NBA clears way for Thon Maker to enter draft

Video: Thon Maker highlights
Now that the tantalizing 7-footer is eligible to be drafted, where will he go?

Thon Maker will bypass college and be eligible for this year's NBA Draft, according to a report Thursday by Chad Ford of ESPN.

Maker, a 7-foot forward pegged as the No. 10 prospect in the 2016 class by 247Sports, was born in Sudan and raised in Australia. He attended both Metairie Park Country Day (Metairie, La.) and The Carlisle School (Martinsville, Va.) before heading north for the Athlete Institute in Canada.

Unusually skilled for a 7-footer, Maker earned a spot on the 2013-14 MaxPreps Sophomore All-American while at Carlisle, averaging 21.3 points, 13.3 rebounds and 4.2 blocked shots per game.

Because he is 19 and spent the last year in the program as a post-graduate, the NBA ruled he met the criteria for draft eligibility.

NBADraft.net's latest mock has Maker going late in the first round.

247Sports Director of Basketball Scouting Jerry Meyer wrote Thursday that he expects Maker's stock to rise in the coming months once the league gets a complete look at his skill set.