Sam Thomas is everywhere.
On defense, the Arizona Wildcats’ freshman forward narrows passing lanes, tips passes, blocks shots and grabs rebounds. On offense, she knows where she should be and knocks down big shots when her team needs it.
Off the court, Thomas is all smiles — even when showing off the black eye she suffered in last week’s loss to Utah.
The all-around talent, ability to do the little things and comfort on the court is what you’d expect from a coach’s kid.
Thomas’ father, Derek, runs the Las Vegas Prospects, a boys’ AAU team. Previously, he coached at the University of Detroit Mercy and Marian High School and with the AAU’s Michigan Shock.
“You can tell she is a coach’s kid,” UA coach Adia Barnes said of Thomas, who will lead the Wildcats (4-10, 0-3) against No. 23 Cal at noon Sunday in McKale Center.
“She is resilient, coachable, and has a high basketball IQ. I wish I had 10 of her. She looks you in the eye when you talk to her. The best player I’ve had who could do all the little things was (Washington’s) Chantel Osahor. If I tell Sam to not allow Alanna Smith (from Stanford) to get any more rebounds, she will go out and do it to the best of her ability.
“She is one of our more consistent players, which is rare for a freshman. She is only going to get better and better.”
Thomas and her three siblings all play basketball. Older sister Bailey will play for UNLV next season after transferring from West Virginia. Younger brother Shane is 14, and sister Jade is 16.
The Thomases live and breathe basketball. On Christmas Eve, Derek Thomas tweeted a photo of the family’s tradition — working on player development skills.
“I used to smoke everybody, but my brother is getting taller and better,” Sam Thomas said. “We did a regular training and at the end did a one-on-one with my dad. He gets loud and is competitive. There are no excuses with him. He tells you straight up how it is.
“I got my basketball IQ from my dad. He always taught me to stay calm, play your game first and not be focused on what the other team is doing.
“I think it is a little advantage as I have someone who will give me an honest opinion. He does not sugarcoat it. He knows when you are at your best and helps you get there.”
Thomas’ father still provides feedback to Sam after her games via group text. She analyzes her game first, then gets his input, which is almost always on the same page as the Wildcats coaching staff.
Experience is the best teacher, and Derek Thomas is giving his daughter some of that, too. Sam practiced against Derek’s AAU team for a few months last spring, with the idea that it would help her prepare for college competition. It did. From Thomas’ first game against Iona, where she scored 10 points, had three blocks and grabbed seven rebounds, she was ready.
“Those couple of months opened her eyes,” Derek Thomas said.
Sam Thomas is averaging 10 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. She has 26 blocks and 25 steals so far this season.
Thomas notched the first double-double for any Wildcat this season against NAU (13 points, 10 rebounds) and is the first freshman since LaBrittney Jones to record a double-double.
She is also making noise in the Pac-12. Thomas is second in minutes played (37.1 per game), third in blocked shots (1.9 per game), sixth in rebounding (8.3 per game), and seventh in steals (1.9 per game). She is the top freshman in all those areas.
Nationally, Thomas ranks fourth among freshmen in rebounds per game and fifth among freshmen in blocks per game.
Despite all that, Thomas seems to be flying under the radar. Some of it has to do with the fact she does so many things well.
“She’s doing all the little things and that makes me happy,” Derek Thomas said. “A player can get 31 points every night and another can get 15, 8, 7 or 6 every night and they are more valuable. I brought her up to play that way. I hope people appreciate her game.”
Barnes knows that in time the word will soon get out.
“She will surprise some people, but they are starting to talk about her,” said Barnes. “She will continue to surprise people her whole career. She is the silent assassin. She will chip away and before you know it, she’ll have 2,000 points.
“She will always find a way. She is a good teammate; she is hustling for rebounds; if I say talk more, she talks. She would find a way to play on UConn or UCLA or Stanford.”
