor is who else is headed to the school(s) they’re considering, with some looking to have the best shot at a national title and others wanting as many minutes as they can get.

With this in mind the status of five-star 2016 big man Thon Maker is something to track. During the spring and summer there were questions as to whether Maker would remain in the 2016 class or reclassify into 2015. Now at Orangeville Prep in Canada, Maker’s playing at the Marshall County Hoopfest in Paducah, Kentucky this weekend.

And in a story written by Steve Jones of the Louisville Courier-Journal Ed Smith, Maker’s legal guardian, discussed the possibility of Maker moving into the Class of 2015.

“I think that [reclassifying] would probably be best in terms of that for him,” Smith said. “He’s developing well. His body is getting better, and he’s ready to make the next step.”

Smith said Maker is taking classes necessary to give himself a chance to reclassify, and Maker will have a clearer picture of where he stands at the end of Orangeville’s academic term in late January or early February.

“We’re pushing, we’re pushing hard and working hard at it,” Smith said.

Of course there’s also the “NBA” factor to consider in a move such as this, with a move into the 2015 class also meaning that Maker would have to wait one less year to enter the draft. But the first item of business for Maker is to take care of the academics, and based upon his guardian’s comments it sounds as if they’re going to work towards getting it done.

Maker’s already considered to be one of the best (if not the best) prep players regardless of class, so a move into 2015 would undoubtedly impact the recruiting boards of some of the nation’s top programs. Duke, Kansas, Kentucky and Louisville are among the many programs who have offered Maker.

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