St. Marys nabs athletic wing
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Head coach Randy Bennett and St. Mary's may have pulled off one of the bigger recruiting steals on the West Coast.
Three-star wing Elijah Thomas committed to the Gaels on Wednesday, according to Thomas' summer coach Kenny Mullins.
"Elijah is a fantastic kid and very talented young man," said Mullins, who coaches the Arizona Magic. "High major talent and character. He will do very well with Coach Bennett's style and history of developing great guards.
"Great program, great exposure, ESPN games, tourney visits, family lives close. He is happy."
A 6-foot-6 small forward from Peoria (Ariz.) Sunrise Mountain, Thomas is one of the best wing athletes on the West Coast.
While Thomas is certainly a high flyer, he has a developing set of skills. He has developed into a good mid-range jump shooter, and has ball-handling skills that make him a dangerous, slashing driver. Thomas also holds the potential to develop into a defensive stopper at the West Coast Conference level.
Those skills along with his size and athleticism would have made him an extremely attractive prospect to Pac-12 programs looking for help during the winter.
But, rather than wait, Thomas decided to go ahead and take the sure thing in Saint Mary's, where Bennett and his staff have been highly successful due to player development and the recognition of under the radar talent.
The addition of Thomas gives St. Mary's two perimeter players that could have played in the Pac-12. Rivals150 point guard Jordan Ford chose the Gaels earlier in September.
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