Prospect Watch: Justice Thoma (2020)
Class of 2020 guard Justice Thoma of Cape Girardeau Notre Dame is a matchup problem with his strong build and overall skill set. The 6’4″ Thoma is one of the top returning players in Southeast Missouri for a for a…
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Continue ReadingClass of 2020 guard Justice Thoma of Cape Girardeau Notre Dame is a matchup problem with his strong build and overall skill set.
The 6’4″ Thoma is one of the top returning players in Southeast Missouri for a for a Notre Dame team that is poised for a very good season. He is a physical wing player who can use his strength in the post and his perimeter skills and athletic ability to excel as a shooting guard. He also has the ability to explode at the rim and throw down a big dunk in traffic.
“I like to use my size to get around small guards and put myself in good rebound position,” he said. “My strengths are my athleticism, mid-range jump shot and getting to the rim. I try to use my size and strength to get position.”
Thoma has received interest from a variety of colleges at different levels. He has been watched by Central Michigan, Siena, Western Kentucky, Arkansas State, Drury, Central Missouri and Barry among others.
As a junior, Thoma averaged 11 points and six rebounds a game for a Notre Dame team that came one second away from upsetting cross-town rival and Class 4 No. 1 Cape Girardeau Central in the semifinals of the district tournament. Cape Central scored on a miraculous play at the buzzer of regulation and went on to win in overtime. That heartbreaking loss has been a strong motivator for Thoma throughout the off-season.
“My goals for my senior season are to win the state championship and be named to the All-Conference, All-District and All-State teams,” he said. “After losing a tough game in districts to one of the best teams in the state, I am determined to get my team to the state championship team and win.”
Thoma spent the summer grassroots season playing with the SEMO Silver Bullets with many of his Notre Dame teammates and a few other top players from the Southeast part of the state. He spent a good part of the summer working on improving his shooting from 3-point range.
“Our team played against some great competition during the summer,” he said. “We were able to compete for championships in almost every tournament we played in.”