F DeShaun "The Diesel" Thomas (Panathinaikos - Greece)

[LitlBuck]

"If we had a 3-point line back then?" asked former Lebanon star Rick Mount. "I don't know. I'm sure it would have changed things a little bit."

Mount is being very gracious. I was lucky enough to see him play and he had one of the purest jump shots that I have ever seen and distance would not have been a factor.

 

[Bill Lucas]

I don't mean to dismiss your insights at all, but it seems to me that college hoop is transitioning away from the pigeonholing of players into "ones," "twos," "fours," etc. Evan Turner is both a "one" and a "four" at the same time, as well as being a "wing player." John Wall is both a "one" and a "two." Certainly Kevin Durant could have worn several different numbers.

Some really good players will make a mockery of the numbering scheme. Time will tell whether, at the collegiate level, DeShaun will be such a player.

In todays basketball it seems to be dictated by whether a team runs a "4 around 1" or a "3 around 2" scheme on offense. With bigger players they still tend to play high post/low post/short corner.

The way I view it is whether a player is more comfortable playing facing the basket or with his back to the basket. Thomas definitely seems to be a face the basket player.

 

[Buckskin86]

Posted on Thu. Jan. 14, 2010
Ohio State's Matta looks for special things from Luers' Thomas
By Pete DiPrimio
of The News-Sentinel

Matta Looks for ?Special? Things from Luers? Thomas

Deshaun Thomas is on Thad Matta?s mind. Even as the Ohio State coach focuses on getting his team back into Big Ten contention ? Tuesday?s comeback victory at Purdue was a huge step in that direction ? he considers the impact of Thomas, the Bishop Luers 6-7 senior standout and future Buckeye.

?We get updates on him after every game,? Matta said. ?He?s a special talent. What Bishop Luers has done for him from the education side to what Coach (James) Blackmon does in terms of making him better on the court, it?s been great to watch him.?

Matta first started watching during Thomas? freshman year when, ?We heard there was this kid in Fort Wayne, so we went up to see him.?

What they saw was enough to make them offer a scholarship. Thomas orally accepted, then backed off when his family and Blackmon wanted him to slow down and not rush the decision. His preference never waivered and Thomas signed last November.

?I?ve followed him since his freshman year and to see his development and maturity makes me excited to coach him,? Matta said. ?He has a chance to have a great future.?

Thomas? career-long scoring surge ? he averages 34.9 points a game this season and is at 2,603 career points ? leaves him with a shot to break Damon Bailey?s state scoring record of 3,134 points. Before he does that he has to pass Union Dugger?s Brody Boyd (2,632 points) and Lewisville?s Marion Pierce (3,019).

Luers could play as many as 17 more games if it reaches the state title game, so Thomas has to average at least 31.3 points to pass Bailey.

Ohio State's Matta looks for special things from Luers' Thomas | The News-Sentinel - Fort Wayne IN

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeQCnxF4Fd0"]YouTube- BISHOP LUERS AT SNIDER BOYS BASKETBALL DESHAUN THOMAS[/ame]

 

[Buckskin86]

Thomas' take
By Deshaun ThomasBishop Luers senior
Deshaun Thomas' latest Q&A blog post with Luers principal Mary Keefer.


We have to talk about the Dwenger game. Your thoughts?

"The Saints played hard and they seemed to want the game more than we did. We had too many turnovers. Our point guard (Kenny Mullen) was missing. They played well in that zone. We didn't attack it. Congratulations to Dwenger. They earned this game."


Any comments about Snider?

"We knew it was going to be a dogfight because it seems like every team that we play gives us their best game. It was a fight to the end. I had a big layup (to the game late), and we all made some big free throws. I know Snider's Nick Lewis, Zach Barnes, and Brent Odom, and of course, Elijah Malone used to go to Luers."


Does it make a difference to you if you know the kids on the other team?

"No, not really, it just seems that Luers has some sort of a rival with everybody that we play."


Besides Ohio State, who's your favorite college team?

"I would say Kentucky."


Who's your favorite player?

"(Ohio State's) Evan Turner."

Thomas_ take | The Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne, Ind.

 

[Buckskin86]

Matched intensity
Northrop erases 10-point gap, but Bishop Luers prevails in OT
By Tom Davis
of The News-Sentinel

Climbing the charts
IHSAA scoring leaders

Damon Bailey, Bedford North Lawrence, 3,134 points
Marion Pierce, Lewisville, 3,019 points
Deshaun Thomas, Bishop Luers, 2,644 points
Rick Mount, Lebanon, 2,595 points
Billy Shepherd, Carmel, 2,465 points

Like two boxers standing toe-to-toe in the middle of the ring trading punches, the Bishop Luers and Northrop boys basketball teams spent 32 minutes giving each other their best shots.

Then they needed four more minutes.

After slashing their way to an 82-82 score at the end of regulation, the Knights dominated the overtime period and earned a 102-92 Summit Athletic Conference win.

?When you play teams like (Northrop), if we can continue to compete like that and bring our intensity level to match (Northrop?s), then we?ll be all right,? Bishop Luers coach James Blackmon said.

The Bruins (6-4, 2-2 SAC) dug themselves a hole early, as Luers raced out to a 20-10 lead. However, Northrop settled down and got incredible production from Brenton Scott (32 points), as it battled back to take a 51-49 lead late in the third quarter. When Brenton?s twin, Bryson Scott (18 points, 8 rebounds, 5 steals), hit a pair of free throws a few minutes later, the Bruins were holding a 58-51 advantage and feeling pretty good about themselves.

?We weathered the storm ? and I was proud of our guys to battle back,? Northrop coach Barack Coolman said.

But Bishop Luers (8-3, 3-2 SAC), which still hasn?t lost to an Indiana team with its complete complement of players this season, hasn?t won a pair of state championships by getting frazzled when things don?t go its way. The Knights rode their best player, Deshaun Thomas (41 points, 22 rebounds)

Matched intensity | The News-Sentinel - Fort Wayne IN

 

[MONTbigBuck]

With regard to Thomas' assualt on the all-time scoring record for the state of Indiana, I think DeShaun has benefitted by alot of competitive games and even an overtime game this year. Hope he makes the top of the list. This guy is going to look great in S&G uniform next year.

 

[Buckskin86]

Thomas, Luers top Byrd, Blackhawk
Knights grab home win, 77-68
Updated: Sunday, 17 Jan 2010

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - In a game of two future Big 10 players, Deshaun Thomas and Bishop Luers escaped with a 77-68 win over Russell Byrd and Blackhawk Saturday night.

Thomas, an Ohio State-recruit, had 21 points on the night. He's now 470 points away from reaching Damon Bailey's all-time scoring record.

Thomas, Luers top Byrd, Blackhawk

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHPZx5o3imU]YouTube - BBB: Luers tops Blackhawk 77-68[/ame]

 

[Buckskin86]

ast updated: January 20, 2010
Thomas' Take
By Deshaun Thomas
Bishop Luers senior

Another edition of "Thomas' Take," a weekly post from Luers' senior sensation Deshaun Thomas.

Last Friday, we played Northrop in an overtime win. Brenton Scott was on fire for the Bruins. Paris Lipsey went to Luers as a freshman, and he played well.

I was surprised that they put their center (Jaime Burkhard) on me. I thought a guard would guard me. It was a tough game. The twins (Northrop's Brenton and Bryson Scott) played very well. Evan Blackmon played great. That helped us get the victory.

The very next night, we played Blackhawk Christian and Russell Byrd. We were very tired because we had Snider and Northrop within four days. Our legs were heavy, but we still were able to get the 'W.'

Evan was still on Saturday, scoring one more points than I did. Russell played hard. We did not guard each other, because it was a zone all night.

The SAC race is pretty mixed up. But Harding is still undefeated. We beat them in the holiday tourney, but it wasn't easy.

We play them on Friday and then turn around and go to The Ohio State University to play a team with the No. 2 player in the nation, Jared Sullinger. It will be fun, but challenging. Preparing for teams like that include doing the little things well -- rebounding, running the floor and matching their intensity.

Besides basketball, I am studying hard for the ACT and chilling with friends and family. When I think about going to college, I think about meeting other people and wondering how hard the school work will be, and trying not to be homesick. I guess everybody is, but I want to do well on the court and in the classroom. I will be ready.

Thomas_ Take | The Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne, Ind.

 

[OUatl]

awesome thanks for the post.

 

[Buckskin86]

Deshaun's Blog: The main point? Patience
By Deshaun Thomas
Special to ESPN RISE
(Archive)
Updated: January 20, 2010

Brian Spurlock for ESPN RISE

Deshaun Thomas, an Ohio State commit, entered his senior season within striking distance of Damon Bailey's Indiana high school record of 3,134 career points. Sure, he thinks about making history. But it's also important to him to take one game at a time. Keep up with Deshaun as he checks in with ESPNRISE.com from time to time during the season.

Back in middle school, I used to think about playing well enough to be recognized by ESPN. Now I am being asked to blog for ESPNRISE.com. Thank you for asking me.

When I was a freshman in high school, I had no idea that I would average as many points as I did that year. Being successful all four years on the court has put me in a good position to break the all-time state scoring record for Indiana. I think about it a little bit and calculated the points one time, but if I think about it too much, I would start forcing shots. When that happens, it upsets my teammates, and it makes it much harder for us to win a ball game.

I have not met Damon Bailey, but would like to meet him. It used to be that kids didn't start until they were juniors or seniors, but now with kids starting as freshmen and scoring 20-30 points a game, it makes me wonder how long any state scoring record would last. It didn't occur to me that I would start as a freshman, but when I started dunking in practice over juniors and seniors, that won me a spot.

This weekend we play the No. 2 player in the nation, Jared Sullinger. It will be a challenging game, but one that Bishop Luers will be ready for. He's not only tall, but he takes up space under the bucket. He's pretty athletic for as big as he is.

We went up against each other at the LeBron James camp in Akron, Ohio, the last week in July this past summer. He got a layup, I got a layup. It seems like it was pretty even, but it was a scrimmage situation, so it was hard to tell.

It will be fun playing at Ohio State. There will be a lot of OSU fans there. Coach (Thad) Matta has a game, so he won't be there. We have a tough conference game on Friday night against an undefeated Harding High School. They are just down the road from us. So I'm looking first to Friday night, then to Saturday night ... one game at a time.

ESPN Deshaun's Blog: The main point? Patience -ESPN Rise BOYSBASKETBALL

 

[Buckskin86]

Published: January 21, 2010
Thomas squares off with fellow OSU recruits
Greg Jones
High school sports editor

Luers vs. Columbus Northland
When: 7:15 p.m. Saturday
Where: Ohio State
Records: Luers (9-3);
Northland (9-0)
Rankings: Luers No. 5 in Class 2A; Northland No. 1 in USA Today
Tickets: $14 to $60 (7 games)
Other games:
Harvest Prep vs. Dayton Jefferson, 10:30 a.m.
Logan Elm vs. Westerville South, 12:15 p.m.
Chillicothe vs. Canton Timken, 2 p.m.
Wilmington vs. DeSales, 3:45 p.m.
Jackson vs. Dayton Wayne, 5:30 p.m.
Benedictine vs. Cincinnati Princeton, 8:45 p.m.

No ESPN, but four Ohio State basketball recruits, including Bishop Luers senior Deshaun Thomas, are expected to put on a show Saturday on the Buckeyes? home floor.

The national television network will not show the game between Bishop Luers and Columbus Northland, which has seniors Jared Sullinger and J.D. Weatherspoon, who are Buckeyes-to-be like Thomas.

The Knights (9-3) will take on the Vikings (9-0) at 7:15 p.m. Saturday at Value City Arena as part of the eighth annual Ohio Scholastic Play by Play Classic.

?This is what high school basketball is all about,? Luers coach James Blackmon said.

?This is something they do every year for players who make a commitment to Ohio State. It is a great honor for us to be able to play in that type of situation.?

The seven-game event also includes a fourth Ohio State recruit in Cincinnati Princeton?s Jordan Sibert.

?I think it?s great for the players to get a chance to play on this court, and it?s also great for our fans to get out and kind of get a sneak peek of what?s coming in the following year,? Ohio State coach Thad Matta said to Cleveland Plain Dealer reporter Doug Lesmerises

Thomas squares off with fellow OSU recruits | The Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne, Ind.

 

[Buckskin86]

Boys basketball: Indiana standout set to play Northland
Friday, January 22, 2010
By Steve Blackledge
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Fort Wayne (Ind.) Journal-Gazette
Ohio State recruit Deshaun Thomas of Fort Wayne, Ind., is averaging 34.3 points this season.

Any nervousness Deshaun Thomas feels about playing in Value City Arena for the first time Saturday against two of his future Ohio State teammates is trumped by sheer excitement.

"How many teams get the opportunity to travel out of state and play the No. 1 or No. 2 team in the nation in front of a big crowd in a major college arena?" asked Thomas, a 6-foot-7, 220-pound senior forward for Bishop Luers of Fort Wayne, Ind.

"I'm sure a lot of Ohio State fans will be there to check out the guys coming in next year and we want to live up to their expectations as well as our own. This is something I've looked forward to all year."

Thomas will share the spotlight with center Jared Sullinger and forward J.D. Weatherspoon of Northland when their teams meet at 7:15 p.m. as part of the seven-game Ohio Scholastic Play-By-Play Classic.

A fourth Buckeyes recruit, guard Jordan Sibert of Cincinnati Princeton, will play in the 8:45 game against Cleveland Benedictine.

Pressure should be nothing new for Thomas, who passed over in-state schools Indiana and Purdue for Ohio State. His quest to become Indiana's all-time leading scorer is being watched closely.

"Some of my teachers still ask me why I'm leaving the state, but they don't seem to understand that I wanted to get out and experience new things," Thomas said. "Ohio State just felt like home when I visited. Not everybody in Indiana is sore. There are a lot of OSU fans over here, too. You see bumper stickers all over the place."

Thomas averages 34.3 points, 16.4 rebounds, 3.3 blocks and 3.2 assists for Bishop Luers (9-3), the defending state champion in Indiana's third division.

Having scored 2,665 points, the left-hander needs to score about 33 points per game the rest of the season to overtake former Indiana star Damon Bailey, who has 3,134.

"I'm having fun with it," Thomas said. "It's hard to ignore with all the attention it's getting and the record is really prestigious, but I'm not going to force shots or anything to get it."

Boys basketball: Indiana standout set to play Northland | The Columbus Dispatch

 

[Buckskin86]

Published: January 23, 2010
Bishop Luers 99, Harding 78
Taking care of business
Knights keep pace in SAC, face No. 1 today
Greg JonesHigh school sports editor

Clint Keller | The Journal Gazette
Bishop Luers? Deshaun Thomas blocks Harding?s La?Mondre Warren in the first half Friday. Thomas had 36 points and 24 rebounds in the victory.

Beating Bailey?
State?s all-time scorers

1. Damon Bailey, Bedford North Lawrence (1990): 3,134
2. Shanna Zolman, Wawasee (2002): 3,085
3. Marion Pierce, Lewisville (1961): 3,019
4. Stephanie White, Seeger (1995): 2,869
5. Skylar Diggins, SB Washington (2009): 2,790
6. Deshaun Thomas, Bishop Luers (2010): 2,701

This one was all business, while today?s game is more about enjoyment.

With a matchup against the No. 1 team in the nation less than 24 hours away, Bishop Luers took care of business Friday to get itself back into the SAC race with a 99-78 win over visiting Harding.

Bishop Luers (10-3, 4-2) handed Harding (9-3, 4-1) their first SAC regular-season loss and in the process helped tightened up the conference race.

It?s the second time the Knights have beaten the Hawks this year, taking a 69-59 decision in the SAC tournament finals Dec. 30.

?We didn?t take Harding lightly at all,? Luers coach James Blackmon said. ?We executed our plan well tonight, and we controlled the tempo. (The win) was important for us.?


Luers now has the task of taking on USA Today No. 1 Columbus Northland (10-0) at 7:15 p.m. today at Ohio State.

Taking care of business | The Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne, Ind.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=en6fPa_aQfI]YouTube - HARDING AT BISHOP LUERS BASKETBALL HIGHLIGHTS DESHAUN THOMAS[/ame]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7dWte9o1co]YouTube - DESHAUN THOMAS & JAMES BLACKMON LUERS POST VS. HARDING[/ame]

 

[gracelhink]

Boys basketball: Indiana standout set to play Northland | The Columbus Dispatch

Thomas averages 34.3 points, 16.4 rebounds, 3.3 blocks and 3.2 assists for Bishop Luers (9-3), the defending state champion in Indiana's third division.

Haven't heard this mentioned about Thomas' numbers so here it is.
The points per game by Thomas are impressive and cannot wait to see him putting up big numbers in the S&G, but IMHO the greater contribution he will bring to the VCA next year is his board tenacity.
Matta must be salivating at the thought of Swatterdale, Thomas and Sulllinger controlling the paint, glass, and limiting teams to one low percentage shot attempt.

 

[CHU]

Thirty-Six two nights in a row. Good stuff.

Hope he found the gym to his liking.