No Doubting Thomas
By Zack Cziryak
Trove Sports Correspondent
Jevon Thomas, a 6’0” point guard from Queens, was looking for a couple of things when he decided to transfer from Kansas State University.
While Thomas enjoyed his time as a Wildcat with Coach Bruce Weber and staff, the idea of competing for a coach that actually played the point guard position held enormous appeal.
“Coach Willard played point guard, Shaheen Holloway played point guard and it was just better coming first hand from coaches who actually played my position. Coach Weber’s staff is really defensively focused and that’s already a strength of my game. They (Willard & Co.) break the game down from a different standpoint which will be beneficial to me.”
The Kansas City Star
Jevon Thomas sizing up the Oklahoma defense
In his most recent season with the Wildcats, Thomas led the team with 3.3 assists per game and finished second in steals with 35. He also added 4.5 points per game in 25 games, but struggled shooting the ball, notching averages of 37.8% from the field and 28.6% from beyond the arc.
Although he’ll have to sit out the upcoming year per NCAA transfer regulations, Thomas expects to make an impact in practice. He anticipates working on the scout team as well as being a leader in the locker room while immersing himself in the new offense and refining the rougher edges of his game, such as shooting from the outside.
“My sit out year will basically be focusing on getting better and understanding his (Willard’s) offense. I think I’m a great leader and a great defender; I can bring that, but learning the offense and working on my shooting accuracy and reading the game a little better is my goal. You can always get better at controlling the game and being a leader. I’ll be on the scout team helping my teammates while improving my game and learning the offense so when I’m eligible things should be good to go for me to immediately make an impact.”
Thomas points to the marked improvement of recent Seton Hall guard Sterling Gibbs following his sit-out year after transferring from Texas. Gibbs, who went from a sparsely used player as a freshman in Austin to a Second Team All-Big East performer, showed a level of improvement that Thomas envisions for himself after working with Willard’s staff this year.
“Sterling Gibbs came from Texas to Seton Hall and look how much better he got in that year off. I figure I could do something similar and finish my career on top.”
Heading to the Hall will be a reunion of sorts for Thomas, who listed the Pirates in his final three with Auburn and Kansas State during his high school recruitment, a process he admits he had a bit different mindset for at that stage in his life.
“At that time I was really young, I didn’t really understand. You watch basketball as a fan, but you don’t really look into offense and how teams play. Mostly I was just trying to get away. I wanted to get away and get the full college experience. Knowing what I know now, picking a college is more a decision in so far as sitting down and watching tape and seeing for yourself what is best for your particular skills rather than a coach telling you, which is big.”
After making the decision to transfer, Thomas spoke to a few schools including Washington and Iona, but realized fairly early that Seton Hall was the place he wanted to be.
“I was interested in kind of coming home. Once we had gotten in contact I was brushing everything else off because I felt that it was really meant to be,” said Thomas, who credits his interest in the school and program to prior familiarity with the staff.
Seton Hall was also a fit beyond basketball for Thomas, who is on pace to finish his undergraduate degree in criminal justice at the end of the 2015-2016 school year and was looking for a passionate and connected alumni base.
“I’m going to graduate next year and should be able to get a masters. That’s definitely my plan. Coming closer to home will also bring better job opportunities, being able to graduate and meet alumni. I’m a big guy on meeting people and talking and communicating. After basketball the sky is the limit.”
Thomas is in line to graduate at the end of the coming year due to spending both summer sessions of his two years at Kansas State completing classes. After he finishes up his final exam in the Midwest, Thomas will head back to Queens for a week or so before enrolling in classes this summer in South Orange.
Thomas has no concrete ideas for his future Master’s degree at this point in time, but expects to sit down with Seton Hall’s academic staff to vet all his options in the upcoming year.
“I’m going to go over it when I meet with my academic adviser and map certain things out. Seton Hall has way more courses that I can take then here (Kansas State), so I’m going to wait and work though the summer.”
The summer will also provide Thomas ample time to acclimate to his new staff and teammates, which include a young core highlighted by rising sophomore guards Isaiah Whitehead and Khadeen Carrington, both Brooklyn products. The team also returns reigning Big East Freshman of the Year Angel Delgado, who Thomas feels he developed an early chemistry with in his visit last month.
Despite his limited experience with the current Pirate roster, Thomas is certain a team heavy on NYC area players will make for an easy transition for him.
“Isaiah and all of those guys, we grew up near each other. That’s one thing about New York City we play hard. I don’t know those guys that well because I left, but when I visited a few weeks ago me and Angel played together and had good chemistry in the pick-and-roll. I think I’ll be close to everyone. We’re all from the same area and have played with and against each other.”
With a talented nucleus in South Orange already and a year off to refine his game, Thomas is more than confident that his time spent in Pirate Blue will be a positive experience.
"I bring energy. I believe I am a great leader and lock down defender. I'm going to give my all, no complaining. It's going to be a good three years to show the the fans the player I can really be. I can't wait to get started"
If Thomas progresses anywhere near as well as Seton Hall's last point guard transfer the feeling will be more than mutual.
By Zack Cziryak
Trove Sports Correspondent
Jevon Thomas, a 6’0” point guard from Queens, was looking for a couple of things when he decided to transfer from Kansas State University.
While Thomas enjoyed his time as a Wildcat with Coach Bruce Weber and staff, the idea of competing for a coach that actually played the point guard position held enormous appeal.
“Coach Willard played point guard, Shaheen Holloway played point guard and it was just better coming first hand from coaches who actually played my position. Coach Weber’s staff is really defensively focused and that’s already a strength of my game. They (Willard & Co.) break the game down from a different standpoint which will be beneficial to me.”
The Kansas City Star
Jevon Thomas sizing up the Oklahoma defense
In his most recent season with the Wildcats, Thomas led the team with 3.3 assists per game and finished second in steals with 35. He also added 4.5 points per game in 25 games, but struggled shooting the ball, notching averages of 37.8% from the field and 28.6% from beyond the arc.
Although he’ll have to sit out the upcoming year per NCAA transfer regulations, Thomas expects to make an impact in practice. He anticipates working on the scout team as well as being a leader in the locker room while immersing himself in the new offense and refining the rougher edges of his game, such as shooting from the outside.
“My sit out year will basically be focusing on getting better and understanding his (Willard’s) offense. I think I’m a great leader and a great defender; I can bring that, but learning the offense and working on my shooting accuracy and reading the game a little better is my goal. You can always get better at controlling the game and being a leader. I’ll be on the scout team helping my teammates while improving my game and learning the offense so when I’m eligible things should be good to go for me to immediately make an impact.”
Thomas points to the marked improvement of recent Seton Hall guard Sterling Gibbs following his sit-out year after transferring from Texas. Gibbs, who went from a sparsely used player as a freshman in Austin to a Second Team All-Big East performer, showed a level of improvement that Thomas envisions for himself after working with Willard’s staff this year.
“Sterling Gibbs came from Texas to Seton Hall and look how much better he got in that year off. I figure I could do something similar and finish my career on top.”
Heading to the Hall will be a reunion of sorts for Thomas, who listed the Pirates in his final three with Auburn and Kansas State during his high school recruitment, a process he admits he had a bit different mindset for at that stage in his life.
“At that time I was really young, I didn’t really understand. You watch basketball as a fan, but you don’t really look into offense and how teams play. Mostly I was just trying to get away. I wanted to get away and get the full college experience. Knowing what I know now, picking a college is more a decision in so far as sitting down and watching tape and seeing for yourself what is best for your particular skills rather than a coach telling you, which is big.”
After making the decision to transfer, Thomas spoke to a few schools including Washington and Iona, but realized fairly early that Seton Hall was the place he wanted to be.
“I was interested in kind of coming home. Once we had gotten in contact I was brushing everything else off because I felt that it was really meant to be,” said Thomas, who credits his interest in the school and program to prior familiarity with the staff.
Seton Hall was also a fit beyond basketball for Thomas, who is on pace to finish his undergraduate degree in criminal justice at the end of the 2015-2016 school year and was looking for a passionate and connected alumni base.
“I’m going to graduate next year and should be able to get a masters. That’s definitely my plan. Coming closer to home will also bring better job opportunities, being able to graduate and meet alumni. I’m a big guy on meeting people and talking and communicating. After basketball the sky is the limit.”
Thomas is in line to graduate at the end of the coming year due to spending both summer sessions of his two years at Kansas State completing classes. After he finishes up his final exam in the Midwest, Thomas will head back to Queens for a week or so before enrolling in classes this summer in South Orange.
Thomas has no concrete ideas for his future Master’s degree at this point in time, but expects to sit down with Seton Hall’s academic staff to vet all his options in the upcoming year.
“I’m going to go over it when I meet with my academic adviser and map certain things out. Seton Hall has way more courses that I can take then here (Kansas State), so I’m going to wait and work though the summer.”
The summer will also provide Thomas ample time to acclimate to his new staff and teammates, which include a young core highlighted by rising sophomore guards Isaiah Whitehead and Khadeen Carrington, both Brooklyn products. The team also returns reigning Big East Freshman of the Year Angel Delgado, who Thomas feels he developed an early chemistry with in his visit last month.
Despite his limited experience with the current Pirate roster, Thomas is certain a team heavy on NYC area players will make for an easy transition for him.
“Isaiah and all of those guys, we grew up near each other. That’s one thing about New York City we play hard. I don’t know those guys that well because I left, but when I visited a few weeks ago me and Angel played together and had good chemistry in the pick-and-roll. I think I’ll be close to everyone. We’re all from the same area and have played with and against each other.”
With a talented nucleus in South Orange already and a year off to refine his game, Thomas is more than confident that his time spent in Pirate Blue will be a positive experience.
"I bring energy. I believe I am a great leader and lock down defender. I'm going to give my all, no complaining. It's going to be a good three years to show the the fans the player I can really be. I can't wait to get started"
If Thomas progresses anywhere near as well as Seton Hall's last point guard transfer the feeling will be more than mutual.
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