Deandre Thomas, F, Allen, Tx. COMMITS

[SUMG]

 

[SUMG]

https://247sports.com/player/deandre-thomas-46150017/

[SUMG]

Rice, Tulsa and UTSA are among more than a half dozen other schools that offered Thomas a scholarship. He averaged 10.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game last season for a loaded Allen team. (info from Brett Vito at the D-RC)

 

Our first commit for the '25 class. Solid start by our staff. 

 

[Cooley]

Thomas' #2 ranked Allen Eagles season came to an end last night by falling to underdog Duncanville; in the last 42 seconds. Duncanville returns to the big school State Championship this Saturday in San Antonio. The matchup was one for the ages in front of a sold out Coppell HS. 

Full disclosure, I had only been moderately impressed with Thomas most of the year. Kid stepped it up a notch late in the season and throughout the playoffs. Still don't consider him an impact type guy but can see him getting some meaningful minutes. (thought the same thing about freshmen Cotton & Mason)

Congratulations to Denton Guyer for advancing to state for the first time in school history. The UIL expanded the playoffs this year by adding a 2nd state championship bracket, in each classification. (Similar to football)

Go Mean Green 

[GMG_Dallas]

53 minutes ago, Cooley said:

Thomas' #2 ranked Allen Eagles season came to an end last night by falling to underdog Duncanville; in the last 42 seconds. Duncanville returns to the big school State Championship this Saturday in San Antonio. The matchup was one for the ages in front of a sold out Coppell HS. 

Full disclosure, I had only been moderately impressed with Thomas most of the year. Kid stepped it up a notch late in the season and throughout the playoffs. Still don't consider him an impact type guy but can see him getting some meaningful minutes. (thought the same thing about freshmen Cotton & Mason)

Congratulations to Denton Guyer for advancing to state for the first time in school history. The UIL expanded the playoffs this year by adding a 2nd state championship bracket, in each classification. (Similar to football)

Go Mean Green 

What kind of role do you think he'd have if he cracked the rotation? What's the skill set?

[NT93]

2 hours ago, Cooley said:

Thomas' #2 ranked Allen Eagles season came to an end last night by falling to underdog Duncanville; in the last 42 seconds. Duncanville returns to the big school State Championship this Saturday in San Antonio. The matchup was one for the ages in front of a sold out Coppell HS. 

Full disclosure, I had only been moderately impressed with Thomas most of the year. Kid stepped it up a notch late in the season and throughout the playoffs. Still don't consider him an impact type guy but can see him getting some meaningful minutes. (thought the same thing about freshmen Cotton & Mason)

Congratulations to Denton Guyer for advancing to state for the first time in school history. The UIL expanded the playoffs this year by adding a 2nd state championship bracket, in each classification. (Similar to football)

Go Mean Green 

They didn’t exactly expand the playoffs.  Same number of teams make the playoffs, now just divided between division 1 and division 2.  Double the number of state champions, so yes, expanded from that perspective.  You most likely know this, I just thought I’d clarify for those who may not keep up with high school ball.

Dumb move by the UIL in my opinion.  No more regional tournaments or even a state tournament.  Now only the championship games are held in San Antonio.  Part of the fun of the state tournament was seeing the teams play in the semi-finals and predicting who would win it all.  
 

On topic, I hope Thomas can come to UNT and have an impact.

[Cooley]

1 hour ago, NT93 said:

They didn’t exactly expand the playoffs.  Same number of teams make the playoffs, now just divided between division 1 and division 2.  Double the number of state champions, so yes, expanded from that perspective.  You most likely know this, I just thought I’d clarify for those who may not keep up with high school ball.

Dumb move by the UIL in my opinion.  No more regional tournaments or even a state tournament.  Now only the championship games are held in San Antonio.  Part of the fun of the state tournament was seeing the teams play in the semi-finals and predicting who would win it all.  
 

On topic, I hope Thomas can come to UNT and have an impact.

Yes, expanded the number of champions for each classification

[eppy4life]

He is him

[Wag Tag]

Patino not recruiting HS players. St John’s rank 5th? We should do the same.

[cousin oliver]

1 hour ago, Wag Tag said:

Patino not recruiting HS players. St John’s rank 5th? We should do the same.

Agreed and none of our high school players ever see the court anyways.

[greenminer]

10 hours ago, Wag Tag said:

Patino not recruiting HS players. St John’s rank 5th? We should do the same.

Why stop there? Auburn is No 1 and recruits HS kids.

Both seem fine.  Why model after SJs, and not anyone else?

Edited Friday at 09:14 AM by greenminer

[Wag Tag]

8 hours ago, greenminer said:

Why stop there? Auburn is No 1 and recruits HS kids.

Both seem fine.  Why model after SJs, and not anyone else?

Can you name the last HS player that was a stud and hung around? Now name how many transfers.

[2020 Sucks]

Maybe its about a pipeline.  Other teams are out there developing our players.  We develop some kids and if they stick around, they may play when their time comes.  Or, they may learn that "what I did at NT wasn't enough and I need to get my butt in gear if I wanna play over there at the new school".  We need quality practice players for our starters to match up with...so its more than just about the playing time.  Its about a TEAM!  It's about FAMILY!  Its about being a part of something bigger than self.  I think Ross and staff are very honest with the HS kids they bring in.  They tell them that they shouldn't expect to play unless they can compete with Jr.s and Sr.s.  Most cant.

[Censored by Laurie]

On 3/6/2025 at 5:56 PM, Wag Tag said:

Patino not recruiting HS players. St John’s rank 5th? We should do the same.

you wanna see a locker room go to shit real quick, bring in 13 D1 senior transfers all with the promise of playing time. 

we have a good model going...a balance of mostly upper-classmen transfers and a small handful of upside freshmen. 

[NT80]

I would recruit a team of all college transfer Juniors, similar to what we, and others, are doing now...

(EDIT***  Just realized this article is from Jan. 2024, lol, but still applies to this season too...)

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Has the era of freshmen dominating college basketball passed?

"KenPom tracks every Division 1 program by average age, and a look at the ten oldest teams in college basketball helps prove this point. Nine of the ten oldest teams are in the Top 75 at KenPom, six of them are in the Top 40, and objectively eight of the ten have outperformed preseason expectations."

https://collegesportswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/college-basketball/2024/01/12/college-basketball-old-teams-north-carolina-texas-washington/78286602007/

 

Edited yesterday at 03:53 PM by NT80

[GMG_Dallas]

On 3/7/2025 at 3:10 AM, greenminer said:

Why stop there? Auburn is No 1 and recruits HS kids.

Both seem fine.  Why model after SJs, and not anyone else?

Tell me you know nothing about Auburn's roster without telling me you know nothing about their roster. Their main rotation is mostly transfers. Broome (tranfer Morehead State), Jones (transfer FIU), Baker-Maharaj (transfer SDSU), Kelly (transfer Georgia Tech), are 4 of their 5 leading scorers. Caldwell is their only starter who Auburn recruited out of HS and Pettiford, true freshman off the bench, is their 4th leading scorer. Their success is built off the transfer portal.

[greenminer]

8 hours ago, GMG_Dallas said:

Tell me you know nothing about Auburn's roster without telling me you know nothing about their roster. Their main rotation is mostly transfers. Broome (tranfer Morehead State), Jones (transfer FIU), Baker-Maharaj (transfer SDSU), Kelly (transfer Georgia Tech), are 4 of their 5 leading scorers. Caldwell is their only starter who Auburn recruited out of HS and Pettiford, true freshman off the bench, is their 4th leading scorer. Their success is built off the transfer portal.

And they aren't ruling out HS studs to fill some of those future voids.

https://www.espn.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/252088/sebastian-williams-adams

On 3/7/2025 at 11:24 AM, Wag Tag said:

Can you name the last HS player that was a stud and hung around? Now name how many transfers.

I'm not saying the current climate doesn't favor transfers - it does.  I just believe you look everywhere for the players that best serve your purpose.  If there's a guy out there coming out of HS that fits a need perfectly, sign him.

And our stud transfers are leaving, too, if not graduating.  So, either way, you're getting 1-2 years of contribution.

majority college coaches are still recruiting HS players.  Even the Pitino stuff doesn't read like he's completely closed the door.  Lots of "this cycle" and "this year" when looking at the entirety of those articles/quotes, like he's potentially open to HS players in future cycles.

Edited 18 hours ago by greenminer

[GMG_Dallas]

35 minutes ago, greenminer said:

And they aren't ruling out HS studs to fill some of those future voids.

https://www.espn.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/252088/sebastian-williams-adams

I'm not saying the current climate doesn't favor transfers - it does.  I just believe you look everywhere for the players that best serve your purpose.  If there's a guy out there coming out of HS that fits a need perfectly, sign him.

And our stud transfers are leaving, too, if not graduating.  So, either way, you're getting 1-2 years of contribution.

majority college coaches are still recruiting HS players.  Even the Pitino stuff doesn't read like he's completely closed the door.  Lots of "this cycle" and "this year" when looking at the entirety of those articles/quotes, like he's potentially open to HS players in future cycles.

Of course he's open to HS players in future cycles. Pitino knows things change on a yearly basis. It's just disingenuous of you to say "Auburn is No 1 and recruits HS kids" when their number 1 ranking has very little to do with recruiting HS kids. When I look at the top teams in the country, most are led by at least one transfer. Duke is an exception but they have the number 1 prospect in the country.

If you want to argue that in theory a team led by mostly guys recruited from HS could be number 1 in the country then sure. Duke could win it all this year with the number 1 NBA prospect. For everybody else who isn't getting the top NBA prospect out of HS, all data points to the transfer portal as being the best way to build a team.

[Censored by Laurie]

11 hours ago, NT80 said:

I would recruit a team of all college transfer Juniors, similar to what we, and others, are doing now...

(EDIT***  Just realized this article is from Jan. 2024, lol, but still applies to this season too...)

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Has the era of freshmen dominating college basketball passed?

"KenPom tracks every Division 1 program by average age, and a look at the ten oldest teams in college basketball helps prove this point. Nine of the ten oldest teams are in the Top 75 at KenPom, six of them are in the Top 40, and objectively eight of the ten have outperformed preseason expectations."

https://collegesportswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/college-basketball/2024/01/12/college-basketball-old-teams-north-carolina-texas-washington/78286602007/

 

this is all the more reason for a program like ours to continue recruiting incoming freshmen. 

five years ago the top 50 high schoolers were pretty much just getting divvied up by the top 15 or so programs. now those programs are grabbing more transfers and focusing attention on the top 10-15 incoming freshmen. trickle down effect should mean there's a higher quality of HS recruit available to mid-majors like us. we just have to show a willingness to play freshmen...which, lets just say TBD

I kinda feel an underlying rationale some have for wanting a team of transfers is the idea that if we have 11 seniors Hodge will play an 11 man rotation. not gonna happen. dude likes an 8 man rotation and I have a hard time believing thats gonna change next year.

for me, that means an ideal roster here is 8-9 upperclassmen and 4-5 freshmen/developmental players. 

[NT80]

1 hour ago, Censored by Laurie said:

for me, that means an ideal roster here is 8-9 upperclassmen and 4-5 freshmen/developmental players. 

If they never play for us, who are we developing them for??   

[2020 Sucks]

7 hours ago, NT80 said:

If they never play for us, who are we developing them for??   

They are giving our starters a hard run in practice every day.  You don’t want your practice squad full of intramural players…you want them to be thinking they are on the cusp of playing time.  If they leave early, that opens a slot for another experienced transfer.

[Censored by Laurie]

7 hours ago, NT80 said:

If they never play for us, who are we developing them for??   

it's year two. let's tap the breaks on "never".

[NT80]

1 hour ago, Censored by Laurie said:

it's year two. let's tap the breaks on "never".

It's actually year 8.  Grant/Ross did the same thing.

[greenminer]

15 hours ago, GMG_Dallas said:

Of course he's open to HS players in future cycles. Pitino knows things change on a yearly basis. It's just disingenuous of you to say "Auburn is No 1 and recruits HS kids" when their number 1 ranking has very little to do with recruiting HS kids.

I was responding to Wag's statement, which was to stop recruiting HS kids entirely.  I wasn't trying to say we NEED HS kids to be No. 1 like Auburn.

I've decided nothing is gonna change Wag's mind.  Seems like he's on a mission to abandon HS recruiting.