LAS VEGAS – The Colorado Hawks were Sunday's biggest upset victim in opening-round action at the adidas Super 64, falling to an unheralded Nebraska Bisons club that lacked a single Division I prospect.
It was another unexpected turn for Hawk star
Chris Thomas, a 6-foot-5 rising junior combo guard with superstar talent and a growing reputation for volatility.
Chris Thomas is headed to South Kent in Connecticut this fall, his third school in three years.
File photo by Michael McLoone
"This is bad, man," said Thomas, who was slapped with a pair of technical fouls at the Super 64 and ejected from a game in Indianapolis earlier this month. "Especially to a team that we are better than."
A native of Denver, Thomas began his high school career
Princeton Day Academy (Lanham, Md.), but left 10 games into his sophomore season despite averaging 34.9 points per outing. He ended up at
Westwind Prep Academy (Phoenix), but didn't play a game there and is on the move again to
South Kent School (Conn.) in the fall after head coach Gary Trousdale left Westwind to start a new program in California.
"It's going to be my final destination," Thomas said emphatically. "I'm going to make it happen at South Kent."
Vagabond or not, Thomas doesn't feel like the changes in locale have hurt him.
"I really don't," Thomas said. "Each time, I made better decisions as I went on."
Thomas deserves credit for recognizing that his hometown wouldn't be conducive to achieving his goals and leaving at a young age in search of opportunity.
"Denver is a place where my friends don't really go to school," Thomas said. "Me being at home hanging out with them would make me not go to school. So I had to get to a different state to go to school and keep my head focused.
"Every chance I get to go home, I go back. As long as I can keep up with my friends and family, as long as I can see them, it's good. I can still keep my head in the books."
At least one more new destination lies ahead for Thomas, but that will be a big-time college campus. According to Thomas, Arizona, Kentucky, Missouri and Xavier stand out in the race to secure his services.
More Sunday Super 64 standoutsRodney Bullock, D.C. Assault: The Hampton, Va., native is beginning to break away from being viewed as a power forward. Pushing 6-7, he was effective at the head of Assault's full-court and zone defenses. He's an active presence developing into a true wing player. DePaul, Marquette and Miami are recent additions to his school list, which also includes North Carolina State, Virginia and Virginia Tech.
Dalante Dunklin, Dream Vision: A combo guard and explosive athlete, Dunklin provided one of the day's biggest highlights with a one-handed crush job against the Detroit Stars. On a team loaded with talent, the under-16 team call-up has managed to shine in the Dream Vision backcourt despite limited opportunities. "I'm just a go-hard player at all times," said Dunklin, a product of
Parker (San Diego). "I know my role. I'm a scorer, but on this team I'm a facilitator so I play my role and try to help my team win." Boise State, Cal Poly, California-Santa Barbara, Oregon State, Portland, San Diego State and Southern California are among the schools taking notice.
Gavin Thurman, Kansas City Pump-N-Run: A wing-forward not unlike Bullock, Thurman has an impressive build and displayed his versatility Sunday with tough defense on the perimeter. He will join
Perry Ellis at
Wichita Heights (Kan.) next fall to assist the bid for four straight state titles. "That's really important to me," Thurman said of winning a state championship. Wichita State could be tough to beat in his recruitment. "It's real close. My parents can see me, but my options are still open." Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Nevada and Oklahoma are others making a pitch. Thurman is planning on taking visits in August and hopes to make a decision before school resumes in the fall.
NotesNo. 1 NBA Draft pick Kyrie Irving was on hand at Rancho High School to take in opening-round action... Former Duke star and recent Blazer draftee Nolan Smith was on the bench for D.C. Assault... Several heavy favorites – including loaded programs like D.C. Assault, Atlanta Celtics and New England Playaz – were taken to the wire by hungry underdogs. D.C. Assault needed a game-winner with seven seconds remaining from star point guard
Nate Britt to advance...
Coreontae DeBerry of
Holland (Mich.) makes people take notice when he hits the floor. At nearly 6-9 and 245 pounds, he looks the part of a high-major post man... Atlanta Celtics and
Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) wing
Damien Wilson provided the poster jam of the day, going baseline and rising over a couple of defenders that left the gym with regrets. Look for it on YouTube. It was a redeeming moment for Wilson, who missed a dunk attempt minutes earlier that popped off the back of the rim and flew out of bounds... Across town at the Fab 48, defending champions Oakland Soldiers were shocked in the first round and are headed home. That gave point guard
Dominic Artis time to give UCLA a verbal pledge, joining
Jordan Adams as 2012 commitments for the Bruins.
