Thon Maker out to show he's more than just an Internet sensation: 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. “I just got motivated,” he said. ... Though he’s expected to be a project — in part because he only weighs 218 pounds as a legit 7-footer — teams like the Utah Jazz will certainly be tempted to use one of their picks on him simply because of his height, athleticism and ability to shoot facing the basket. -- Deseret News