In the end, it was an easy decision for Xavier Thomas.
The 6-foot-5 forward from Detroit powerhouse Brother Rice has lived the recruiting process for two years. He has visited Toledo and had many interactions with head coach Tod Kowalczyk and assistant Justin Ingram.
When it’s time, it’s time. There’s no use in delaying the inevitable.
“It was the perfect fit,” said Thomas, who became the first member of UT’s 2023 recruiting class. “There was no time to wait. It’s close to home. I love that my family can come watch me play and support me. They said I would play right away. There’s nothing else I can say.”
The All-Catholic High School League selection averaged 13.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists as a junior in helping lead Brother Rice to a 15-7 record. Thomas held offers from UT, Central Michigan, Western Michigan, Miami (Ohio), and Tennessee State.
“In terms of finding someone who, playing in the EYBL [Elite Youth Basketball League] and the Catholic League, could have hung around and tried to get a bigger offer league-wise, he figured out the right fit where he could thrive,” said Stephen Bell, who operates the Michigan basketball recruiting website Bank Hoops. “He’s a guy who’s been through the wars in the Catholic league and the EYBL and has always shown up. His versatility and his body are the big thing. The frame, the butt, the hands, and the footwork are what’s always distinguished him.”
If your game stands out in the ultra-competitive CHSL, it translates to Division I college basketball.
“X is a guy where it’s tough to label him a position,” Brother Rice coach Rick Palmer said. “He plays the 1 through the 5 for us. He’s just super productive. He’ll be a four-year varsity starter. The Detroit Catholic league is the best league in Michigan. He will be a four-time all-league player. He just does a little bit of everything, which I think is what attracted Coach K.”
Despite a stacked roster, Thomas led Brother Rice in scoring and rebounding as a freshman and sophomore. He has had two Division I recruits playing alongside him all three seasons. Curtis Williams, Jr., a 6-foot-6 forward, is the top player in the state and ranked 56th nationally, and 6-foot-3 guard John Blackwell, the No. 4 player in Michigan, is a Wisconsin commit.
“When you look at some of [Thomas’] numbers, they might not look as gaudy as some other players,” Palmer said. “But that’s just a reflection of our roster and his balance. That’s the type of guys he’s played with. He’s just so productive, even with those guys. He’s a matchup nightmare.”
Thomas connected quickly with the Toledo coaching staff and commended them for always being a phone call away and emphasizing a family culture. An auxiliary gym and shooting machines were another plus for Thomas, a gym rat who wants to shoot as much as possible.
And the Michigan native isn’t too keen on snow and wintry weather, so the location of UT’s classrooms near dorms was a plus.
“I don’t want to walk far when it’s cold outside,” Thomas said.
Palmer is no stranger to the Mid-American Conference, having served as director of basketball operations at Bowling Green under Louis Orr. It was that experience that led Palmer to compare Thomas to the late Nate Miller, a two-time all-conference selection at BGSU. In three seasons for the Falcons, he averaged 13.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.8 steals.
Point forward can be a valuable position in Toledo’s high-efficiency offense, and Thomas can fill the role. Kowalczyk, according to Thomas, wants to see him push the ball up court and shoot the basketball.
“I would say Tod recruited him as hard from the head coach perspective as anyone I’ve been around,” Palmer said. “That just showed Xavier and me that he was a top priority. That’s why he pulled the trigger.”
First Published July 4, 2022, 4:23 p.m.
