Thon Maker, from Orangeville Prep-Athlete Institute, participates in the NBA draft basketball combine Friday, May 13, 2016, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
The 19-year-old has come a long way since being introduced to the game of basketball not too long ago.
“I don’t care. They can use that or as many different terms as they want. I’m just going to be a player and a great person at the same time. I’ll just be myself.”
SALT LAKE CITY — Until he was about 14 years old, Thon Maker had never played basketball.
Originally from Sudan, the 19-year-old relocated to Australia as a war refugee as a young child and then exclusively played soccer until 2010 when he became interested in hoops after a growth spurt and watching the NBA on TV.