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Thomas Transfers From Kansas
6-foot-8-inch forward enrolls at UNLV and joins men's basketball squad.
July 7, 2009
LAS VEGAS - Quintrell Thomas has enrolled in classes at UNLV and has become a member of the men's basketball program, head coach Lon Kruger announced Tuesday. Thomas, a 6-foot-8 inch, 250-pound forward, transferred to UNLV from the University of Kansas, where he played as a true freshman in 2008-09. He will have to sit out the 2009-10 season at UNLV because of NCAA transfer rules and will be eligible to play for the Runnin' Rebels as a sophomore during the 2010-11 season. "Quintrell is an athletic big man and we are excited to have him as part of our program," Kruger said. "He will make us better next year as our guys work against him in practice every day, and, of course, when he does have a chance to play, he has the ability to be a difference-maker." For the Jayhawks last season, Thomas appeared in 26 of the team's 35 games. He made one start and turned in averages of 5.4 minutes played per game, 1.5 points per game and 2.0 rebounds per game. He shot 44 percent from the field and 68 percent from the free throw line. His highest scoring output of the season was 10 points against New Mexico State on 5-for-5 shooting from the field, as he also had a season-high-tying seven rebounds. Kansas won the Big 12 Conference's regular season championship last year and ended the season 27-8 after a Sweet 16 loss to Michigan State. Thomas prepped at Saint Patrick High School in Elizabeth, N.J., where he was an all-state and all-county selection his senior season. Coming out of high school, Thomas was the No. 56-ranked senior prospect in the nation by ESPNU and No. 149 by Rivals.com. His senior year, Thomas averaged 16 points, 10 rebounds, two blocks and two steals per game. Named the most valuable player on his high school team, he put up 25 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in a Nike Super Six game against the No. 8 team in the nation. As a junior, his team won the New Jersey state championship, earned the No. 2 ranking in the nation and finished the season 30-2. He was named all-conference his junior season, after averaging nine points, 11 rebounds and three blocks per game.
Thomas joins 6-foot-3-inch freshman guard Justin Hawkins from Taft High School in Woodland Hills, Calif., 6-foot-11-inch freshman forward Carlos Lopez from Findlay College Prep at the Henderson International School in Henderson, Nev., and 6-foot-3-inch freshman guard Anthony Marshall from Mojave High School in Las Vegas as newcomers to the 2009-10 UNLV men's basketball roster. Also, eligible to play this season after redshirting in 2008-09 are Todd Hanni, a 6-foot-4-inch sophomore guard, who came to UNLV from Wabash Valley College, Derrick Jasper, a 6-foot-6-inch junior guard, who came to UNLV from Kentucky, Steve Jones, a 6-foot-1-inch senior guard, who came to UNLV from Arizona State, Matt Shaw, a 6-foot-8-inch junior forward, who sat out last season after surgery, and Chace Stanback, a 6-foot-8-inch sophomore guard/forward, who came to UNLV from UCLA. UNLV finished the 2008-09 season with an overall record of 21-11 and lost at Kentucky in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament. It marked the third consecutive postseason appearance for the Runnin' Rebels, as they made NCAA Tournament appearances in 2007 (Sweet 16) and 2008 (second round). It also was UNLV's third straight season with 20 or more wins, which marked the first time since the 1990-93 seasons that UNLV turned in three straight 20-plus win seasons. Kruger will be in his sixth season at UNLV in 2009-10 after compiling a five-year mark of 112-53 (.679), including a record of 78-26 (.750) over the last three seasons. UNLV loses seven players from last season's team, including three starters, but returns five letterwinners from a year ago, welcomes four new players to the roster and has five redshirts from last season that are now eligible to play. |
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