Sometimes, you just never know when your opportunity will come and go in the world of basketball. A player that Phenom Hoops is certainly aware of and have watched over the years has been the talented guard of LJ Thomas, who committed to NC State a few years back, played in 30 games for the Wolfpack as a freshman and averaged 2.4 points, but then only saw action in 12 games as a sophomore and averaged 2.6 points per game. In either season, Thomas didn’t average over 10 minutes per game, and sometimes things just don’t go as planned.
But there is no doubt in my mind that going into college this was a prospect that could produce at the Division I level, and now we fast-forward to this season… Now at Austin Peay, the 6’2 guard is getting a chance to flourish and show his scoring nature much like he did in high school. This season, Thomas is averaging 19.8 points per game, 5.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and shooting 42.5 percent from the floor. He looks to be the clear go-to option for the Governors this season, and he is taking advantage of that opportunity.
This is what was said about Thomas back in the day from Phenom Hoops:
“When you talk about his game, Thomas is such a smooth operating guard, making play after play, showcasing a blend of getting others involved but also being that scoring firepower and knowing when he needs to take over. With his build, his strength, his IQ, his pace, and his feel for the game, there isn’t much that Thomas can’t do on the floor. He can get whatever shot he wants, makes tough plays, and just understands how to put the ball in the hoop and make it look effortless at times.”
And that couldn’t be clearer today at Austin Peay. Though it may not have worked out at NC State like many had hoped, Thomas is taking advantage in a big way of his opportunity this year and is showing just how strong of an offensive option he can be on the court.