Cloud County point guard Devon Thomas has signed a National Letter of Intent to play at Texas Tech University, announced head coach Tubby Smith.
"Devon's ability to distribute the basketball, as well as keep pressure on defense are some of the things we like," said Texas Tech head coach Tubby Smith. "He is an excellent defender and his skill sets are better
suited for an up-tempo style of play that we want to employ. "I think his leadership will be critical. He has played a number of games at the Division I level and at the junior college level. He also learned a lot under the tutelage of Cloud County head coach Chad Eshbaugh."
Thomas, who originally signed with Missouri State out of high school, spent one season at Cloud County. In 32 games last year, Thomas averaged 16.9 points, 6.3 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 2.2 steals, while shooting 51.8
percent from the field, 29.9 percent from 3-point range and 64.3 percent from the free-throw line.
He scored 20 or more points nine times and reached the 30-point plateau twice, netting 30 against Highland and 33 against Pratt. Overall, Thomas scored in double figures in 29 of 32 games. Thomas is known for his ball control and recorded five or more assists in 25 of 32 games. In January against Barton, he had 23 points, 13 assists, seven rebounds, two steals and one turnover. He led the Kansas Jayhawk Conference in assists (201) and assists per game (6.3), while recording a 2.2 assist-to-turnover ratio.
His efforts landed the guard First Team All-Kansas Jayhawk Conference honors and Second Team All-NCJAA Region VI honors.
At Missouri State, Thomas played one season for the Bears, averaging 3.2 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 13.2 minutes per game.
Thomas spent three seasons at Meriden (N.H.) Kimball Union Academy, where he led the Wildcats to a 57-23 record, while earning All-NEPSAC and All-New England honors as a junior and senior. As a senior averaged 14.1 points, 5.0 assists and 3.2 rebounds, while notching 11.1 points, 7.2 assists and 5.0 rebounds as a junior.
Thomas is the third signee of the 2015 Texas Tech recruiting class, joining November signees C.J. Williamson (Orlando [Fla.] Evans HS) and Jordan Jackson (Houston St. Pius X). Thomas was also recruited by Kansas State, Creighton, Drake, Georgia State, Ole Miss, VCU and Temple.
2015 TEXAS TECH SIGNEE PROFILES
Devon Thomas
Guard │ 6-0 │ 170 │ Silver Springs, Maryland│ Meriden (N.H.) Kimball Union Academy
Earned All-Kansas Jayhawk Conference honors and Second Team All-NJCAA Region VI honors at Cloud County Community College … in 32 games last year, Thomas averaged 16.9 points, 6.3 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 2.2 steals, while shooting 51.8 percent from the field, 29.9 percent from 3-point range and 64.3 percent from the free-throw line … led the Kansas Jayhawk Conference in assists (201) and assists per game (6.3), while recording a 2.2 assist-to-turnover ratio … In January against Barton, he had 23 points, 13 assists, seven rebounds, two steals and one turnover …scored 20 or more points nine times and reached the 30-point plateau
twice, netting 30 against Highland and 33 against Pratt. Overall, Thomas scored in double figures in 29 of 32 games … played freshman season at Missouri State, averaging 3.2 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists in
13.2 minutes per game … spent three seasons at Meriden (N.H.) Kimball Union Academy, where he led the Wildcats to a 57-23 record, while earning All-NEPSAC and All-New England honors as a junior and senior …
as a senior, averaged 14.1 points, 5.0 assists and 3.2 rebounds … as a junior, averaged 11.1 points, 7.2 assists and 5.0 rebounds … played AAU for the New England Playaz and former Boston Celtics head coach John Carroll … also recruited by Kansas State, Creighton, Drake, Georgia State, Ole Miss, VCU and Temple … full name is Richard Devon Thomas … parents are Richard Thomas and Albree Bell … majoring in communications
C.J. Williamson
Guard │ 6-6 │ 200 │ Orlando, Florida │ Evans High School
Closed out his career as Evans High School's second leading scorer behind NBA All-Star Darryl "Chocolate Thunder" Dawkins with 1,106 career points … averaged 15.1 points, 6.2 assists and 3.1 steals per game as a
senior … earned All-Metro Conference honors and first team all-area … as a junior, led Evans High School to a 28-6 record and the Florida Class 8A championship game as a junior … He averaged 11.7 points, 4.6
rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.8 steals while playing for the Trojans under head coach Chucky Atkins … earned All-Metro Conference honors and was selected All-Area as a junior by the Orlando Sentinel … as a sophomore
averaged 15.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.0 steals for the Trojans … led Evans to the Florida Class 7A state finals as a sophomore …Evans was rated as high as the No. 5 team in Florida this season by
MaxPreps.com … a Top 200 recruit, Williamson is rated the 22nd best player in Florida by 247Sports.com … rated a four-star signee by FloridaHoops.com and the No. 22 player in the state of Florida … The
Hoop Scoop rates Williamson as the No. 15 player in Florida … Williamson is rated a three-star recruit by Future150.com, ESPN and Rivals.com … ESPN has ranked Williams as the 80th best recruit in the Southeastern United States … played AAU basketball with the Florida Vipers under head coach Brandon McThay, who were 43-3 last season … also recruited by Clemson, Georgia Tech, Kansas State, Missouri, Murray State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, UCF, UTEP, Virginia Commonwealth and Virginia Tech … full name is Courtney Williamson, Jr. …parents are Courtney and Stephanie Williamson.
Jordan Jackson
Guard │ 6-3 │ 180 │ Houston, Texas │ St. Pius X High School
Has led St. Pius X High School to the postseason, before being sidelined with a season-ending ankle injury … earned TAPPS 5A All-State honors as well as TAPPS 5A all-regional tournament honors … was named
first team All-District 3-5A, as well as the District3-5A Most Valuable Player … finished the season with 16.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.9 steals and 1.5 blocks per game. … as a junior, helped St.
Pius X reach the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools Final Four … earned TAPPS Class 5A First Team All-State honors after averaging 14.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game as a junior
… earned Class 5A TAPPS honorable mention All-State honors as a sophomore after averaging 15.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists … also a two-time first team All-District 3-5A honoree … rated the No. 52
shooting guard in the nation and the No. 22 player in the state of Texas according to ESPN … rated a three-star signee by ESPN, Rivals.com … named the 14th best player in the Great Houston Area by
RCS Sports … played AAU for TJ Ford Elite … also recruited by Bowling Green, The Citadel, Houston, LIU Brooklyn, Louisiana Tech, Rice, Sam Houston State, SMU, Stephen F. Austin, Tulsa and Weber State … an
accomplished high jumper. He set the St. Pius X High School record in 2013 after clearing six-feet, eight inches … also earned All-State honors in track and field after finishing second at the state meet …
parents are Texas Tech alumni Sheryl Swoopes and Eric Jackson … mother led Lady Raiders to 1993 NCAA title en route to National Player of the Year honors and led the U.S. to three straight Olympic gold medals.
This post was edited on 4/15 4:08 PM by C. Level
"Devon's ability to distribute the basketball, as well as keep pressure on defense are some of the things we like," said Texas Tech head coach Tubby Smith. "He is an excellent defender and his skill sets are better
suited for an up-tempo style of play that we want to employ. "I think his leadership will be critical. He has played a number of games at the Division I level and at the junior college level. He also learned a lot under the tutelage of Cloud County head coach Chad Eshbaugh."
Thomas, who originally signed with Missouri State out of high school, spent one season at Cloud County. In 32 games last year, Thomas averaged 16.9 points, 6.3 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 2.2 steals, while shooting 51.8
percent from the field, 29.9 percent from 3-point range and 64.3 percent from the free-throw line.
He scored 20 or more points nine times and reached the 30-point plateau twice, netting 30 against Highland and 33 against Pratt. Overall, Thomas scored in double figures in 29 of 32 games. Thomas is known for his ball control and recorded five or more assists in 25 of 32 games. In January against Barton, he had 23 points, 13 assists, seven rebounds, two steals and one turnover. He led the Kansas Jayhawk Conference in assists (201) and assists per game (6.3), while recording a 2.2 assist-to-turnover ratio.
His efforts landed the guard First Team All-Kansas Jayhawk Conference honors and Second Team All-NCJAA Region VI honors.
At Missouri State, Thomas played one season for the Bears, averaging 3.2 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 13.2 minutes per game.
Thomas spent three seasons at Meriden (N.H.) Kimball Union Academy, where he led the Wildcats to a 57-23 record, while earning All-NEPSAC and All-New England honors as a junior and senior. As a senior averaged 14.1 points, 5.0 assists and 3.2 rebounds, while notching 11.1 points, 7.2 assists and 5.0 rebounds as a junior.
Thomas is the third signee of the 2015 Texas Tech recruiting class, joining November signees C.J. Williamson (Orlando [Fla.] Evans HS) and Jordan Jackson (Houston St. Pius X). Thomas was also recruited by Kansas State, Creighton, Drake, Georgia State, Ole Miss, VCU and Temple.
2015 TEXAS TECH SIGNEE PROFILES
Devon Thomas
Guard │ 6-0 │ 170 │ Silver Springs, Maryland│ Meriden (N.H.) Kimball Union Academy
Earned All-Kansas Jayhawk Conference honors and Second Team All-NJCAA Region VI honors at Cloud County Community College … in 32 games last year, Thomas averaged 16.9 points, 6.3 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 2.2 steals, while shooting 51.8 percent from the field, 29.9 percent from 3-point range and 64.3 percent from the free-throw line … led the Kansas Jayhawk Conference in assists (201) and assists per game (6.3), while recording a 2.2 assist-to-turnover ratio … In January against Barton, he had 23 points, 13 assists, seven rebounds, two steals and one turnover …scored 20 or more points nine times and reached the 30-point plateau
twice, netting 30 against Highland and 33 against Pratt. Overall, Thomas scored in double figures in 29 of 32 games … played freshman season at Missouri State, averaging 3.2 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists in
13.2 minutes per game … spent three seasons at Meriden (N.H.) Kimball Union Academy, where he led the Wildcats to a 57-23 record, while earning All-NEPSAC and All-New England honors as a junior and senior …
as a senior, averaged 14.1 points, 5.0 assists and 3.2 rebounds … as a junior, averaged 11.1 points, 7.2 assists and 5.0 rebounds … played AAU for the New England Playaz and former Boston Celtics head coach John Carroll … also recruited by Kansas State, Creighton, Drake, Georgia State, Ole Miss, VCU and Temple … full name is Richard Devon Thomas … parents are Richard Thomas and Albree Bell … majoring in communications
C.J. Williamson
Guard │ 6-6 │ 200 │ Orlando, Florida │ Evans High School
Closed out his career as Evans High School's second leading scorer behind NBA All-Star Darryl "Chocolate Thunder" Dawkins with 1,106 career points … averaged 15.1 points, 6.2 assists and 3.1 steals per game as a
senior … earned All-Metro Conference honors and first team all-area … as a junior, led Evans High School to a 28-6 record and the Florida Class 8A championship game as a junior … He averaged 11.7 points, 4.6
rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.8 steals while playing for the Trojans under head coach Chucky Atkins … earned All-Metro Conference honors and was selected All-Area as a junior by the Orlando Sentinel … as a sophomore
averaged 15.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.0 steals for the Trojans … led Evans to the Florida Class 7A state finals as a sophomore …Evans was rated as high as the No. 5 team in Florida this season by
MaxPreps.com … a Top 200 recruit, Williamson is rated the 22nd best player in Florida by 247Sports.com … rated a four-star signee by FloridaHoops.com and the No. 22 player in the state of Florida … The
Hoop Scoop rates Williamson as the No. 15 player in Florida … Williamson is rated a three-star recruit by Future150.com, ESPN and Rivals.com … ESPN has ranked Williams as the 80th best recruit in the Southeastern United States … played AAU basketball with the Florida Vipers under head coach Brandon McThay, who were 43-3 last season … also recruited by Clemson, Georgia Tech, Kansas State, Missouri, Murray State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, UCF, UTEP, Virginia Commonwealth and Virginia Tech … full name is Courtney Williamson, Jr. …parents are Courtney and Stephanie Williamson.
Jordan Jackson
Guard │ 6-3 │ 180 │ Houston, Texas │ St. Pius X High School
Has led St. Pius X High School to the postseason, before being sidelined with a season-ending ankle injury … earned TAPPS 5A All-State honors as well as TAPPS 5A all-regional tournament honors … was named
first team All-District 3-5A, as well as the District3-5A Most Valuable Player … finished the season with 16.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.9 steals and 1.5 blocks per game. … as a junior, helped St.
Pius X reach the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools Final Four … earned TAPPS Class 5A First Team All-State honors after averaging 14.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game as a junior
… earned Class 5A TAPPS honorable mention All-State honors as a sophomore after averaging 15.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists … also a two-time first team All-District 3-5A honoree … rated the No. 52
shooting guard in the nation and the No. 22 player in the state of Texas according to ESPN … rated a three-star signee by ESPN, Rivals.com … named the 14th best player in the Great Houston Area by
RCS Sports … played AAU for TJ Ford Elite … also recruited by Bowling Green, The Citadel, Houston, LIU Brooklyn, Louisiana Tech, Rice, Sam Houston State, SMU, Stephen F. Austin, Tulsa and Weber State … an
accomplished high jumper. He set the St. Pius X High School record in 2013 after clearing six-feet, eight inches … also earned All-State honors in track and field after finishing second at the state meet …
parents are Texas Tech alumni Sheryl Swoopes and Eric Jackson … mother led Lady Raiders to 1993 NCAA title en route to National Player of the Year honors and led the U.S. to three straight Olympic gold medals.
This post was edited on 4/15 4:08 PM by C. Level
