Prospect Spotlight: TJ Thomas (2020)
The Patterson Clippers tip off their season this week as they host Curley on Saturday. They’ll look to rebound after a sub-par season to their standards with more quality depth on their roster. The big addition for the Clippers was…
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Continue ReadingThe Patterson Clippers tip off their season this week as they host Curley on Saturday. They’ll look to rebound after a sub-par season to their standards with more quality depth on their roster. The big addition for the Clippers was senior wing Marvin Price. Price led Patterson to a 2A title two seasons ago before transferring to Huntington Prep. Now that he returns back to Baltimore, he joins a stout backcourt of Millersville commit Gerard Mungo and TJ Thomas. We caught up with Thomas last weekend after participating in Dulaney’s Annual Thanksgiving Tip-Off Scrimmage.
PH: Let’s talk expectations for this season. Last year, there was so much pressure on you guys in the backcourt to produce, but it’ll be a little different year.
TT: We just want to get our chemistry back. There’s a lot of new faces except for me, Gerard and Zack [Blackwell]. So we’re just trying to mesh together and get back to the state championship and get that trophy.
PH: What does getting Marvin and Jalen [Willis] mean for the team’s overall outlook?
TT: It’s a big help. Jalen helps us a ton on the boards because we aren’t really that big. Jalen is and all-around player, he can do it all. Marvin is gonna help with scoring and take a lot of pressure off me and Gerard, so it’s a big help to get him too.
PH: Poly is the undisputed favorite in the city when you ask around. What’s your team’s mindset in terms of where you guys belong in the ‘best in the city’ conversation?
TT: All I’m going to say is everyone is going to have to come to Kane Street this year. That’s the only time I’m going to tell people. We aren’t doing no talking. We’ll see when the time comes. We play them at Patterson this year.
PH: A few weeks ago, you made the decision that you would go prep next year and reclass into 2020. What made you come to that decision?
TT: I just feel like it was a better opportunity for me. My coaches kept telling me to consider it and that it would help me in the long run, so I just thought it was the best for me.
PH: You were choosing between Massanutten and Mt. Zion. You chose Mt. Zion. Why?
TT: Mt. Zion is closer to home and recent guys that I’ve played with like Da’Shawn Phillip and Ben Carter have been telling me how good it was being there. I went on a visit there recently and they showed a lot of love to me, so it just felt like home.
PH: What is your recruitment looking like?
TT: Not a lot of schools are talking to me right now, but I’m looking forward to taking advantage of the live period for AAU this summer. I’ll be playing with Team Thrill.