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Published: April 14, 2009
Thomas wins 2nd Gooden Award
Michael RothsteinThe Journal Gazette


Laura J. Gardner | The Journal Gazette

Bishop Luers junior Deshaun Thomas receives the Tiffany Gooden Award from Gooden on Monday. Thomas also won the award last year.


Almost daily, Deshaun Thomas hears the pleas, and they aren?t even from Indiana coach Tom Crean.

They come from teachers and friends, from strangers and students. Please, they say, stay in Indiana. Play for the Hoosiers.

?It?s an every-day thing,? Thomas said. ?It?s ?Are you going to transfer? Are you going to go to IU? Why Ohio State?? I told everybody it?s what?s best for me.

?It?s a lot of pressure, but I stay in my books, not worry about it too much. I?m only a junior, I got one more year and then just worry about it next year.?

Thomas collected his second consecutive Tiffany Gooden Award, given to the best boys or girls basketball player in the Summit Athletic Conference, at a banquet co-sponsored by The Journal Gazette and U.S. Cellular on Monday.

He says it is easy to answer everyone?s questions.

Yes, he?s still going to play for Ohio State. No, he?s not leaving Fort Wayne his senior year for Oak Hill or any other prep school. Instead, he?ll focus on trying to win three state titles in a row at Bishop Luers, trying to become an All-American and becoming the first player since the inception of the Gooden Award to win it three times.

?It was never a thought,? Thomas said of leaving for a prep school. ?It was just a rumor going around. This is Indiana. This is where my family is at. Putting Indiana on the map, this is home to me right here, right now. I?m here. I?m not going nowhere. I?m staying at Bishop Luers.?

Thomas wins 2nd Gooden Award | The Journal Gazette