This marks the fifth scholastic year at Dayton’s Thurgood Marshall High School and they have already become one of Ohio’s most powerful Division II basketball, and overall athletic, programs. However, up until today no one from the school, who last year finished as Division II State Runners-Up, had signed a Division I men’s basketball scholarship. That’s not to say that the school hasn’t had talent but transfers, such as superstar Juwan Staten to Oak Hill Academy (VA), and academic/off-court issues have prevented Thurgood Marshall from holding any signing day ceremonies.
That all changed today when 6’3 SG Joe Thomasson inked his name with hometown Wright State University, of the Horizon League, giving Thurgood Marshall a new achievement to boast about. Thomasson has signed at Wright State as part of the NCAA’s Prop. 48 rule which allows a student-athlete who has not met all of the academic requirements to still enroll at a school. Through Prop. 48 Thomasson will enroll next season at WSU and redshirt that year, meaning he will be on academic scholarship but unlike traditional redshirts (who are eligible to practice but not play in games) he will not be able to practice or play with the team until he meets the necessary academic requirements. After the redshirt year Thomasson will join the WSU team for the ’13-’14 season and still have 4 years of eligibility.
A talented offensive playmaker with a passionate style Joe will be able to spend his redshirt season focusing on improving his perimeter jumpshot, which would make him a near impossible cover off of the dribble, as well as adding strength to his long but slender frame. After looking at several other Division I college options, and exploring either the prep school or junior college routes, Thomasson decided that Wright State would be best suited to take on his unique situation and that once he gains eligibility he should play a major role for the Raiders.
You must be logged in to post a comment.