Liam Thomas

Liam Thomas
Personal information
Born (1994-07-20) 20 July 1994 (age 30)
Kogarah, New South Wales
NationalityAustralian
Listed height7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
Listed weight200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High schoolCentral Private
(Central, Louisiana)
CollegeNicholls (2013–2017)
NBA draft2017: undrafted
Playing career2017–2020
PositionPower forward
Career history
2017AV Ohrid
2019Diamond Valley Eagles
2019–2020Sutherland Sharks
Career highlights and awards
  • NCAA blocks leader (2017)
  • Third-team All-Southland (2017)
  • Southland Defensive Player of the Year (2017)
  • 2× Southland All-Defensive Team (2016, 2017)

Liam Robert Thomas (born 20 July 1994) is an Australian former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for Nicholls State.

Early life

Thomas played basketball for Central Private School in Central, Louisiana. As a senior, he averaged 14.1 points, 10.5 rebounds and 9.1 blocks per game. Thomas recorded 10 points, eight rebounds and eight blocks to lead his team to its first ever Mississippi Association of Independent Schools title.[1]

College career

Thomas was a four-year college basketball starter at Nicholls State. His coach J. P. Piper wanted to redshirt him for his first year, but Thomas did not agree with the idea.[2] Thomas posted 8.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game as a junior.[3] As a junior, Thomas blocked 85 shots, a single-season school record, and became his program's all-time leader in blocks. In his senior season, he led the NCAA Division I with 4.19 blocks per game and 130 blocks, while averaging 7.8 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. Thomas was named Southland Defensive Player of the Year and Third Team All-Southland. He left with the third-most blocks in Southland history.[4]

Professional career

After going undrafted in the 2017 NBA draft, Thomas signed with AV Ohrid of the Macedonian First League and ABA League Second Division. On 28 November 2017, he was released by the club.[5] In the 2018–19 season, Thomas joined the Sydney Kings of the Australian National Basketball League as a development player.[6] He signed with the Diamond Valley Eagles of the semi-professional NBL1 on 22 February 2019.[7] For his next season, Thomas played for the Sutherland Sharks of the semi-professional Waratah League.[8]

References

  1. ^ "Three sign with Nicholls". The Houma Courier. 1 May 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  2. ^ Renois, Teddy (9 January 2014). "Thomas starting to make a impact for Colonels". The Houma Courier. Retrieved 13 August 2020.[failed verification]
  3. ^ Arsenis, Damian (15 April 2016). "NCAA Men: 2016 All-Australian Awards". Pickandroll.com.au. Archived from the original on 19 July 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  4. ^ "Thomas named Southland's top defender". The Houma Courier. 6 March 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  5. ^ "Changes in Ohrid: Donakoski replaced Thomas". ABA League. 28 November 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  6. ^ McQuade, Matt (19 September 2018). "Kings Announce Development Squad". Sydney Kings. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  7. ^ "NBL1 Eagles Signs Liam Thomas for 2019". Diamond Valley Basketball Association. 22 February 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  8. ^ "Liam Thomas". Eurobasket.com. Retrieved 13 August 2020.