Jevon Thomas: the next great Red Storm point guard?
In the video below, keep you eyes on #5 and #22 in black in this video.
#5 is Jevon Thomas, a kid who is reportedly from Rosedale (like Malik Boothe) and is a young talented New York City point guard from Long Island's Our Savior New American.
#22 is Brian Bernardi, a sharpshooter from Xaverian in Brooklyn.
Video, below the fold.
Per Lenn Robbins of the New York Post on Twitter, Jevon Thomas committed for the 2012 season to Steve Lavin's Red Storm. Thomas had interest from Villanova - went to their Midnight Madness last week - and interest from other top schools, reportedly including Kentucky, West Virginia, and Syracuse.
On Thomas' commitment, from NY Post writer (who follows NYC hoops), Zach Braziller:
"The buzz is coming back and I wanted to be a part of that," said Thomas, the 13th-ranked point guard in the Class of 2012 according to Scout.com. "It’s my dream school."...
Thomas, from Rosedale, Queens, attended Midnight Madness at St. John’s each of the past two years and the experiences were hardly comparable.
"There were so many people that came out to show support," he said of this year's event. "A lot more than last year."
From Zagsblog:
"Jevon will bring back that electric energy and fire back to the Garden and New York," said Casey Williams, Thomas’ AAU coach with the New York Gauchos.
"He’s a great leader on the court and he’s a New Yorker. He will bring lots of fire and the will to win."
More from Zach Braziller:
Jevon Thomas is the best New York City point guard right now. The 6-foot Jamaica, Queens native, who is headed to St. Benedict’s Prep in New Jersey, already has offers from St. John’s and Villanova, but there will be plenty more on the way, several coaches told me. The prototypical point is a one-man fast break, but he has expanded his game offensively and can get wherever he wants on the floor.
On bit more on his past and distractions, from when he was going to transfer to New Jersey powerhouse high school/ program St. Benedict's.
On learning how to work hard and getting past the aforementioned distractions:
He is living with a host family, the Fords, near the school’s campus, and working out with renowned trainer Jerry Powell. He has earned a 75 average at Our Savior, far higher than what he produced at Edison.
"I’m basically here for school and basketball," he said. "I go from home to school and basketball instead of hanging out with my friends."....
He rises every morning at 7 a.m. for school, then from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m. it’s all about basketball before he returns home to catch up on his heavy work load. There is no chance to get into trouble – there is nothing around Our Savior and his new home. "I’m way more focused," Thomas said. "Now I have to do things on my own, I can’t count on my family doing it for me. It’s getting me ready for college."
More on his game from Ray Mernagh:
....this kid has everything a great point guard needs (and some other skills that just can’t be taught). He threw 4 or 5 no look passes that hit his teammates right in the hands before they — or any of the highly skilled QEA players — realized the opening through which he passed the ball even existed. He’s a special, special player.
This is pretty big. A second New York City native - showing that Steve Lavin can bring in the city players. And the true lead guard that St. John's will need. There has been some question about when the staff would bring in a lead guard - 2011 commit Nurideen Lindsey is a combo guard, known for his scoring, and D'Angelo Harrison is a scoring guard with some ballhandling ability.
But the 2011 class' point guards had been widely courted and nearly spoken for. Why not wait a year and get the next splashy NYC true point?
(The next Kemba Walker? What, is that too far?)
And... Jevon's from Rosedale.