SPRINGFIELD — Thon Maker made his first trip to Springfield on Sunday as he and the rest of the Ontario-based Orangeville Prep took on Life Center Academy at Blake Arena during the Spalding Hoophall Classic.
After a slow start to the game, Maker posted 21 points and seven rebounds in the second half alone. Despite the late push, Orangeville Prep fell to Life Center 64-50 with a plethora of college coaches, including Kentucky's John Calipari, on hand.
Maker, the No. 2 player in the Class of 2016, spoke with MassLive after the game about the chance to play at the Hoophall Classic and the possibility of reclassifying to the Class of 2015.
MassLive: Did you get a chance to stop by the Hall of Fame while you were in Springfield?
Thon Maker: No, we were in a hurry. We came in real late last night at 2 a.m. from New York. We had a game there, so we really haven't gotten a chance to go out anywhere.
MassLive: You've had a pretty busy stretch of games the past few weeks (trips to California, Kentucky, D.C., New York). What have the past couple of weeks been like as you've gotten into the midway point of your season?
Thon Maker: It's just getting too busy. We don't have time to get back in the gym and get better, we're just moving place-to-place and playing and we haven't really settled down.
MassLive: What does it mean to the team to get a chance to play at the Hoophall Classic?
Thon Maker: Right here was a big excitement. We needed a win out of here, but unfortunately that didn't happen for us. It's the birthplace of basketball, so a lot of guys were really excited and plus we're from Canada.
MassLive: Several college coaches were watching today's game. What is it like knowing that they were all here to watch you play?
Thon Maker: Each of the guys on our team holds at least a Division I offer, it really shows how much we really have taken attention from the whole nation. The guys are really putting in their work and it attracts a lot of attention and it keeps the guys happy, and their parents are happy too because as soon as their son gets a scholarship, they know they don't have to worry about that part of it.
MassLive: This is your first season with Orangeville Prep, how has the transition gone so far?
Thon Maker: It had a nice start, a nice start, but right now we're trying to work back onto really utilizing our stars and using them properly and it's a little different, but we're starting to get a feel for each other.
MassLive: You finished today's game with all but two of your points coming in the second half. What was the difference in that second frame?
Thon Maker: In the first half, the ball didn't move much. We had three assists in the first half as a team, and we weren't really rebounding. They were out-toughing us so we had to pick that up in the second half, had to be a little more vocal and get involved with the ball. Had to move the ball, had to find a way to move the ball around and get other guys involved, and we got everybody involved and we made a little run.
MassLive: How much are you thinking about the possibility of reclassifying at this point in the season?
Thon Maker: I'm really thinking about my school and not about the reclassifying thing. As soon as I see how I do, then I'll decide, but right now just focusing on playing and finding ways to win.
MassLive: You're about halfway through the season, what are you looking to accomplish over the next few months?
Thon Maker: We still have a long way to go. The season is just halfway, so it's basically trying to win. The schedule has really started to hit us now. We really we have to really use other smart aspects of our games, really slow down and see each game separately.