NEWS » home, S.C. State lost by at least 20 p

Thon Maker has had to fight his whole life, and the No. 10 NBA draft pick has done it his own way.Even as a toddler in Sudan, he rallied against extreme adversity. At five years of age, Maker and his family fled the civil war, spending a year in Uganda before being accepted as refugees in Australia, settling down in Perth.Life was -- as it is for most refugees who flee conflicts and hardships to settle in strange lands - tough. Initially, the youngster found his refuge in soccer before a basketball talent scout and social worker named Edward Smith intervened, encouraging the incredibly athletic, fiercely driven young man to move to Sydney to pursue his dream of playing in the NBA.As Makers frame and dream grew bigger, he and Smith soon made an even bigger move, relocating to the U.S. where Maker soon wowed basketball scouts and fans alike with his burgeoning mix of athleticism, skills, flare and hardworking attitude.The towering 7-foot-1 colossus seemed to have the basketball world at his feet if he remained in the U.S and continued his natural improvement. But Maker had other ideas, moving to Canada in 2014 to attend Orangeville Preps Athlete Institute.The decision was heavily scrutinised by many in the basketball industry, but Maker didnt think twice, confident his way was the right way.The surprises didnt end there, though.On the verge of a college career - the easiest path for young stars to forge a NBA career, with the vast majority of draftees selected from colleges - he decided to risk it all and nominate for the draft straight away.The decision stunned the NBA world but it was another example of Makers forthright decision-making.It was a risk. A big risk.In the lead-up to the 2016 NBA Draft, Maker was the mystery man. Who was he? What type of player was he and what would he become? Where would he be picked? There was even controversy about his age - with some suggesting he was older than he claimed, which Maker laughed off with customary dignity and poise.Ten picks into the draft, Maker became the first high school player taken in the first round since 2005 when the Milwaukee Bucks called his name.He made it, and he did it his way by going against the grain.We liked what we saw in Thon as a player, the teams general manager John Hammond said after the draft. But the more we got to know him, the more excited we became. Hes a very extraordinary person.And after such an unusual, arduous and taxing path to the top of the basketball world, Maker knows his journey is only just beginning.I want to be great, he said soon after being drafted. And I know the whole path just started again.He also wants to inspire others who dont get an easy ride early in life.[I] definitely [see myself as an inspiration] - not just [in] Australia but all around the world, the 19-year-old said.A lot of kids make this journey and they want to find a way to be successful, and when they see somebody do something like this they want to find out what made you think that way - you made certain decisions to get to where you are, so what were they?Ill be able to provide advice to those who want to be in this position and theres kids in my situation that can see this as an inspiration definitely. Wholesale Nike Shoes For Sale .J. -- Josh Cribbs was in the Pro Bowl in February and out of a job six months later. Wholesale Nike Shoes From China . Dusautoir, the former World Player of the Year, sustained a torn bicep playing for Toulouse in the Heineken Cup on Saturday. The flanker, who has played 65 times for France, is expected to be out for up to four months. http://www.cheapnikeshoeschina.com/ .H. -- Matt Kenseth made it 2 for 2 in the Chase, holding off teammate Kyle Busch to win Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Cheap Nike Shoes Free Shipping . The players spoke Jan. 13 during a Major League Baseball Players Association conference call after Rodriguez sued the union and Major League Baseball to overturn an arbitrators decision suspending him for the 2014 season and post-season. Discount Nike Shoes . Booth picked up 65 caps after making her national team debut in 2002 at the age of 17. She most recently played for Sky Blue FC of the National Womens Soccer League. "It just felt like it was my time to move on," she said in a phone interview from her hometown of Burlington, Ont. CLEMSON, S.C. -- Jaron Blossomgame scored a season-high 29 points to Clemson to a 93-65 victory over S.C. State on Tuesday to increase the Tigers win streak to five games.The Tigers (7-2) shook off a sluggish first half and a defensive effort that wasnt up to coach Brad Brownells standard to outscore the Bulldogs by 29 points in the second half.Really good offensive performance. Certainly the 17 assists and only two turnovers were big stats as well, Brownell said. We probably took too many 3s but other than that, I thought we played well (offensively) and that was the difference in the game.Shelton Mitchell scored 14 points and Donte Grantham added 13 for Clemson, which shot 52 percent in the first half.The Bulldogs (2-8) shot 52 percent and got 20 points from Eric Eaves, but they lost for the seventh time in the last eight games. S.C. State stayed in the game in the first 20 minutes and trailed by nine at halftime.I was pleased at the half with what we were doing offensively and defensively, S.C. State coach Murray Garvin said. At halftime, I was positive in the locker room and looking forward to seeing what we would do in the second half.The Tigers held a 10-point lead four minutes into the second half before they went on 12-4 run to go up 18 after a Gabe DeVoe 3-pointer with 13:05 to play.The Bulldogs would crawl back within 12, but another Clemson run pushed the lead to 20 after a Grantham dunk with 9:47 left in the game, and CClemson kept pouring it on offensively.ddddddddddddI dont think we defended well, Brownell said. Some of that is the mentality of our players.BIG PICTURES.C. State: Playing its eight game of the season away from home, S.C. State lost by at least 20 points for the fifth time already.Clemson: The Tigers will get Elijah Thomas, a transfer from Texas A&M, eligible for the first time this season in their next game. The 6-foot-9, 230-pound sophomore should make an immediate impact offensively and on the boards, but Brownell is concerned about his defense.STAT OF THE NIGHTClemson improved to 13-1 all-time against South Carolina State. The Bulldogs only win over the Tigers was a 71-68 victory in 1999.TIP-INSGarvin said he was told this week that the Bulldogs, who had a hard time finding teams to come to their building, have the second hardest schedule in the country. Clemson center Sidy Djitte grabbed 13 rebounds, his fourth game this season in double digits. Clemson scored in the 90s for the second consecutive game and third time this season.UP NEXTS.C. State will play just its fourth game in the state of South Carolina when it heads to Furman on Friday at 7 p.m.Clemson takes on Alabama in a neutral site game in Birmingham, Ala., on Sunday at 4 p.m. in the Tigers first of back-to-back contests against SEC foes. ' ' '