From my WisSports.net article ...
By Mark Miller
WisSports.net
A chance to return home and play college basketball at the highest level intrigued former Racine St. Catherine's star Jake Thomas.
After checking into a couple of different options, Thomas decided this week he will transfer from the University of South Dakota to Marquette University and join the Golden Eagles basketball program as a walkon.
Thomas will have two years of eligibility at Marquette, but must sit out the 2011-12 season due to NCAA transfer rules.
A 6-foot-4, 195-pound shooting guard, Thomas might be just the type of player Marquette needs because of his ability to stretch defenses with his outstanding long-distance shooting ability.
In two seasons at South Dakota, a NCAA Division I school, Thomas made a whopping 175 three-point baskets. He finished with a career-high 40 points and set a school record with 10 three pointers in a 105-73 rout of Chicago State last season.
"It's definitely a big step up in competition," Thomas said. "In talking to the Marquette coaches, they know I can shoot. It's just a matter of improving every other aspect of my game.
"But give me a year to get a lot better, and I think I can play at this level. I'm going to Marquette as a walkon the first year, but there is always a chance to earn a scholarship. I'd definitely have to go out and prove myself and that is understandable."
Thomas, who led St. Catherine's to the WIAA Division 3 state championship in 2009 when he scored a total of 44 points in two games, averaged 13.6 points and 4.9 rebounds at South Dakota as a sophomore, helping the Coyotes to an 18-15 record while playing an independent schedule.
Thomas shot 83 percent from the foul line and 35 percent from three-point range while averaging 32.9 minutes per game.
As a freshman at South Dakota, Thomas averaged 13.3 points and shot 44 percent from three-point range while playing 32.6 minutes per contest.
"I'll be enrolled at Marquette in July and start with the workouts and lifting," said Thomas, who plans to major in exercise science. "Improving my strength will be my No. 1 goal. I will also work on my defense, my shooting, my passing ... just every aspect of my game.
"A lot of my friends from St. Catherine's go to Marquette. I know I'll get a great education and have the chance to play basketball."
Thomas follows a long line of St. Catherine's stars to play at Marquette, including Jim Poulsen (1962, 1963, 1964), Rocke Calvelli (1963, 1964, 1965), Jim Chones (1971, 1972), Jim McIlvaine (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994) and Marcus West (1997, 1998).
I really like this. Welcome to Marquette Jake!
Booo!!
This is a victory for the traditionalists.
JK, welcome Jake...make good string music baby.
Quote from: Stone Cold on June 02, 2011, 04:46:51 PM
Booo!!
This is a victory for the traditionalists.
JK, welcome Jake...make good string music baby.
Traditional isn't always bad. I like this new thing where our walk ons actually have a shot at seeing the floor in certain situations that aren't us winning by 40.
Personally I think this means Buzz is probably done with 2011. He will officially have 13 players available for practices (albeit, two of which are walk-ons) and can focus his attention on a deep 2012 recruiting class. Would love to see more size for O'Tule and Gardner to work against every day, but I suppose (barring injury) at least they have each other to practice against...
Welcome Jake!
Don't think Buzz is done quite yet.
Quote from: MarkMiller on June 02, 2011, 04:55:10 PM
Don't think Buzz is done quite yet.
Interesting...considering the source.
Love the Rocke Calvelli reference.
Buzz ain't done.
Alright - another St. Cat's alum! Would love to see his outside shot carry over to the Big East, let's hope he can adapt/commit to Buzz's style of practice & play!
He can truthfully say he came to Marquette for the better weather.
Buzz is never done recruiting until that basketball season starts.
Quote from: Stone Cold on June 02, 2011, 04:46:51 PM
Booo!!
This is a victory for the traditionalists.
JK, welcome Jake...make good string music baby.
Damn skinny. I'm a happy camper and kills the notion by some that those players are not valued or needed....cough cough..you know who you are
I am very pleased with this development. I love that Buzz is utilizing the walkon spots to add value to the team. I am very interested to find out where this last schollie goes.
Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on June 02, 2011, 05:58:54 PM
Damn skinny. I'm a happy camper and kills the notion by some that those players are not valued or needed....cough cough..you know who you are
What makes Jake Thomas a traditional in your opinion?
I find it so interesting that Buzz actually uses the walk on roll in recruiting
As opposed to what crean did of holding an open tryout for an on campus kid
AU,
What's equally cool is that former scholarship players are now paying their own way just to be a part of Warrior basketball.
Sounds like a great move, both for Jake and the Golden Eagle program. Looking forward to seeing him give us some 'zone busting' shots. The key might be his ability to hold his own on the defensive end.
Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on June 02, 2011, 05:58:54 PM
Damn skinny. I'm a happy camper and kills the notion by some that those players are not valued or needed....cough cough..you know who you are
If we can get a traditional like this without spending a scholarship I'm very much okay with it.
Sweet. Seems like a great get and gives us a potential threat from long distance for a couple of years.
Add him to the list of J's.....
Jamail, Jamil, Juan, Junior, Jae, Jamal, and now Jake!
I love it. Saw him play in the 09 state tournament and he was a really great high school basketball player. Absolutely sweet outside shot. I'm realistic on this....the big east is a huge, gigantic stretch from where he has been...but, think of the quality of players we have as walk-ons and in their own right will make this a better team just through pushing guys in practice. Plus, he seems like a great kid and chemistry is important in college athletics. All the best to Jake in his academic and basketball pursuits at MU.
P.S.....I don't see Buzz being done for 2011 either...no way....too much volatility at this level and he won't sit on scholarships.
Info on the newest Warrior...
http://www.usdcoyotes.com/sports/mbball/bio.asp?PLAYER_ID=2987 (http://www.usdcoyotes.com/sports/mbball/bio.asp?PLAYER_ID=2987)
(http://www.usdcoyotes.com/photos/6184.jpg)
Just watched the video of Jake Thomas, very impressed with his ability to shot the NBA three,
great range. Great to have a player like this much like that Louisville kid who killed MU at the
Garden, will be a good zone buster. MU really does not have a pure shooter, this kid has great
form, and he is a walk-on. That is even better. He has to earn that scholarship, love that idea.
Another good point is that he is from Wisconsin!
One last point....interesting to put yourself in his shoes.....seems like he found it a better choice to be part of a major program, experience being on a competitive team in the BEast and that environment over being a solid contributer in a much smaller program on a much smaller scale. I started thinking about motivation....would you rather sit on the end of the bench but be part of something going on at the carrierdome, or be playing significant minutes at a small arena and hope to be a cinderalla entry into the NCAA tourney every year. I guess it really is what drives an individual and what type of college experience one wants. The other factors obviously are closer to home and having classmates from a high school (a Catholic connection) around. Sounds like a great situation for him. And, if he enjoys the challenge, who knows if he can develop and have some meaningful contributions down the road.
Good point, if he is gym rat, he will improve or will be thrown to the wolves. I really like
transfers, they get a year in a quality weight room and get to figure out there weaknesses
given a year and a half of maturity. This is a win, win for both parties.
Jake Thomas games vs. Marquette
11/24/09 12 pts & 7 boards
11/20/10 11 pts & 3 boards
Quote from: LastWarrior on June 02, 2011, 09:43:08 PM
Info on the newest Warrior...
http://www.usdcoyotes.com/sports/mbball/bio.asp?PLAYER_ID=2987 (http://www.usdcoyotes.com/sports/mbball/bio.asp?PLAYER_ID=2987)
(http://www.usdcoyotes.com/photos/6184.jpg)
Appears to be traditional to me.
I'll take him as a walk-on - any production from him is a bonus. But what we really need to stretch a defense is a big man who can score.
Quote from: Lennys Tap on June 02, 2011, 07:34:00 PM
If we can get a traditional like this without spending a scholarship I'm very much okay with it.
I wouldn't mind using a scholarship either....some of the scholarship players we have don't even play while a kid like this that provides a skill that most of our guys don't have...will play if he is utilized correctly.
Quote from: Jacks DC on June 02, 2011, 10:25:55 PM
I'll take him as a walk-on - any production from him is a bonus. But what we really need to stretch a defense is a big man who can score.
Us and 345 other teams and there are about 20 of those guys to go around
Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on June 03, 2011, 12:03:17 AM
Us and 345 other teams and there are about 20 of those guys to go around
Agree completely Chicos. Everyone on this board loves to whine that we haven't landed a "big man who can score", but it's not like those guys are a dime a dozen. I wish people would get away from this lazy complaint for a little while.
Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on June 03, 2011, 12:03:17 AM
Us and 345 other teams and there are about 20 of those guys to go around
word.
Great move so long as they don't handcuff by awarding a scholarship in the future.
Welcome to Marquette Jake!!! Play hard and shoot well!
"Great move so long as they don't handcuff by awarding a scholarship in the future."
So if JT is getting playing time and shooting lights out his Junior year(as some believe that he may) we should not offer a schollie to him for his senior year?
Don't understand how that is handcuffing us. If he is producing (minutes and 3 pts) as a walkon, he will be offered.
Nice addition!
A lot of good comments in here, and I'm really glad to see Thomas walk-on at Marquette. As someone else mentioned, it's amazing that Buzz is getting starting scholarship players from other D1 programs to walk-on here for what they certainly must expect will be a smaller role.
I don't know what contribution we'll get out of Thomas (or Singleton, for that matter) but I have to think it will be more than we would get out of handing a jersey to any randomer that happened to show up on campus. Even if these guys are primarily used as practice players, they seem to me to be significant upgrades to the program. While Buzz's multiple ranked recruiting classes have been pleasing, I really like how he seems to be upgrading the whole roster from the ground up.
Bringing in a shooter like this as a walk-on is a potential low risk, high reward signing.
Seems like a good kid who wanted to play closer to home. I loved his quote about being able shoot but needing to work on every other part of his game. Sounds like the kid "gets it" and is driven to make himself better and compete for PT. I'm not necessarily counting on him to be a big contributor but I can't really think of anything negative about picking this kid up.
Best of luke, Jake!
Quote from: MerrittsMustache on June 03, 2011, 02:11:26 PM
Bringing in a shooter like this as a walk-on is a potential low risk, high reward signing.
Best of luke, Jake!
Its not even a signing. He is a walk-on.
What we are getting out Singleton and now Jake Thomas is two big guards with D1 experience who are going to make people work harder in practice. Low risk, high benefit. Chances are they will be able to give us occasional useful minutes. Since they are walk-ons, all game contributions are nothing but gravy.
Quote from: Bocephys on June 03, 2011, 12:34:15 AM
Agree completely Chicos. Everyone on this board loves to whine that we haven't landed a "big man who can score", but it's not like those guys are a dime a dozen. I wish people would get away from this lazy complaint for a little while.
Marquette has had a hard time recruiting and retaining front line depth during Buzz's tenure compared to its peers in the Big East and comparable programs in other power conferences over the same period. I think that is pretty widely acknowledged. What is lazy is to say that we in the same boat as every other team in the country and they all have the same problem.
Nonetheless, I'm glad Thomas is joining and I hope he can make a contribution to our program in terms of game production or otherwise.
Even after being adjusted for level of competition, I actually had Jake calculated as the 719th best player of the 3140 returning players I was able to rank, which would have made him the 5th best player on the team if he didn't have to sit out this year. Here are our five returning players in the top 1000, or the top 22% or so of all D1 players to suite up this year:
48 Jae Crowder
197 Darius Johnson-Odom
588 Davante Gardner
697 Chris Otule
719 Jake Thomas
856 Juan Anderson
Obviously, I believe Jamil is much better than what he showed in so few minutes at Oregon, and Junior was obviously much better down the stretch, but even those of you who think my numbers are complete BS I'm sure would at least admit this is yet another unbelievable upgrade of the "walk on" position.
Didn't Boylan come from Assumption? I like it.
Quote from: ATWizJr on June 07, 2011, 09:04:46 AM
Didn't Boylan come from Assumption? I like it.
Yes, but Boylan probably would have been a McDonald's AA had that been around in his day. Basketball Times/Weekly and Street & Smith had him as a 2nd or 3rd team AA back then. He only went to Assumption because of family ties. After 2 years there, he wanted to transfer to UNC (which had recruited him), but Dean Smith did not take transfers and recommeded Jim to Al McGuire. Like the Jake Thomas walk-on deal, but Boylan was far different.