Courtesy of FGCUAthletics.com
DUNK CITY, Fla. – Off to another strong start to the season, the FGCU men’s basketball team has already added more size to its roster next season as 6-9 forward Brian Thomas has signed a National Letter of Intent to join the Eagles as a freshman beginning in 2017-18.
The Marietta, Ga., native is rated as a 3-star recruit by Rivals, and was also tabbed as the 16th-best player in the entire talent-laden state at any position in the loaded 2017 class by the same outlet.
The 240-pound Thomas averaged 11 points, 12 rebounds and 5 blocks per game as a junior last season at Kell High School en route to being named an all-region performer.
“We’re excited to have Brian join the program. He’s a great kid who comes from a terrific family, and he’s been coached well by Jermaine Sellers,” stated FGCU head coach Joe Dooley. “We expect him to be a shot-blocking presence for us. He’s got a big body, but he’s also got a good skill set to go with it which is a rare trait. With some more development, his offensive game will only get stronger. We’re looking forward to getting him on campus and to start working with him.”
Noted recruiting website HoopSeen.com named Thomas as the top recruit in the entire ASUN Conference. He also held offers from several quality mid-major programs, in addition to a pair of Atlantic 10 schools and a couple BCS programs.
“I am very excited about coming to FGCU. I can’t wait to get there,” said Thomas, who plays his AAU ball for Game Elite. “I will bring a lot of defensive intensity and rebounding. My offensive game is developing, and that will only continue to improve under coach Dooley.”
Thomas verbally committed to FGCU in August, but could not officially sign until the NLI period, which just recently ended. In addition to his accolades on the court, Thomas boasts a 3.6 GPA in the classroom.
The Eagles will lose just two players off this year’s roster in redshirt seniors Marc Eddy Norelia and Demetris Morant. Norelia (Orlando, Fla./Tulane/Olympia HS) is a 6-8 forward who last year led FGCU in scoring (17.1 ppg) and rebounding (9.3 rpg) and is an ASUN Preseason All-Conference selection this year. Morant (Miami, Fla./UNLV/Bishop Gorman HS) is FGCU’s biggest shot-blocking threat and has been installed as the ASUN Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
The Eagles, 4-3 to start the year playing one of the most difficult schedules in the nation, will travel to Thomas’ home state when they begin the first swing of a home-and-home series this year at Georgia Southern on Sunday, Dec. 4, at 3 p.m. Georgia Southern is 4-3 on the year and has won three-straight games. The two teams will then meet again at Alico Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 13.
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