ESPN's Jonathon Givony reported on Tuesday that 19-year-old Maker can apply for the draft as an early-entry candidate according to a memo distributed to NBA teams by the league.

Nick Weaver, Maker's coach at Hillcrest Prep in Phoenix, said that the 2.11m tall centre was indeed eligible for the draft.

"We are very excited for Makur and his family," Weaver told si.com.

"We are glad he is able to pursue his lifelong dream of playing in the NBA."

In 2016, Thon Maker was the first player to jump from high school to the NBA in more than a decade - being taken No.10 by Milwaukee.

The Boomers centre was traded to Detroit in February 2019 and is in his fifth year in the league.

Makur Maker meets the age requirements of collective bargaining agreement between the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association for draft eligibility.

"We are excited about the opportunity, I think that he's deserving," said Maker's guardian Ed Smith, according to 247Sports.

Smith said Maker has not made a final decision regarding the NBA draft yet and will keep his name in the draft only if he is a projected lottery pick, according to the ESPN and 247Sports reports.

Maker, who started the season at Irvine Pacific Academy before transferring to Hillcrest Prep in Phoenix, will have opportunities to prove himself in front of NBA teams in April at the Iverson Classic and Nike Hoop Summit.

In 12 games this season, he averaged 17.5 points, 10.1 rebounds and 1.8 blocks a game for the Bruins.

It's unclear where Maker projects in the 2020 draft but some projections have him in the late second round.

He could still elect to forego the NBA draft this year and instead would be a coveted college prospect if he follows the traditional route.

"All the college kind of backed off of me ever since they heard I was going to the NBA," Maker told Greg Levinsky of ZagsBlog in January.

"If they're recruiting me hard, I'm willing to go look."

Australian Associated Press