UGA MBB
Portal
*Activity in the last 24 hours
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**Amaree Abram PG Mississippi 6-4 190 FR TX 8.0 2.0 2.0 ( Visit this weekend)
*Nahiem Alleyne SG Connecticut 6-4 195 SR GA 5.2 1.2 0.8
Nigel Burris PF Idaho 6-7 222 FR CA 8.8 5.0 0.5
Tyzhaun Claude PF Western Carolina 6-8 235 JR NC 15.4 8.6 0.5
*Matthew Cleveland SG FSU 6-7 200 SO GA 13.8 7.4 1.8
El Ellis SG/PG Louisville 6-3 180 SR NC 17.7 2.6 4.4
*Joe Girard SG Syracuse 6-1 190 SR NY 16.4 2.8 3.0
Ishmael Leggett SG Rhode Island 6-3 190 SO MD 16.4 5.8 2.4
Reggie Luis SF Massachusetts 6-7 196 FR FL 11.5 4.6 1.3
**RJ Melendez SF Illinois 6-7 205 SO PR 6.0 3.5 0.9 (Visit this weekend)
Ben Middlebrooks PF Clemson 6-10 242 SO FL 3.1 2.7 0.4
Shawn Phillips C LSU FR 7-0 245 FR OH 1.4 2.2 0.2
*Carlos Stewart PG Santa Clara 6-1 185 SO LA 15.4 2.4 2.3
Myles Stute SF Vanderbilt 6-7 215 JR DC 8.4 4.6 0.6
Evan Taylor SG Lehigh 6-6 205 SR IL 14.2 6.5 1.1
**Russell Tchewa C South Florida 7-0 280 JR Cameroon 11.1 8.8 0.9 (Visit this weekend)
Noah Thomasson SG Niagara 6-3 195 SR TX 19.6 3.8 3.5 (Visit 4-21)
Niagara transfer Noah Thomasson will visit San Francisco on April 14-15 and Georgia on April 21-22, he tells @hoopgate.
Niagara transfer Noah Thomasson (@NoahTheShow) has scheduled a visit to St. John’s April 25-26th, he tells me.
Averaged 19.5 PPG this season.
Buffalo News:
“Noah Thomasson toted a bag of garbage to his dormitory’s community trash receptacle when he saw the alert on his phone last April from Marcus Hammond.
Hammond, a guard on the Niagara men’s basketball team and the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference's second-leading scorer in 2021-22, told the world through his social media accounts that he planned to transfer to Notre Dame for his final year of eligibility.
For a few seconds, Thomasson was startled by the announcement. Then, he thanked Hammond for what he did as a teammate. Then Thomasson realized something: His role at Niagara was about to become more significant, going into the 2022-23 season.
“I was happy for him, and that’s one of the closest teammates I’ve ever had,” Thomasson said of Hammond, who averaged 18.1 points in 29 games last season. “I also looked at it as an opportunity for me to showcase my talent and my ability.”
His first year at Niagara, Thomasson went through homesickness, adjusting to new teammates and learning a new system and style of basketball as a transfer from Butler (Kan.) Community College.
The prospect of taking a bigger role in his second season with the Purple Eagles terrified Thomasson a little bit, too. How does a team replace its leading scorer and the spark plug of its offense, anyways?
Ultimately, the challenge energized him.
“I thought, I’ve got to work,” Thomasson said. “I’ve got to step my game up. I’ve got to do more.”
Thomasson, a 6-foot-3 senior, is one of two co-leaders in scoring in the MAAC; he and Marist’s Patrick Gardner each average 18.9 points. Thomasson averages 4.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 24 games for the Purple Eagles (14-10, 9-6 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference), who play at 7 p.m. Friday at Mount St. Mary’s in Emmitsburg, Md., and then at 2 p.m. Sunday at Marist in Poughkeepsie.
The Purple Eagles are fourth in the 11-team MAAC with five games left in the regular season; the top five teams in the conference earn a bye to the quarterfinals of the MAAC Tournament, which begins March 7 in Atlantic City, N.J.
“Going into this upcoming season, we had 10 new guys, and for him, with his experience, his leadership, he’s somebody that we’ve talked about who has dependability and consistency,” coach Greg Paulus said. “He’s a guy that has really demonstrated that, each and every day, whether it’s practice, film or games. Last year he may have thought it was Marcus’ team, or someone that’s been in the program for a couple years. This year, Noah, with experience and who he’s becoming, we want him to lead us. That’s something he’s done a terrific job at.”
From Houston to Kansas
As a freshman at Houston Baptist, which is now Houston Christian, Thomasson lived in a dormitory that was less than 15 minutes from his home in Houston, and he’d split time between his family’s home and campus. He worries he spent a little too much time at home.
He averaged four points and 1.1 rebounds in 24 games in 2019-20, and Houston Baptist won only four games that season. Thomasson realized he wanted a different college basketball experience.
“I felt like I wanted a lot more,” said Thomasson, who grew up in Houston. “I had high expectations for myself.
“I’m not saying Houston Baptist didn’t have aspirations to win, but it was a tough year and I really didn’t make the right decisions at school. And I just said, ‘Maybe I need a new start. Maybe getting away from home might be the best thing for that.’ ”
Butler coach Kyle Fisher, though, saw a project when Thomasson got to Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kan., in August 2020.
“He was not in any condition to be a college basketball player,” Fisher said. “He came in after the Covid shutdown. There was no NCAA Tournament. Most of the gyms were locked up. The first thing he had to work really hard on was to get his conditioning back.”
Chance Westry SG Auburn 6-6 190 FR PA
2.5 0.7 1.0
**Sahvir Wheeler PG Kentucky 5-9 180 SR TX 7.7 2.3 5.6 (Visited last weekend)
The Athletic:
72. Sahvir Wheeler | 5-9 point guard | One year of eligibility | Kentucky
“Ever since seeing him at the grassroots level, I’ve always been a fan. Back then what stood out was his motor and willingness to guard 94 feet. He needs to get in a program that can really bring that defensive pest out of him. He also needs to play in the right system offensively, where his speed and passing can be utilized. He can get his feet in the paint and get guys shots. He’s never been a good shooter, but he deserves some credit for getting to a point where he can at least make an open 3. He made 15-of-41 (36.6 percent) this season. He probably caught too much flak for his play at Kentucky. He wasn’t the type of talent Kentucky fans are used to seeing at point guard. But it takes a real pro to shine in John Calipari’s offense, which lacks creativity and flow. Put shooters around him and a big who can catch and finish, and he’s going to rack up assists. Obviously there’s some limitations defensively because of his size, but he’s going to battle.”
Tedrick Wilcox SG St. Francis, NY 6-6 188 SR RI 11.3 3.7 2.1
Latrell Wrightsell SG Cal Fullerton 6-3 189 JR NE 16.3 4.5 2.4
UGA Follows on Twitter:
Amaree Abram PG Mississippi
Dale Bonner PG Baylor
Ricky Bradley PG VMI
Nigel Burris F Idaho State
**Blue Cain SG IMG (Georgia Tech) (Followed by multiple UGA coaches, visited last weekend)
Nate Calmese SG Lamar
Chico Carter SG South Carolina
Tyzhaun Claude PF Western Carolina
Batcho Daniel C Texas Tech
Jared Garcia PF Salt Lake CC
Hakim Hart SG Maryland
*Keshon Johnson F San Diego State
Dalton Knecht SF Northern Colorado
Ishmael Leggett SG Rhode Island
Reggie Luis SG Massachusetts
RJ Melendez SF Illinois
Julian Roper SG Northwestern
Myles Stute SF Vanderbilt
UGA Followers on Twitter:
Amaree Abram PG Mississippi
Ricky Bradley PG VMI
Nigel Burris F Idaho State
**Blue Cain SG IMG Georgia Tech
Chico Carter SG South Carolina
Tyzhaun Claude PF Western Carolina
Jared Garcia PF Salt Lake
Dalton Knecht SF Northern Colorado
Julian Roper SG Northwestern
Myles Stute SF Vanderbilt
Asher Woods SG VMI ( Following UGA Coaches and Charles Mann)
2023 HS Signees affected by coaching changes we would love to talk to:
Contacted: Blue Cain SG IMG - Georgia Tech (NIL release) 6-4 180 (UGA Contact) (UGA follows him and his parents on social media and they follow back) (Visited last weekend)
Brandon Gardner PF Christ the King - St.John’s (Originally from Waynesboro) (Released from NLI)
Committed Elsewhere:
Bradley Dean SG UVA Wise - Miami, OH
Tyler Houser C VMI - Delaware
Xander Rice PG Bucknell - Monmouth
BJ Mack PF Wofford - Not in his final 10
Lawson Lovering C Colorado - Utah
EJ Jarvis PF Yale - Florida
Jaykwon Walton SF Wichita St - Alabama
Ta’lon Cooper PG Minn - South Carolina
Kadin Shedrick C Virginia - Not on final list
Mike Meadows SG Portland - Loyola, LA
Jerome Brakefield PF Miss - Mississippi
Johnny O’Neil PF American - Santa Clara
Jordan Minor PF Merrimack - Virginia
Jayden Pierre PG Providence - Providence
Primo Spears PG Georgetown (Not in his final list)
Josh Cohen PF St. Francis Massachusetts
John Hugley PF Pittsburgh (Not in his final three)
Denver Jones SG Florida International - Auburn
Chris Ledlum PF Harvard (Not among his list of visits)
Nicolas Timberlake SG Towson (Not among his list of visits)
Kowacie Reeves SF Florida - Georgia Tech
Caleb Mills SG FSU - Memphis
Damian Dunn SG Temple - Houston
Maxwell Land SG St. Francis, Pa - South Alabama
Keshon Gilbert SG UNLV - Iowa State
Jalen Cone PG Northern Arizona - California
Johnathan Pierre SF Nova Southeastern - Memphis
Jayden Epps PG Illinois - Georgetown
Micah Handlogten C Marshall - Florida
Jackson Paveletzke PG Wofford - Iowa State
Justin Harmon SG Utah Valley - Illinois
Quincy Olivari SG Rice - (Not in too 4)
Jayden Taylor SG Butler - NC State
Brice Williams SF Charlotte - Nebraska
AJ Storr SG St. John’s - Wisconsin
Isiah Pope SF Utah Tech - Fresno State
Jesse Edwards C Syracuse (Kansas, Gonzaga, WVA)
NCAA Basketball
The Athletic’s top 80
1 Dickinson C Michigan
2 Perry PG North Texas
3 Nembhard PG Creighton
4 Cook PG Tulane - LSU
5 Baldwin SG VCU - Penn State
6 Abamas SG Oral Roberts
7 Ashworth PG Utah State
8 Starling SG Notre Dame - Syracuse
9 Cryer G Baylor - Houston
10 Bradley PG Alabama
11 Bamba SG Washington State - Villanova
12 Nkamhua PF Tennessee
13 Lukosius SF Butler
14 Hart SF Maryland
15 Estrada SG Hofstra (Alabama, Kansas State, Florida State, Cincinnati)
16 Knecht SF Northern Colorado
17 Walton SG Wichita State - Alabama
18 Onyenso C Kentucky - Kentucky
19 Williams SF Nevada
20 Clayton PG Iona - Florida
21 Love SG North Carolina - Michigan
22 Ware C Oregon - Indiana
*23 Luis SF Massachusetts
24 Venters SF Eastern Wash - Gonzaga
25 Handlogten C Marshall - Florida
26 Menifield PG Washington - Arkansas
27 Ingram SF Stanford
28 Paveletzke G Wofford - Iowa State
29 Kriisa PG Arizona - West Virginia
30 Batcho C Texas Tech
31 Baker C Nevada - LSU
32 Rohde SF St. Thomas
33 Oduro PF Georgie Washington- Providence
34 Timberlake SG Towson
35 Aimaq C Texas Tech - California
36 Ike C Wyoming
37 Traore PF Auburn
38 Boone PF Oklahoma State
39 Mark SG Houston - Arkansas
40 Westry SG Auburn
41 Storr SG St. John’s - Wisconsin
42 DeLoach C VCU
43 Murray SG Georgetown - Mississippi
44 Nelson PG Delaware - TCU
45 Armstrong G Cal Baptist
46 Jones SG FIU - Auburn
47 Domask SF Southern Illinois - Illinois
48 Lands SF Louisville - Arizona State
49 Wrightsell SG Cal Fullerton
50 Mast C Bradley - Nebraska
51 Miller PG Central Mich - Wake Forest
52 Clark PG Illinois - Louisville
53 Nunn SG VCU
54 Bynum PG Providence
55 Rice SG Kansas
56 Krikke C Valparaiso - Iowa
57 Small G East Carolina
58 McCollum G Siena
*59 Abram G Mississippi
60 Anderson G Oklahoma State
61 Alexander G St. John’s
62 Ledlum SF Harvard
63 Ryan SG Notre Dame
64 Olivari SG Rice (Miami, Auburn, Texas, Xavier)
65 Epps PG Illinois - Georgetown
66 Jenkins SG Iona - St. John’s
67 Gainey SG SC Upstate
68 Lenard SF MTSU - Memphis
69 Shedrick C Virginia
70 Lampkin C TCU - Colorado
71 Minor PF Merrimack - Virginia
*72 Wheeler PG Kentucky
73 Hill SF Oklahoma
74 Sallis G Gonzaga
75 Taylor SG Butler - NC State
76 Dunn SG Temple - Houston
77 Battle SF Minnesota - Ohio State
78 Tonje SG Colorado State - Missouri
79 Girard G Syracuse
80 Clemence C Kansas
By School:
Alabama
Jaykwon Walton Wichita State 6-7
Arizona State
Kamari Lands Louisville 6-8
Arkansas
Khalif Battle Temple 6-5
Jeremiah Davenport Cincinnati 6-7
Tramon Mark Houston 6-5
Keyon Menifield Washington 6-1
Auburn
Denver Jones Florida International 6-4
Boise State
Roddie Anderson San Diego 6-2
Cam Martin Kansas 6-9
Boston College
Claudell Harris Charleston Southern 6-3
Butler
Pierre Brooks Michigan State 6-6
Andre Screen Bucknell 7-0
California
Fardaws Aimaq Texas Tech 6-11
Jalen Cone Northern Arizona 5-10
Cincinnati
Jamille Reynolds Temple 6-9
Clemson
Jake Heidbreder Air Force 6-5
Colorado
Eddie Lampkin TCU 6-11
Creighton
Isaac Traudt Virginia 6-10
Dayton
Javon Bennett Merrimack 5-11
Enoch Cheeks Robert Morris 6-3
DePaul
Jaden Henley Minnesota 6-7
Jetemiah Oden Wyoming 6-8
East Carolina
Bobby Pettiford Kansas 6-1
Florida
Walter Clayton Iona 6-3
Micah Handlogten Marshall 7-1
EJ Jarvis Yale 6-8
Florida Gulf Coast
Dallion Johnson Penn State 6-3
Fresno State
Enoch Boakye Arizona State 6-10
Xavier Dusell Wyoming 6-4
Isiah Pope Utah Tech 6-6
George Washimgton
Benny Schroder Oklahoma 6-7
Georgetown
Rowan Brumbaugh Texas 6-4
Jayden Epps Illinois 6-1
Dontrez Styles North Carolina 6-6
Georgia Tech
Ebenezer Dowuona NC State 6-11
Kowacie Reeves Florida 6-7
Gonzaga
Steve Venters Eastern Washington 6-7
Hawaii
Justin McKoy North Carolina 6-8
Houston
LJ Cryer Baylor 6-1
Damien Dunn Temple 6-5
Illinois
Marcus Domask Southern Illinois 6-6
Justin Harmon Utah Valley 6-4
Indiana
Payton Sparks Ball State 6-9
Ke’lel Ware Oregon 7-0
Iowa
Ben Krikke Valparaiso 6-9
Iowa State
Keshon Gilbert UNLV 6-4
Jackson Paveletzke Wofford 6-5
LSU
Baker Nevada 7-0
Jalen Cook Tulane 6-0
Jordan Wright Vanderbilt 6-6
Louisville
Skyy Clark Illinois 6-1
Loyola Chicago
Dame Adelekun Dartmouth 6-8
Desmond Watson Davidson 6-5
Loyola Maramount
Justice Hill LSU 6-0
Mike Meadows Portland 6-2
Justin Wright NC Central 6-2
Maryland
Chance Stephens Loyola Maramount 6-3
Massachusetts
Josh Cohen St. Francis 6-10
Memphis
Nick Jourdain Temple 6-8
Teafale Lenard MTSU 6-7
Caleb Mills FSU 6-5
Johnathan Pierre Nova SE 6-9
Michigan
Nimari Burnett Alabama 6-4
Tray Jackson Seton Hall 6-10
Caleb Love North Carolina 6-4
Minnesota
Mike Mitchell Pepperdine 6-2
Jack Wilson Washington State 6-11
Mississippi
Brandon Murray Georgetown 6-5
Missouri
John Tonje Colorado State 6-5
Nebraska
Rienk Mast Bradley 6-9
Brice Williams Charlotte 6-7
New Mexico
Nelly Junior Joseph Iona 6-9
North Carolina
Jaelyn Withers Louisville 6-8
Paxson Wojcick Brown 6-5
North Carolina State
Jayden Taylor Butler 6-3
Northern Illinois
Doctor Bradley 6-8 New Mexico State
Ohio State
Jamison Battle Minnesota 6-7
Penn State
Ace Baldwin VCU 6-1
Nick Kern VCU 6-5
Pepperdine
Ethan Anderson Wyoming 6-1
Pittsburgh
Zach Austin High Point 6-5
Providence
Justyn Fernandes George Mason 6-5
Devonte Gaines George Mason 6-7
Josh Oduro George Mason 6-9
Purdue
Lance Jones Southern Illinois 6-1
Rhode Island
Jaden House High Point 6-3
Zek Montgomery Bradley 6-6
Rice
Sam Alijiki California 6-7
Rutgers
Noah Fernandes Massachusetts 5-11
St. John’s
Daniss Jenkins Hofstra 6-3
St. Louis
CJ Noland Oklahoma 6-2
San Diego State
Reese Dixon-Waters USC 6-5
South Alabama
Thomas Howell UL Monroe 6-8
Maxwell Land St. Francis 6-4
Samuel Tabe Seton Hill 6-5
South Carolina
Stephen Clark Citadel 6-8
Ta’lon Cooper Minnesota 6-4
South Florida
Kasen Jennings Kennesaw State 6-3
Braden Stroud Kennesaw State 6-6
Chris Youngblood Kennesaw State 6-4
SMU
Denver Anglin Georgetown 6-1
Chuck Harris Butler 6-2
Syracuse
JJ Starling Notre Dame 6-4
TCU
Essam Mostafa Charlotte 6-9
Jameer Nelson Delaware 6-1
Trey Tennyson Texas A&M CC 6-4
Texas State
Coleton Benson Army 6-1
Tulsa
Isaiah Barnes Michigan 6-7
UAB
Daniel Ortiz North Alabama 6-0
James White Mississippi 6-6
UCLA
Larry Stefanovic Utah 6-7
Utah
Lawson Lovering Colorado 7-1
Villanova
Mo Bamba Washington 6-1
Virginia
Jordan Minor Merrimack 6-8
Virginia Tech
Mekhi Long Old Dominion 6-7
Tyler Nickel North Carolina 6-7
Wake Forest
Kevin Miller Central Michigan 6-0
Washington
Anthony Holland Fresno State 6-5
Moses Wood Portland 6-8
West Virginia
Kerr Kriisa Arizona 6-3
Western Carolina
Corneilous Williams LSU 6-10
Wichita State
Harold Beverly Miami 6-6
Jacob Germany UTSA 6-11
Wisconsin
Noah Reynolds Wyoming 6-3
AJ Storr St. John’s 6-6
Xavier
Logan Duncomb Indiana 6-10
Dayvion McKnight Western Kentucky 6-1
NCAA Basketball in general
Alabama
Alabama.com: Alabama men’s basketball signs last high school commit, adds Kris Parker
https://www.al.com/alabamabasketbal...l-commit-adds-kris-parker.html?outputType=amp
Auburn
Alabama.com: Auburn basketball updates official roster, hinting toward personnel decisions for 2023-24
https://www.al.com/auburnbasketball...nel-decisions-for-2023-24.html?outputType=amp
FSU
SB Nation: Reports: FSU assistant coach R-Jay Barsh expected to leave for Gonzaga job
https://www.tomahawknation.com/plat...jay-r-jay-barsh-bulldogs-mark-few-gonzaga-job
Georgia Tech
AJC: Georgia Tech hires basketball assistants Pershin Williams, Karl Hobbs
https://www.ajc.com/sports/georgia-...lliams-karl-hobbs/DRJI6KOFFJGBLOPELZ6XZ6CYA4/
Kennesaw State
AJC: Antoine Pettway on Kennesaw State men’s basketball: ‘We are not starting over’
https://www.ajc.com/sports/state-sp...not-starting-over/EGX3FTNKONGP5IMC4GLMXUVAFE/
Michigan State
Detroit Free Press: Tom Izzo has high hopes for Michigan State basketball in 2023-24
https://www.freep.com/story/sports/...alker-jeremy-fears-xavier-booker/70109343007/
Missouri
Columbia Daily Tribune: Inside Mizzou basketball’s search for a transfer portal post player
https://www.columbiatribune.com/sto...or-a-transfer-portal-post-player/70104955007/
Nebraska
Omaha World Herald: Rienk Mast commits to Nebraska basketball
https://omaha.com/sports/huskers/me...cle_8ab14ca5-5e8e-56ba-aebe-e3d1fd9445af.html
Northern Kentucky
Oregon
Oregon live: Junior college transfer Jadrian Tracey officially signs with Oregon men’s basketball
https://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/20...th-oregon-mens-basketball.html?outputType=amp
South Florida
TB Times: Salary, contract details for new USF basketball coach Amir Abdur-Rahim
https://www.tampabay.com/sports/bul...dur-rahim-usf-contract-buyout-kennesaw-state/
Tennessee
Knoxville News: Tennessee basketball hosting transfers Chris Ledlum, Dalton Knecht
https://www.knoxnews.com/story/spor...on-knecht-transfer-portal-roster/69497886007/
Virginia
SB Nation: COMMITMENT: UVA basketball lands Merrimack graduate transfer Jordan Minor
https://www.streakingthelawn.com/pl...jordan-minor-transfer-commitment-tony-bennett
Portal
*Activity in the last 24 hours
**Interaction
Contacted:
**Amaree Abram PG Mississippi 6-4 190 FR TX 8.0 2.0 2.0 ( Visit this weekend)
*Nahiem Alleyne SG Connecticut 6-4 195 SR GA 5.2 1.2 0.8
Nigel Burris PF Idaho 6-7 222 FR CA 8.8 5.0 0.5
Tyzhaun Claude PF Western Carolina 6-8 235 JR NC 15.4 8.6 0.5
*Matthew Cleveland SG FSU 6-7 200 SO GA 13.8 7.4 1.8
El Ellis SG/PG Louisville 6-3 180 SR NC 17.7 2.6 4.4
*Joe Girard SG Syracuse 6-1 190 SR NY 16.4 2.8 3.0
Ishmael Leggett SG Rhode Island 6-3 190 SO MD 16.4 5.8 2.4
Reggie Luis SF Massachusetts 6-7 196 FR FL 11.5 4.6 1.3
**RJ Melendez SF Illinois 6-7 205 SO PR 6.0 3.5 0.9 (Visit this weekend)
Ben Middlebrooks PF Clemson 6-10 242 SO FL 3.1 2.7 0.4
Shawn Phillips C LSU FR 7-0 245 FR OH 1.4 2.2 0.2
*Carlos Stewart PG Santa Clara 6-1 185 SO LA 15.4 2.4 2.3
Myles Stute SF Vanderbilt 6-7 215 JR DC 8.4 4.6 0.6
Evan Taylor SG Lehigh 6-6 205 SR IL 14.2 6.5 1.1
**Russell Tchewa C South Florida 7-0 280 JR Cameroon 11.1 8.8 0.9 (Visit this weekend)
Noah Thomasson SG Niagara 6-3 195 SR TX 19.6 3.8 3.5 (Visit 4-21)
Niagara transfer Noah Thomasson will visit San Francisco on April 14-15 and Georgia on April 21-22, he tells @hoopgate.
Niagara transfer Noah Thomasson (@NoahTheShow) has scheduled a visit to St. John’s April 25-26th, he tells me.
Averaged 19.5 PPG this season.
Buffalo News:
“Noah Thomasson toted a bag of garbage to his dormitory’s community trash receptacle when he saw the alert on his phone last April from Marcus Hammond.
Hammond, a guard on the Niagara men’s basketball team and the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference's second-leading scorer in 2021-22, told the world through his social media accounts that he planned to transfer to Notre Dame for his final year of eligibility.
For a few seconds, Thomasson was startled by the announcement. Then, he thanked Hammond for what he did as a teammate. Then Thomasson realized something: His role at Niagara was about to become more significant, going into the 2022-23 season.
“I was happy for him, and that’s one of the closest teammates I’ve ever had,” Thomasson said of Hammond, who averaged 18.1 points in 29 games last season. “I also looked at it as an opportunity for me to showcase my talent and my ability.”
His first year at Niagara, Thomasson went through homesickness, adjusting to new teammates and learning a new system and style of basketball as a transfer from Butler (Kan.) Community College.
The prospect of taking a bigger role in his second season with the Purple Eagles terrified Thomasson a little bit, too. How does a team replace its leading scorer and the spark plug of its offense, anyways?
Ultimately, the challenge energized him.
“I thought, I’ve got to work,” Thomasson said. “I’ve got to step my game up. I’ve got to do more.”
Thomasson, a 6-foot-3 senior, is one of two co-leaders in scoring in the MAAC; he and Marist’s Patrick Gardner each average 18.9 points. Thomasson averages 4.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 24 games for the Purple Eagles (14-10, 9-6 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference), who play at 7 p.m. Friday at Mount St. Mary’s in Emmitsburg, Md., and then at 2 p.m. Sunday at Marist in Poughkeepsie.
The Purple Eagles are fourth in the 11-team MAAC with five games left in the regular season; the top five teams in the conference earn a bye to the quarterfinals of the MAAC Tournament, which begins March 7 in Atlantic City, N.J.
“Going into this upcoming season, we had 10 new guys, and for him, with his experience, his leadership, he’s somebody that we’ve talked about who has dependability and consistency,” coach Greg Paulus said. “He’s a guy that has really demonstrated that, each and every day, whether it’s practice, film or games. Last year he may have thought it was Marcus’ team, or someone that’s been in the program for a couple years. This year, Noah, with experience and who he’s becoming, we want him to lead us. That’s something he’s done a terrific job at.”
From Houston to Kansas
As a freshman at Houston Baptist, which is now Houston Christian, Thomasson lived in a dormitory that was less than 15 minutes from his home in Houston, and he’d split time between his family’s home and campus. He worries he spent a little too much time at home.
He averaged four points and 1.1 rebounds in 24 games in 2019-20, and Houston Baptist won only four games that season. Thomasson realized he wanted a different college basketball experience.
“I felt like I wanted a lot more,” said Thomasson, who grew up in Houston. “I had high expectations for myself.
“I’m not saying Houston Baptist didn’t have aspirations to win, but it was a tough year and I really didn’t make the right decisions at school. And I just said, ‘Maybe I need a new start. Maybe getting away from home might be the best thing for that.’ ”
Butler coach Kyle Fisher, though, saw a project when Thomasson got to Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kan., in August 2020.
“He was not in any condition to be a college basketball player,” Fisher said. “He came in after the Covid shutdown. There was no NCAA Tournament. Most of the gyms were locked up. The first thing he had to work really hard on was to get his conditioning back.”
Chance Westry SG Auburn 6-6 190 FR PA
2.5 0.7 1.0
**Sahvir Wheeler PG Kentucky 5-9 180 SR TX 7.7 2.3 5.6 (Visited last weekend)
The Athletic:
72. Sahvir Wheeler | 5-9 point guard | One year of eligibility | Kentucky
“Ever since seeing him at the grassroots level, I’ve always been a fan. Back then what stood out was his motor and willingness to guard 94 feet. He needs to get in a program that can really bring that defensive pest out of him. He also needs to play in the right system offensively, where his speed and passing can be utilized. He can get his feet in the paint and get guys shots. He’s never been a good shooter, but he deserves some credit for getting to a point where he can at least make an open 3. He made 15-of-41 (36.6 percent) this season. He probably caught too much flak for his play at Kentucky. He wasn’t the type of talent Kentucky fans are used to seeing at point guard. But it takes a real pro to shine in John Calipari’s offense, which lacks creativity and flow. Put shooters around him and a big who can catch and finish, and he’s going to rack up assists. Obviously there’s some limitations defensively because of his size, but he’s going to battle.”
Tedrick Wilcox SG St. Francis, NY 6-6 188 SR RI 11.3 3.7 2.1
Latrell Wrightsell SG Cal Fullerton 6-3 189 JR NE 16.3 4.5 2.4
UGA Follows on Twitter:
Amaree Abram PG Mississippi
Dale Bonner PG Baylor
Ricky Bradley PG VMI
Nigel Burris F Idaho State
**Blue Cain SG IMG (Georgia Tech) (Followed by multiple UGA coaches, visited last weekend)
Nate Calmese SG Lamar
Chico Carter SG South Carolina
Tyzhaun Claude PF Western Carolina
Batcho Daniel C Texas Tech
Jared Garcia PF Salt Lake CC
Hakim Hart SG Maryland
*Keshon Johnson F San Diego State
Dalton Knecht SF Northern Colorado
Ishmael Leggett SG Rhode Island
Reggie Luis SG Massachusetts
RJ Melendez SF Illinois
Julian Roper SG Northwestern
Myles Stute SF Vanderbilt
UGA Followers on Twitter:
Amaree Abram PG Mississippi
Ricky Bradley PG VMI
Nigel Burris F Idaho State
**Blue Cain SG IMG Georgia Tech
Chico Carter SG South Carolina
Tyzhaun Claude PF Western Carolina
Jared Garcia PF Salt Lake
Dalton Knecht SF Northern Colorado
Julian Roper SG Northwestern
Myles Stute SF Vanderbilt
Asher Woods SG VMI ( Following UGA Coaches and Charles Mann)
2023 HS Signees affected by coaching changes we would love to talk to:
Contacted: Blue Cain SG IMG - Georgia Tech (NIL release) 6-4 180 (UGA Contact) (UGA follows him and his parents on social media and they follow back) (Visited last weekend)
Brandon Gardner PF Christ the King - St.John’s (Originally from Waynesboro) (Released from NLI)
Committed Elsewhere:
Bradley Dean SG UVA Wise - Miami, OH
Tyler Houser C VMI - Delaware
Xander Rice PG Bucknell - Monmouth
BJ Mack PF Wofford - Not in his final 10
Lawson Lovering C Colorado - Utah
EJ Jarvis PF Yale - Florida
Jaykwon Walton SF Wichita St - Alabama
Ta’lon Cooper PG Minn - South Carolina
Kadin Shedrick C Virginia - Not on final list
Mike Meadows SG Portland - Loyola, LA
Jerome Brakefield PF Miss - Mississippi
Johnny O’Neil PF American - Santa Clara
Jordan Minor PF Merrimack - Virginia
Jayden Pierre PG Providence - Providence
Primo Spears PG Georgetown (Not in his final list)
Josh Cohen PF St. Francis Massachusetts
John Hugley PF Pittsburgh (Not in his final three)
Denver Jones SG Florida International - Auburn
Chris Ledlum PF Harvard (Not among his list of visits)
Nicolas Timberlake SG Towson (Not among his list of visits)
Kowacie Reeves SF Florida - Georgia Tech
Caleb Mills SG FSU - Memphis
Damian Dunn SG Temple - Houston
Maxwell Land SG St. Francis, Pa - South Alabama
Keshon Gilbert SG UNLV - Iowa State
Jalen Cone PG Northern Arizona - California
Johnathan Pierre SF Nova Southeastern - Memphis
Jayden Epps PG Illinois - Georgetown
Micah Handlogten C Marshall - Florida
Jackson Paveletzke PG Wofford - Iowa State
Justin Harmon SG Utah Valley - Illinois
Quincy Olivari SG Rice - (Not in too 4)
Jayden Taylor SG Butler - NC State
Brice Williams SF Charlotte - Nebraska
AJ Storr SG St. John’s - Wisconsin
Isiah Pope SF Utah Tech - Fresno State
Jesse Edwards C Syracuse (Kansas, Gonzaga, WVA)
NCAA Basketball
The Athletic’s top 80
1 Dickinson C Michigan
2 Perry PG North Texas
3 Nembhard PG Creighton
4 Cook PG Tulane - LSU
5 Baldwin SG VCU - Penn State
6 Abamas SG Oral Roberts
7 Ashworth PG Utah State
8 Starling SG Notre Dame - Syracuse
9 Cryer G Baylor - Houston
10 Bradley PG Alabama
11 Bamba SG Washington State - Villanova
12 Nkamhua PF Tennessee
13 Lukosius SF Butler
14 Hart SF Maryland
15 Estrada SG Hofstra (Alabama, Kansas State, Florida State, Cincinnati)
16 Knecht SF Northern Colorado
17 Walton SG Wichita State - Alabama
18 Onyenso C Kentucky - Kentucky
19 Williams SF Nevada
20 Clayton PG Iona - Florida
21 Love SG North Carolina - Michigan
22 Ware C Oregon - Indiana
*23 Luis SF Massachusetts
24 Venters SF Eastern Wash - Gonzaga
25 Handlogten C Marshall - Florida
26 Menifield PG Washington - Arkansas
27 Ingram SF Stanford
28 Paveletzke G Wofford - Iowa State
29 Kriisa PG Arizona - West Virginia
30 Batcho C Texas Tech
31 Baker C Nevada - LSU
32 Rohde SF St. Thomas
33 Oduro PF Georgie Washington- Providence
34 Timberlake SG Towson
35 Aimaq C Texas Tech - California
36 Ike C Wyoming
37 Traore PF Auburn
38 Boone PF Oklahoma State
39 Mark SG Houston - Arkansas
40 Westry SG Auburn
41 Storr SG St. John’s - Wisconsin
42 DeLoach C VCU
43 Murray SG Georgetown - Mississippi
44 Nelson PG Delaware - TCU
45 Armstrong G Cal Baptist
46 Jones SG FIU - Auburn
47 Domask SF Southern Illinois - Illinois
48 Lands SF Louisville - Arizona State
49 Wrightsell SG Cal Fullerton
50 Mast C Bradley - Nebraska
51 Miller PG Central Mich - Wake Forest
52 Clark PG Illinois - Louisville
53 Nunn SG VCU
54 Bynum PG Providence
55 Rice SG Kansas
56 Krikke C Valparaiso - Iowa
57 Small G East Carolina
58 McCollum G Siena
*59 Abram G Mississippi
60 Anderson G Oklahoma State
61 Alexander G St. John’s
62 Ledlum SF Harvard
63 Ryan SG Notre Dame
64 Olivari SG Rice (Miami, Auburn, Texas, Xavier)
65 Epps PG Illinois - Georgetown
66 Jenkins SG Iona - St. John’s
67 Gainey SG SC Upstate
68 Lenard SF MTSU - Memphis
69 Shedrick C Virginia
70 Lampkin C TCU - Colorado
71 Minor PF Merrimack - Virginia
*72 Wheeler PG Kentucky
73 Hill SF Oklahoma
74 Sallis G Gonzaga
75 Taylor SG Butler - NC State
76 Dunn SG Temple - Houston
77 Battle SF Minnesota - Ohio State
78 Tonje SG Colorado State - Missouri
79 Girard G Syracuse
80 Clemence C Kansas
By School:
Alabama
Jaykwon Walton Wichita State 6-7
Arizona State
Kamari Lands Louisville 6-8
Arkansas
Khalif Battle Temple 6-5
Jeremiah Davenport Cincinnati 6-7
Tramon Mark Houston 6-5
Keyon Menifield Washington 6-1
Auburn
Denver Jones Florida International 6-4
Boise State
Roddie Anderson San Diego 6-2
Cam Martin Kansas 6-9
Boston College
Claudell Harris Charleston Southern 6-3
Butler
Pierre Brooks Michigan State 6-6
Andre Screen Bucknell 7-0
California
Fardaws Aimaq Texas Tech 6-11
Jalen Cone Northern Arizona 5-10
Cincinnati
Jamille Reynolds Temple 6-9
Clemson
Jake Heidbreder Air Force 6-5
Colorado
Eddie Lampkin TCU 6-11
Creighton
Isaac Traudt Virginia 6-10
Dayton
Javon Bennett Merrimack 5-11
Enoch Cheeks Robert Morris 6-3
DePaul
Jaden Henley Minnesota 6-7
Jetemiah Oden Wyoming 6-8
East Carolina
Bobby Pettiford Kansas 6-1
Florida
Walter Clayton Iona 6-3
Micah Handlogten Marshall 7-1
EJ Jarvis Yale 6-8
Florida Gulf Coast
Dallion Johnson Penn State 6-3
Fresno State
Enoch Boakye Arizona State 6-10
Xavier Dusell Wyoming 6-4
Isiah Pope Utah Tech 6-6
George Washimgton
Benny Schroder Oklahoma 6-7
Georgetown
Rowan Brumbaugh Texas 6-4
Jayden Epps Illinois 6-1
Dontrez Styles North Carolina 6-6
Georgia Tech
Ebenezer Dowuona NC State 6-11
Kowacie Reeves Florida 6-7
Gonzaga
Steve Venters Eastern Washington 6-7
Hawaii
Justin McKoy North Carolina 6-8
Houston
LJ Cryer Baylor 6-1
Damien Dunn Temple 6-5
Illinois
Marcus Domask Southern Illinois 6-6
Justin Harmon Utah Valley 6-4
Indiana
Payton Sparks Ball State 6-9
Ke’lel Ware Oregon 7-0
Iowa
Ben Krikke Valparaiso 6-9
Iowa State
Keshon Gilbert UNLV 6-4
Jackson Paveletzke Wofford 6-5
LSU
Baker Nevada 7-0
Jalen Cook Tulane 6-0
Jordan Wright Vanderbilt 6-6
Louisville
Skyy Clark Illinois 6-1
Loyola Chicago
Dame Adelekun Dartmouth 6-8
Desmond Watson Davidson 6-5
Loyola Maramount
Justice Hill LSU 6-0
Mike Meadows Portland 6-2
Justin Wright NC Central 6-2
Maryland
Chance Stephens Loyola Maramount 6-3
Massachusetts
Josh Cohen St. Francis 6-10
Memphis
Nick Jourdain Temple 6-8
Teafale Lenard MTSU 6-7
Caleb Mills FSU 6-5
Johnathan Pierre Nova SE 6-9
Michigan
Nimari Burnett Alabama 6-4
Tray Jackson Seton Hall 6-10
Caleb Love North Carolina 6-4
Minnesota
Mike Mitchell Pepperdine 6-2
Jack Wilson Washington State 6-11
Mississippi
Brandon Murray Georgetown 6-5
Missouri
John Tonje Colorado State 6-5
Nebraska
Rienk Mast Bradley 6-9
Brice Williams Charlotte 6-7
New Mexico
Nelly Junior Joseph Iona 6-9
North Carolina
Jaelyn Withers Louisville 6-8
Paxson Wojcick Brown 6-5
North Carolina State
Jayden Taylor Butler 6-3
Northern Illinois
Doctor Bradley 6-8 New Mexico State
Ohio State
Jamison Battle Minnesota 6-7
Penn State
Ace Baldwin VCU 6-1
Nick Kern VCU 6-5
Pepperdine
Ethan Anderson Wyoming 6-1
Pittsburgh
Zach Austin High Point 6-5
Providence
Justyn Fernandes George Mason 6-5
Devonte Gaines George Mason 6-7
Josh Oduro George Mason 6-9
Purdue
Lance Jones Southern Illinois 6-1
Rhode Island
Jaden House High Point 6-3
Zek Montgomery Bradley 6-6
Rice
Sam Alijiki California 6-7
Rutgers
Noah Fernandes Massachusetts 5-11
St. John’s
Daniss Jenkins Hofstra 6-3
St. Louis
CJ Noland Oklahoma 6-2
San Diego State
Reese Dixon-Waters USC 6-5
South Alabama
Thomas Howell UL Monroe 6-8
Maxwell Land St. Francis 6-4
Samuel Tabe Seton Hill 6-5
South Carolina
Stephen Clark Citadel 6-8
Ta’lon Cooper Minnesota 6-4
South Florida
Kasen Jennings Kennesaw State 6-3
Braden Stroud Kennesaw State 6-6
Chris Youngblood Kennesaw State 6-4
SMU
Denver Anglin Georgetown 6-1
Chuck Harris Butler 6-2
Syracuse
JJ Starling Notre Dame 6-4
TCU
Essam Mostafa Charlotte 6-9
Jameer Nelson Delaware 6-1
Trey Tennyson Texas A&M CC 6-4
Texas State
Coleton Benson Army 6-1
Tulsa
Isaiah Barnes Michigan 6-7
UAB
Daniel Ortiz North Alabama 6-0
James White Mississippi 6-6
UCLA
Larry Stefanovic Utah 6-7
Utah
Lawson Lovering Colorado 7-1
Villanova
Mo Bamba Washington 6-1
Virginia
Jordan Minor Merrimack 6-8
Virginia Tech
Mekhi Long Old Dominion 6-7
Tyler Nickel North Carolina 6-7
Wake Forest
Kevin Miller Central Michigan 6-0
Washington
Anthony Holland Fresno State 6-5
Moses Wood Portland 6-8
West Virginia
Kerr Kriisa Arizona 6-3
Western Carolina
Corneilous Williams LSU 6-10
Wichita State
Harold Beverly Miami 6-6
Jacob Germany UTSA 6-11
Wisconsin
Noah Reynolds Wyoming 6-3
AJ Storr St. John’s 6-6
Xavier
Logan Duncomb Indiana 6-10
Dayvion McKnight Western Kentucky 6-1
NCAA Basketball in general
Alabama
Alabama.com: Alabama men’s basketball signs last high school commit, adds Kris Parker
https://www.al.com/alabamabasketbal...l-commit-adds-kris-parker.html?outputType=amp
Auburn
Alabama.com: Auburn basketball updates official roster, hinting toward personnel decisions for 2023-24
https://www.al.com/auburnbasketball...nel-decisions-for-2023-24.html?outputType=amp
FSU
SB Nation: Reports: FSU assistant coach R-Jay Barsh expected to leave for Gonzaga job
https://www.tomahawknation.com/plat...jay-r-jay-barsh-bulldogs-mark-few-gonzaga-job
Georgia Tech
AJC: Georgia Tech hires basketball assistants Pershin Williams, Karl Hobbs
https://www.ajc.com/sports/georgia-...lliams-karl-hobbs/DRJI6KOFFJGBLOPELZ6XZ6CYA4/
Kennesaw State
AJC: Antoine Pettway on Kennesaw State men’s basketball: ‘We are not starting over’
https://www.ajc.com/sports/state-sp...not-starting-over/EGX3FTNKONGP5IMC4GLMXUVAFE/
Michigan State
Detroit Free Press: Tom Izzo has high hopes for Michigan State basketball in 2023-24
https://www.freep.com/story/sports/...alker-jeremy-fears-xavier-booker/70109343007/
Missouri
Columbia Daily Tribune: Inside Mizzou basketball’s search for a transfer portal post player
https://www.columbiatribune.com/sto...or-a-transfer-portal-post-player/70104955007/
Nebraska
Omaha World Herald: Rienk Mast commits to Nebraska basketball
https://omaha.com/sports/huskers/me...cle_8ab14ca5-5e8e-56ba-aebe-e3d1fd9445af.html
Northern Kentucky
Oregon
Oregon live: Junior college transfer Jadrian Tracey officially signs with Oregon men’s basketball
https://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/20...th-oregon-mens-basketball.html?outputType=amp
South Florida
TB Times: Salary, contract details for new USF basketball coach Amir Abdur-Rahim
https://www.tampabay.com/sports/bul...dur-rahim-usf-contract-buyout-kennesaw-state/
Tennessee
Knoxville News: Tennessee basketball hosting transfers Chris Ledlum, Dalton Knecht
https://www.knoxnews.com/story/spor...on-knecht-transfer-portal-roster/69497886007/
Virginia
SB Nation: COMMITMENT: UVA basketball lands Merrimack graduate transfer Jordan Minor
https://www.streakingthelawn.com/pl...jordan-minor-transfer-commitment-tony-bennett
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