Aussie phenom Makur Maker’s gamble blows up in his face

Aussie physical marvel Makur Maker’s “game-changing” experiment has already cost him $5 million in 2021 NBA Draft predictions.

Makur Maker shows off his 2.31m wingspan. Photo: Howard University Athletics.

Aussie Makur Maker’s historic gamble to play his one-and-done college season with Howard University is off to a disastrous start.

The 20-year-old cousin of Cleveland NBA star Thon Maker rolled the dice in becoming the first five-star high school recruit to play for a Historically Black University (HBCU) since ESPN’s records began in 2007, earlier this year.

It was called a “game-changer” by NBA commentators — but, so far, his move has done nothing to enhance the prospect of top players choosing to play with a HBCU.

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Maker, a 7-foot, 2.31m wingspan potential star is out “indefinitely” with a groin injury, while his team has stumbled to a 0-3 start to the season.

He is now facing the prospect of being put in cotton wool before the 2021 NBA Draft to protect himself from further injury.

Makur Maker was 2.11m tall as an 18-year-old.

It is a bad enough start that commentators have already made up their minds that his gamble has been a failure.

Playing in a team completely removed from the college basketball spotlight — and a team certain to miss out on the NCAA March Madness Tournament — Maker is out of sight and out of mind with potential recruiters.

Maker, a forecast first round draft pick, has had a lot to lose.

He remains the No. 16 ranked recruit for the 2021 NBA Draft, according to ESPN’s Top 100 NBA Draft rankings.

He was the No. 10 ranked prospect for college basketball recruiters in 2019 after an impressive career at California’s Orange Lutheran High School.

His forecast slide down the pecking order following his move to Howard is worth more than $5 million in the NBA Draft First-Round Rookie Salary Projections, according to Forbes.

Some mock-draft predictions have even predicted Maker could slide to the end of the first round.

He missed out on being plucked in the first round at this year’s draft, being eligible as a 19-year-old at the time.

Makur Maker suiting up for Howard.

He was forced to withdraw his nomination for the draft after it became clear he was not going in the first round.

Maker grew up in Perth, having moved there with his family at the age of one from South Sudan, and his guardian believes unlike Thon, he could actually make it in the NBA as a primary ball handler.

Maker also got to work out with cousin Thon in the off-season so he can get a taste of what it’s like to train at the elite level and what is required as he looks at a future that includes not only the NBA but also the Boomers.