Australian teenager Thon Maker to enter NBA draft

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For the first time in history, two Australians are set to go in the first round of the NBA draft, with teenage giant Thon Maker receiving the green light to make the jump.

The 19-year-old, 216-centimetre athletic centre/forward will join fellow Australian Ben Simmons - widely tipped to be snapped up within the first two picks - in June's draft.

Australian teenager Thon Maker is set to enter the NBA draft.

Australian teenager Thon Maker is set to enter the NBA draft. Photo: Getty Images

Maker will have to prove his standing at workouts with NBA teams and a combine in May, but various draft analysts have him pencilled in at around the 20th pick.

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Maker, who was born in Sudan and moved to Perth with his family as a young child, could shake up the current system and tradition of elite young basketball players being forced to play at least one year of US college before entering the NBA.

In 2012 he moved to the US and attended the elite Carlisle School in Virginia, but in 2015 he made a surprise move to Canada's Athlete Institute for his final year of high school.

To skip a year of US college, Maker had to convince the NBA he graduated from the Canadian school last year.

Simmons' one year at Louisiana State University has shown that a college stint could damage a player's draft prospects.

With LSU putting together a disappointing season in which they missed the NCAA tournament, deficiencies in Simmons' outside shooting and leadership skills were exposed, leading some analysts to elevate Duke forward Brandon Ingram as their No.1 pick.

Maker's height, ball skills and shooting have been praised, but NBA scouts reportedly have questioned his strength around the basket which he would need as an NBA big man.

AAP