In first season at Cincinnati, Thomas hasn’t missed a beat
Sacred Heart Cathedral girls basketball coach LyRyan Russell never had a doubt.
His prized pupil for four seasons, IImar’I Thomas, The Chronicle’s 2016-17 Metro Player of the Year, would flourish at the next level — even though, at 5-foot-11, she was considered a ’tweener.
Primarily a post player for the Irish, Thomas, a freshman forward, has started just one game this season for the University of Cincinnati but has added offense, rebounding and defense off the bench.
Thomas, who led the Irish to a 2016 state title, went into Wednesday’s game at SMU second on the team in scoring (11.7 points per game) and first in rebounds (6.4 per game) and blocks (tied at 14 total).
Cincinnati went 16-14 last season, its first winning campaign since 2006-07. The Bearcats entered Wednesday 12-7.
Thomas’ play off the bench is a big reason for their early success. She was making 60.3 percent of her shots from the floor (88 of 146) and 72.1 percent from the foul line (44 of 61). She plays only about half the game, 22 minutes a night.
“None of it surprises me,” Russell said. “She’s always been very focused, always extremely hard working and skilled. I didn’t expect that to change even being a long way from home.”
Thomas, who averaged 25.1 points and 13.4 rebounds as a senior at SHC, was impressive from the start for Cincinnati coach Jamelle Elliott. Thomas scored 19 points — still her season high — on 8-of-12 shooting with eight rebounds in the team’s opener against East Tennessee State, an 87-77 loss.
In Sunday’s 64-53 home defeat of Memphis, Thomas had nine points and a season-high 13 rebounds. She has been named the American Athletic Conference’s Freshman of the Week four times.
Considering Thomas just turned 17 — she entered SHC at 12 — it’s no real surprise she has started quickly. New settings and playing against older players have never intimidated her.
“She adapts to change impeccably,” Russell said. “We asked her to change positions every season (at SHC) and she responded beautifully every step of the way.” Oregon women’s basketball: Two-time Metro Player of the Year Sabrina Ionescu might be the NCAA’s 2017-18 POY for the seventh-ranked Ducks, who are 18-3 (7-1 Pac-12).
Ionescu, the 2016 McDonald’s All-American Game’s Player of the Game, is averaging 19.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game. She has four triple-doubles this season and eight in her career. Grand Canyon men’s basketball: Two Moreau CatholicHayward grads are doing well at Grand Canyon (15-6) under three-time NBA All-Star Dan Majerle. Oscar Frayer ,a6-7 sophomore, has started 15 games and is fourth in scoring (8.7 ppg) and second in rebounds (4.7 per game). Damari Milstead, last year’s Metro Player of the Year, has played in 13 games and averages 4.2 points. Montana men’s basketball: Sophomore Sayeed Pridgett (El Cerrito) and freshman Timmy Falls (Dublin) are in the rotation for Montana, which is 7-0 in Big Sky Conference play (14-5 overall). Pridgett, a 6-5 guard, has played in all 19 games and averages 7.6 points. Falls, a 6-2 guard, has averaged 4 points and 1.6 assists in 18 games.