Florida Forward Sets Up Three Visits
School starts on Monday for Adrian Thomas. He’ll see old friends and talk about what everyone did, where they traveled to and where they worked at. But the 6-foot-6, 215-pound forward from Flanagan High School in Pembroke, Fla., will have a story that probably can’t be beat.
“I got big time,” he’ll tell his friends. “I got offers. Hopefully, I’ll go somewhere big time.”
Advertisement
After shining in July, Thomas said his basketball life made a drastic change.
“At the ABCD camp, I think I played my best,” Thomas said. “I got a lot of offers after that. I went from a mid-major player to a high-major player. Then after Vegas and L.A., I had even more. Yeah, the summer was good.”
The strong-bodied player is improving his small forward skills, particularly his perimeter game, as well as maintaining his aggressive attitude in and around the bucket. Three schools have set up visits and his offer list is at an all time high.
Thomas will trip to UCLA (Sept. 4), Georgia Tech (Sept. 22) and Pittsburgh (Sept. 24) for official visits. He also has an in-home visit planned with the Yellow Jackets’ coaching staff as well but the date is still trying to be finalized he said.
The No. 119 ranked player in the class of 2005 gave his thoughts on each of the programs he’d visit.
“I don’t know much about L.A., but it’s a nice city from what I saw when I was there in summer,” he said of UCLA. “The new staff seems like they have it together and they are going to be an up and coming program and try to get back to what they used to be.”
Georgia Tech has been able to ride their success of last season on the recruiting trail. Thomas likes the program’s future and development.
“The way the improve their players is something I like,” Thomas said. “I saw Ed Nelson, who is from my area, go there and he got better. I know he’s at UConn now but he got better at Georgia Tech. Plus, I know I’d like the city (of Atlanta). It’s close to home, too.”
With Pitt, Thomas feels like he can fit into their style of play.
“That’s the Big East. I like that. They play hard and they do it without any All-Americans,” he said. “They are a scrappy team and that’s my game. I like (assistant) coach (Joe) Lombardi. He’s a cool guy.”
Florida, Cincinnati and Nebraska have also tendered a scholarship, he said but there is a leader in his mind.
“I’d have to say I’m leaning towards Georgia Tech,” Thomas said candidly. “It’s close to home and I like the city."