Coaches flock to catch eye of big man
A talented big man is a coveted commodity. Elijah Thomas has broad shoulders and a smooth shooting stroke, and he carries more than 250 pounds on a 6-foot-9-inch frame.
He’s carrying a few too many pounds now as he plays back into basketball shape. A torn ligament in a finger forced him to take time off. He’s healthy again, but not yet in top shape.
Still, he is considered one of the best high school bigs in the nation, and he knows how many college basketball coaches covet his commitment.
“Not everybody can be recruited by a lot of schools, be able to go wherever you want and be an instant impact,” Thomas said. “It’s a big blessing.”
That’s also a description of the upcoming senior class. Talented big men are not in short supply, and Thomas is one of UNLV’s recruiting targets.
The Rebels’ coaches are zeroing in on a few good big men, most notably Stephen Zimmerman, a 7-foot senior from Bishop Gorman. Zimmerman is ranked the No. 7 player in his class by Rivals.com.
Chase Jeter, who is ranked eighth, is a 6-10 forward from Gorman. While the Rebels are in the running for Zimmerman, they are likely to fall short in their pursuit of Jeter, who is expected to commit to Duke.
Horace Spencer, a 6-9 forward from Findlay Prep, is another high-priority prospect for UNLV.
Thomas, from Lancaster, Texas, is ranked No. 11 by Rivals but believes he stands out from the crowd.
“I most definitely think I’m the best one overall. Not even just a big man. I think I’m the best player in my class,” Thomas said. “It’s a really good class. If you don’t think you’re the best, you’re setting yourself up for failure.”
Every elite high school player is asked about his list, which gets whittled to a short list whenever he feels like it. Thomas has UNLV on his short list, and he recited it Wednesday after playing on the opening day of the Las Vegas Fab 48 tournament at Gorman.
Illinois, Oklahoma State, UNLV, Texas, Southern Methodist, Louisiana State and Texas A&M form his list, in no particular order. Oklahoma State will get the first of his five official visits.
He said he plans to commit “no later than November,” and probably on a televised announcement on ESPNU.
Gone are the days when the Rebels had little chance of landing top 25-rated players. UNLV coach Dave Rice recently signed one of the nation’s top recruiting classes, and Thomas is well aware.
Rashad Vaughn, Dwayne Morgan, Goodluck Okonoboh and Jordan Cornish, the stars of the Rebels’ incoming freshman class, are doing their part to recruit Thomas.
“I talk to Rashad and Cornish almost every day,” Thomas said. “I have a lot of friends on the team. Las Vegas is a really good atmosphere. Playing in front of all those fans is my type of style, and flexing to the crowd is my type of game. Not every coach lets you do that.”
Thomas said he has a “really good bond” with Rice and UNLV assistants Todd Simon and Ryan Miller.
“Coach Simon was a high school coach at one point in time, so I can relate to him and he can relate to me,” Thomas said. “He’s more than just recruiting me. He helps me with my game, and if I have a bad game, he tells me what to work on to get better.”
Thomas can play better than he did Wednesday, when he scored 19 points for Team Texas in its 71-56 loss to New Heights (N.Y.).
Rice, Simon and Miller were watching from the front row.
Kansas’ Bill Self, Michigan State’s Tom Izzo and several other big-name coaches were roaming around the gym.
Every coach covets a talented big man, and UNLV’s interest in Thomas is mutual.
Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907. Follow him on Twitter: @mattyoumans247.
