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'11 TN G/F Adonis Thomas (Memphis Verbal)

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Rivals.com
Scout.com

Adonis Thomas File
High school: Melrose
Height/weight: 6-5, 210
Position: Guard/Forward
Rankings: Rivals.com ranks him a five-star prospect and one of the top 15 overall prospects in the Class of 2011.
College offers: Arkansas, Florida, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Tennessee and the University of Memphis.
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Melrose High star Adonis Thomas wants to shine both on the court and in classroom
By Jason Smith (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal
Wednesday, July 1, 2009

It was Adonis Thomas' first time out of the country, and the 6-5 junior swingman from Melrose High was determined to be an asset for the 2009 USA Men's Under-16 National Team.

"My Spanish teacher was on me about learning a lot of Spanish before I got down there. So I was a big help," said Thomas, who showed off more than just his foreign-language skills in last month's FIBA Americas U16 Championship in Argentina.

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Brad Luttrell/The Commercial AppealBrad Luttrell/Special to The Commercial Appeal
Adonis Thomas, taking a break between workouts, is a junior-to-be at Melrose High and is a nationally ranked player.

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Adonis Thomas slams for two during Team USA's thrashing of Canada at the FIBA Americas U16 Championship in Argentina.

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USA BasketballThomas' proficiency in Spanish proved beneficial for his comrades on Team USA during their trip to Argentina.

Thomas, who's quickly developing into one of the nation's top prospects in the Class of 2011, averaged 13.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists over five games to help the USA capture the gold medal with an undefeated run through the tournament.

Thomas led the National Team in scoring in two of his five starts, pouring in a team-high 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting in the team's 110-82 tournament-opening victory over Brazil.

Four days later, after scoring a team-high 19 points in a 126-78 semifinal victory over Canada, Thomas grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out a team-high three assists in the USA's 101-87 gold-medal victory over tournament-host Argentina.

"It was a good experience out in Argentina. That was a fun and exciting thing for me," said Thomas, whom Rivals.com recruiting analyst Jerry Meyer rates as one of the top 15 overall prospects in the Class of 2011.

"It was real good because going into Argentina, they saw me as one of the best defensive players on the team. I thought that was good on my part. ... Being the best defender on the team says that I can guard a lot of the best players around this country."

Last week, following the U16 National Team's gold medal-winning performance in Argentina, Meyer called Thomas the best perimeter defender in the Class of 2011.

"He is an exceptional athlete with a strong competitive nature. There probably isn't a better perimeter defender than Thomas in the 2011 class," Meyer wrote.

"Offensively, Thomas attacks the basket with vigor and has the ability to change direction at a high rate of speed. If he gets to the rim, he will finish with authority. ... Bottom line is that Thomas is an elite wing prospect with plenty of upside."

Melrose boys basketball coach Jermaine Johnson said Thomas' National Team experience "revealed who he really is."

Though Thomas boasts scholarship offers already from Arkansas, Florida, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Tennessee and the University of Memphis, Johnson said his star player remains focused on improvement both on and off the court.

"One NBA scout told me he's a better person than he is a player, and he said, 'He's an awesome player,'" Johnson said. "Oftentimes, a lot of people try to say, 'Well, if this kid goes to an inner-city school, he won't get these opportunities.'

"Well, (Thomas) goes to an inner-city school, holds a 4.3 grade-point average and has already passed the ACT. So I think he's more so like an ambassador.
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Melrose High star Adonis Thomas wants to shine both on the court and in classroom : Preps : Memphis Commercial Appeal
 
I can't think of a single recent recruit from TN we've been in on but with a 4.3 gpa and having passed his ACT before his JR year has started this is one kid I'd like to see Thad go for rigorously. Sounds like a great all-around kid!

I think Thad has really learned from his mistakes on Golden and Wright and is being less "generous" with the early offers so when a kid has one this early you know he really would love to land him.
 
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Jason Smith: Melrose star Adonis Thomas piling up offers
By Jason Smith (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal
Tuesday, August 25, 2009

The scholarship offers continue to roll in for Melrose junior swingman Adonis Thomas, who most recently received an offer from Kansas and has also been contacted this summer by North Carolina.

A 6-foot-6 guard/forward who starred for the 2009 USA Men's Under-16 National Team that earned gold in June's FIBA Americas U16 Championship in Argentina, Thomas now has scholarship offers from Arkansas, Florida, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Tennessee and the University of Memphis.

After helping the USA capture gold at the FIBA Amercias U16 Championship, Melrose's Adonis Thomas has received calls from Kansas and North Carolina.

"Kansas (offered) last week," said Thomas, whom Rivals.com rates the No. 11 overall prospect in the class of 2011 and the No. 3 small forward prospect for 2011.

"They were saying how they think I'm one of the top players in my class, and they want me as a small forward."

Thomas said he's spoken with North Carolina head coach Roy Williams since participating last month in LeBron James' skills camp in Akron, Ohio. Williams signed former Briarcrest Christian guard Leslie McDonald last November.

"I was surprised that I heard from him," Thomas said. "It was a good conversation, a long conversation. He hasn't offered me yet. We just talked about how he liked me and how he was going to be recruiting me and that they were coming down in September to watch me work out in practice."

Thomas said Memphis remains in the mix for his services despite the penalties levied against the program last week by the NCAA.

"Nah, nothing's changed," he said.
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Jason Smith: Melrose star Adonis Thomas piling up offers : Columnists : Memphis Commercial Appeal
 
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Rivals $

2/26

By Snow...Adonis' father talks about his son's work ethic on and off the court (4.2 GPA)...still considering the likes of Memphis, Ohio State, Florida, Kentucky, Miami, Florida State, North Carolina, Duke, Maryland, Ole Miss, UTEP and Arkansas...his father talks about Coach Matta and Coach Major having been recruiting his son since the beginning.
 
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Updated: March 26, 2010
Versatility key to Thomas' success
By Matt Scott
Special to ESPN.com

Adonis Thomas is currently the No. 13 ranked player in the ESPNU Super 60 (ranking the class of 2011), but he just might have the biggest upside of the 12 players ranked ahead of him. At 6-foot-6, 205 pounds, Thomas simply can do everything on a basketball court -- with or without the ball.

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MemphisRoar.com
Adonis Thomas led his team to the Tennessee state championship last weekend.

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MemphisRoar.com
Thomas has impressed coaches with his ability to excel on and off the court.

Try to take his outside jumpshot away, which he improved upon throughout his junior season, and Thomas will use his quick first step and developing ball handling abilities to get to the rim. Take his driving ability away, and Thomas is more than willing to knock down shots from the perimeter. Thomas elevates the play of his teammates when on the court. His toughness and leadership qualities are legendary throughout his hometown of Memphis, Tenn.

To Thomas, losing isn't an option. Last weekend, Thomas and his Melrose High School teammates captured the Tennessee state championship by defeating Joe Jackson, Andre Hollins and White Station High School. The win in the state title game gave Melrose its fourth win of the year over league opponent and state powerhouse White Station. In the title game, Thomas contributed 19 points and 13 rebounds and was named to the state's all-tournament team.

According to Melrose coach Jermaine Johnson, Thomas has been the key ingredient in creating a powerhouse basketball program in Tennessee.

"Right before we got here three years ago, the program had won four games," Johnson explained. "Since we got here, the program has gotten better every year and I would say that he is the founding father of the program."

According to Johnson, it's not just what Thomas does on the offensive end of the floor that makes him a special player. It's his approach on defense that separates him from other players in the 2011 class.

"He takes pride in it," Johnson said. "He's so versatile, and he's probably the best defender in the country."

On the offensive end of the court, Johnson is quick to point out what everyone instantly sees when watching Thomas: his versatility.

"He plays a little bit like Kevin Durant. He's not as great of an outside shooter as Durant, but he brings that same kind of versatility," said Johnson. "He can play the 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 at the high school level.

"He's just a winner. He's won a gold medal with team USA this past summer, his AAU team won the Super 64 in Vegas and we just won a state title."

Johnson couldn't be more proud of his superstar player.

"He's a great person," said Johnson. "He's an outstanding student and even takes the time to go to elementary school to read to the kids."

With his high school season now complete, Thomas will start preparing for his last stint on the summer circuit. The summer will be filled with some of the top programs in the country filling the stands to watch Thomas. According to the small forward, the list of schools he is looking at is long and changes almost daily.

"I'm looking at Florida, UTEP, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Memphis, Tennessee, Ohio State, Kansas, Arkansas, North Carolina; and a lot more schools are still there too," said Thomas.
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ESPNU Super 60 forward Adonis Thomas' versatility sets him apart - ESPN
 
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Tigers' apathy upsets Melrose' Adonis Thomas
Golden Wildcat, coach want a visit
By Jason Smith
Posted April 22, 2010

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Adonis Thomas

Highly sought junior forward Adonis Thomas and his high school coach are in dispute with the University of Memphis over how aggressively the Tigers are pursuing the Melrose basketball star.

Melrose coach Jermaine Johnson said Wednesday that Memphis hasn't used its seven recruiting opportunities allowed by the NCAA in an academic year to see Thomas, a 6-6 wing and the area's top-rated prospect in the Class of 2011.

"I know for a fact they haven't used up their seven. I know that for a fact," Johnson said. "I did tell (Thomas), 'Three minutes away (from Melrose) and we haven't seen (Tigers coach Josh Pastner)?'

"We heard Josh Pastner was in Texas the last two days and has been to Clarksville (Tenn.), but this kid's stock is steady rising."

Pastner is not allowed by NCAA rules to discuss potential recruits. However, a source close to the Memphis program said the school has written documentation of each of its seven trips to see Thomas, including twice during the Region 8-AAA tournament at Central High.

Johnson said Thomas, whom Rivals.com ranks the No. 3 small forward prospect in the Class of 2011 and the No. 11 overall junior prospect nationally, received visits Wednesday at Melrose from coaches Thad Matta of Ohio State, Billy Donovan of Florida, John Pelphrey of Arkansas, Mike Anderson of Missouri and Tony Barbee of Auburn.
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Tigers' apathy upsets Melrose' Adonis Thomas ? The Commercial Appeal
 
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Rivals $ - Thomas hosts big time visitors

4/29

By Snow...Adonis' father talks about the excitement of head coaches, including Thad Matta who took the reins when Alan Major left for Charlotte, coming in to visit him...his father says his son and Coach Matta have been in close contact.

Maybe it's just me but I am not optimistic here...
 
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wadc45;1697915; said:
Rivals $ - Thomas hosts big time visitors

4/29

By Snow...Adonis' father talks about the excitement of head coaches, including Thad Matta who took the reins when Alan Major left for Charlotte, coming in to visit him...his father says his son and Coach Matta have been in close contact.

Maybe it's just me but I am not optimistic here...
Click to expand...

I hope you are wrong i would really like to get this kid.
 
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