Recruiting as of 5/15/25

[Skip Intro]

Why does he look like a walk on? I don't think Shaka is wasting his time on a potential walk on who isn't even a junior in HS yet (2023 grad).

If you look at the Twitter pic, I'll give you one guess as to why genious expert is betting he's a walk on.   

[The Sultan]

He was a freshman in '20.  We knew there were going to be a bunch of under the radar guys due to the lack of a significant AAU season last summer.  I trust that Shaka knows what he is doing, and giving a unofficial visit to a guy is hardly a huge commitment.

Trust the process.

[Pakuni]

What's his story as a player?  Looks taller than 6'5"?

The Chicago Sun-Times wrote this about him:

April 2020:

Class of 2023: Asa Thomas, Lake Forest
This breakout freshman hasn't received the same hype as some of the other players in the class have, particularly the high-profile young freshmen in the Chicago Public League. But there might not be a freshman who has been more productive than Thomas.
Thomas has quickly established himself as a knockdown shooter. The sweet-shooting Thomas is averaging 14 points and five rebounds a game and has already made 62 three-pointers on the season. He's not just a gunner, either, as Thomas is shooting a quite impressive 44 percent from beyond the arc.
"He's always had a little bit of an edge," says Lake Forest coach Phil LaScala of his prized freshman. "You could see this summer when he played with us that he wasn't afraid."
A player with size and growing versatility on the perimeter, Thomas, who is a shade over 6-4, will grab your attention with his ability to stretch the floor from three-point range. But he offers plenty of basketball intangibles and smarts, especially for a freshman.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/2/1/21117572/chicago-high-school-basketball-prospects

April 2021:
Three-point shooting has never been more important in the college game than it is today. That's why Lake Forest's Asa Thomas will attract college coaches in droves going forward. Now it's a matter of what level those Division I coaches will be.

The 6-6 Thomas, who plays with the Illinois Wolves, has an effortless stroke from the three-point line. He's an elite shooter off the catch as a spot-up shooter and can get his shot off with a rather quick release. The next step is successfully attacking closeouts and getting where he needs to get with the basketball. Adding weight and strength as he naturally fills out and matures physically will help with that.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/2021/4/6/22369906/high-school-basketball-swish-n-dish-meanstreets-aj-casey-jj-taylor

[Newsdreams]

He was a freshman in '20.  We knew there were going to be a bunch of under the radar guys due to the lack of a significant AAU season last summer.  I trust that Shaka knows what he is doing, and giving a unofficial visit to a guy is hardly a huge commitment.

Trust the process.

A guy who will probably be 6-7 / 6-8 by the time he gets to campus and shoots over 40% from 3, what is not to like. In Shaka we trust.

[PGsHeroes32]

Why does he look like a walk on? I don't think Shaka is wasting his time on a potential walk on who isn't even a junior in HS yet (2023 grad).

I'm gonna say skin color ignorance.

[Dawson Rental]

The Top Minnesota Point Guard Trejuan Holliman to visit Marquette in a few weeks


https://twitter.com/jakeweingarten/status/1400815500087681031?s=21

Recruiting news?????

Calm down, you have to expect some to occur in the recruiting thread.

[Silkk the Shaka]

The Chicago Sun-Times wrote this about him:

April 2020:

Class of 2023: Asa Thomas, Lake Forest
This breakout freshman hasn't received the same hype as some of the other players in the class have, particularly the high-profile young freshmen in the Chicago Public League. But there might not be a freshman who has been more productive than Thomas.
Thomas has quickly established himself as a knockdown shooter. The sweet-shooting Thomas is averaging 14 points and five rebounds a game and has already made 62 three-pointers on the season. He's not just a gunner, either, as Thomas is shooting a quite impressive 44 percent from beyond the arc.
"He's always had a little bit of an edge," says Lake Forest coach Phil LaScala of his prized freshman. "You could see this summer when he played with us that he wasn't afraid."
A player with size and growing versatility on the perimeter, Thomas, who is a shade over 6-4, will grab your attention with his ability to stretch the floor from three-point range. But he offers plenty of basketball intangibles and smarts, especially for a freshman.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/2/1/21117572/chicago-high-school-basketball-prospects

April 2021:
Three-point shooting has never been more important in the college game than it is today. That's why Lake Forest's Asa Thomas will attract college coaches in droves going forward. Now it's a matter of what level those Division I coaches will be.

The 6-6 Thomas, who plays with the Illinois Wolves, has an effortless stroke from the three-point line. He's an elite shooter off the catch as a spot-up shooter and can get his shot off with a rather quick release. The next step is successfully attacking closeouts and getting where he needs to get with the basketball. Adding weight and strength as he naturally fills out and matures physically will help with that.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/2021/4/6/22369906/high-school-basketball-swish-n-dish-meanstreets-aj-casey-jj-taylor

I like both of these writeups. Shaka thus far seems to be valuing fit above all else (which is exactly what I want) and this guy sounds like a fit.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

If you look at the Twitter pic, I'll give you one guess as to why genious expert is betting he's a walk on.   

The reason was somewhat inferred, but I was hoping he would lay it out for us. 

[JakeBarnes]

Shaka puts a high value on shooting (putting the ball in the basket) and endurance (flashback to a Buzz bootcamp). Asa Thomas fits that mold (Just like Tyler Kolek).

It feels like we are gonna get best of both worlds down the road from Wojo's scoring teams to Buzz's gritty endurance teams. Looking forward to it--even if it takes a little bit to develop due to *gestures wildly*

Really happy the staff is going hard for Chicago recruits (IL Wolves, meanstreets kids getting lots of offers). My excitement is definitely growing for what Shaka is going to build here, rose colored glasses or not.

[Herman Cain]

Shaka puts a high value on shooting (putting the ball in the basket) and endurance (flashback to a Buzz bootcamp). Asa Thomas fits that mold (Just like Tyler Kolek).

It feels like we are gonna get best of both worlds down the road from Wojo's scoring teams to Buzz's gritty endurance teams. Looking forward to it--even if it takes a little bit to develop due to *gestures wildly*

Really happy the staff is going hard for Chicago recruits (IL Wolves, meanstreets kids getting lots of offers). My excitement is definitely growing for what Shaka is going to build here, rose colored glasses or not.

It also appears the staff is  trying to assemble. Seems like a lot of thought is going into Shaka's recruiting /transfer process.

[Scoop Snoop]

Once Shaka has Marquette established as a solid, frequently ranked team in the upper tier of the BE, we will have a much better chance of landing top Chicago area recruits whose family and friends can make the relatively short trip to Milwaukee to see them play. Maybe Shaka will discover the next Wade in Chicago.

As I said in another post, I would like to see Marquette schedule games against Northwestern and Loyola, maybe Illinois. The first 2 are unlikely to be of the same caliber of our team going forward. The more Chicago exposure the better.

[genious expert]

The reason was somewhat inferred, but I was hoping he would lay it out for us.

It had more to do with googling his name + recruiting and finding basically nothing. I couldn't find any D1 offers and only like 1 recruiting profile that had nothing in it. My bad! However I did just find that PrepHoops has him ranked#120 nationally, so there's that.

https://www.prephoops.com/player/asa-thomas/

[tower912]

MU offered Jalen Hooks.

https://twitter.com/jhooks1414/status/1403057817037295620?s=21

[lawdog77]

MU offered Jalen Hooks.

https://twitter.com/jhooks1414/status/1403057817037295620?s=21

Will he be a walk on?

[genious expert]

Will he be a walk on?

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

MU offered Jalen Hooks.

https://twitter.com/jhooks1414/status/1403057817037295620?s=21

Composite has no ranking currently. 247 internal rankings say top 60.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Well done.

[Newsdreams]

Traditional/not Traditional

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

https://twitter.com/gusbus2023/status/1403017627778240514

Looks like Gus Yalden, top 40 junior, is doing an unofficial in the near future. Believe he is a Badger lean

[Warrior Code]

https://twitter.com/gusbus2023/status/1403017627778240514

Looks like Gus Yalden, top 40 junior, is doing an unofficial in the near future. Believe he is a Badger lean

He looks like Rich Sommer

[cheebs09]

https://twitter.com/gusbus2023/status/1403017627778240514

Looks like Gus Yalden, top 40 junior, is doing an unofficial in the near future. Believe he is a Badger lean

I love his Twitter name.

[PBRme]

Wait....
Someone on here that takes criticism and can make fun of themselves...Say it isn't so it's a big hit to our track record

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

https://twitter.com/Jmintz10/status/1404133903284178952

Judah Mintz committing this week. Shaka's been in contact but unless they flew him in undercover, I don't think he ever visited. Doubt this one goes our way

[Keithtisbarf]

No you don't you lying no job having loser

[jesmu84]

Wut?