Noah Thomas likely feels he is residing in a dream, and he certainly has no desire to awaken. Coming off a heralded football and basketball tenure at Pleasant Valley High in Chico, he chose to head to Oregon Tech, an NAIA school, on a 22-23 hoops scholarship. As a freshman, Thomas played in 24 of 29 games, at 10 minutes a contest, scoring 4.4 points an outing while shooting 44%, 36% and 68% respectively.
Not satisfied with his role at OT—"I didn't have the season I expected"—Thomas decided to transfer in order "to find a better fit." He recalled being recruited earlier by Chabot College Coach Keenan McMiller. The two soon met up and becoming a Gladiator was next in line for Thomas.
After performing at the point in the mid-July All American JUCO Showcase in Atlanta, including playing in the Top 20 All Star game, Thomas' recruitment by four-year colleges and universities took off exponentially. As Jordan Davidsen and Cody Hopkins wrote, "Dual sport HS athlete 6’3 Noah Thomas from Chabot College raised plenty of eyebrows with his shooting ability, but as the weekend went on also displayed the vision and court awareness to also play on the ball. The transfer from Oregon Tech competed as a relatively unknown in the event and made sure that his name was circulating by Sunday’s end." Regarding his four-year-level recruiting, Thomas offered, "I'm pretty open and with the dreams of playing at the highest level."
"Coach McMiller told me early on about the showcase but I didn't know too much about it," Thomas recalled. He sees himself as "a combo guard," someone who can switch off from the point if need be and "a leader but more by example."
What has he been working on since returning from Oregon? "Developing a consistent shot -- I've been over at Butte College (in Chico). But I head to Chabot in about a week." The move will finally provide the opportunity to get to know all of his new teammates although he has met a few who also participated in the All American JUCO Showcase and became acquainted with others at various open gyms. "I like the guys we have and we're hoping to make a little run."
Thomas' parents will enjoy the closer proximity of their son and now be able to make it to most home games plus maybe a few away contests.
He is majoring in business management with a strong interest in fashion and clothing brands.
For now, he'll put his own brand on Chabot's opponents this coming season.
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