Chris Thomas (Commit Other)

[Charlesbt4]

If Thomas were doing that in a video against D-I competition, I'd be more persuaded.

So maybe you're not understanding me -- he looks like a great player. He'll probably be have NBA potential at some point. But nothing in those videos tells me that he's guaranteed to play in the NBA, either now, or after a year of D-I. He could, yes, after a year at Xavier. But would I bet my house on it? Hell no.

Again, you're an idiot. The vast majority of shooting guards currently playing college basketball could not do what he does in those videos against the same level of competition.

[waggy]

I don't why being a 5 star recruit, #1 at his position, isn't enough? Oh no no no, he's surefire one and done. Lakers want him now. Commitment to X is a publicity stunt. Favor to his buddy Rasheen. And Smiley's an idiot.

[smileyy]

Again, you're an idiot. The vast majority of shooting guards currently playing college basketball could not do what he does in those videos against the same level of competition.

Ok, some of the body control he's showing near the rim -- doing things Jordan Crawford did at 20 when he's only 17 -- is impressive, and shows a lot of potential.

On the other hand, the guys who have gone to college as "Surefire One and Done's" and still been in college a year or two later...their numbers are legion.

[bobbiemcgee]

He is Rivals National #5. Anthony Davis was a #2. I'd say he's decent.

[X Factor]

If Thomas were doing that in a video against D-I competition, I'd be more persuaded.

So maybe you're not understanding me[*] -- he looks like a great player. He'll probably be have NBA potential at some point. But nothing in those videos tells me that he's guaranteed to play in the NBA, either now, or after a year of D-I. He could, yes, after a year at Xavier. But would I bet my house on it? Hell no.

[*] Edit: which is possible -- I suck at communicating my point a lot of the time

I do think he's got NBA written all over him. He is an amazing talent. I would love to see him at X for 2 years. That would be a beast of a team, if Dez is around for his senior year.

Semaj, Thomas, Dez, Reynolds, etc. Whoa.

Here is John Wall's HS mixtape. He was the #1 overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. Chris Thomas can shoot better than Wall, about an inch taller, just as athletic, etc. I'm not saying Thomas is going to be the #1 pick, but a 1st round pick is easily imaginable in a couple of years.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4CbQGBbUOw

[Charlesbt4]

Ok, some of the body control he's showing near the rim -- doing things Jordan Crawford did at 20 when he's only 17 -- is impressive, and shows a lot of potential.

On the other hand, the guys who have gone to college as "Surefire One and Done's" and still been in college a year or two later...their numbers are legion.

The top five players in the Rivals Top 150 from 2007 to 2011:

2007: Michael Beasley; Eric Gordon; Derrick Rose; O.J. Mayo; Kyle Singler.
2008: B.J. Mullens; Jrue Holiday; Demar DeRozan; Brandon Jennings; Scotty Hopson.
2009: John Wall; DeMarcus Cousins; Derrick Favors; Avery Bradley; John Henson.
2010: Josh Selby; Harrison Barnes; Enes Kanter; Kyrie Irving; Jared Sullinger.
2011: Austin Rivers; Anthony Davis; Mike Gilchrist; Brad Beal; Marquis Teague.

Let me provide you some numbers.

Of those players in the classes from 2007 to 2010, 19 of 20 are or will be playing in the NBA. Of those 19, all were or will be first round draft picks. Of those 19, 15 played one year of basketball between high school and the NBA, while 4 played multiple years. The only exception to all of this is Scotty Hopson, who played for Tennessee for three years and went undrafted.

Of those players in the 2011 class, all will be first round draft picks and could be one-and-done, if they choose to be.

I guess what I'm trying to say is - it's a fairly good bet that Thomas has NBA talent and, potentially, could be a one-and-done player.

Knowledge dropped.

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

Honestly, I don't know how anyone can complain about getting a verbal pledge from a 1 and done(and granted not many X fans are)... Its mostly the UC/UD fans dragging his name through the mud

How many schools not in a BCS conference gets these caliber players? Hell, most schools in BCS conferences don't get these caliber players.

Even if he doesn't play one minute at Xavier, its a gamechanger for this program perception wise. Semaj being our first 5 star and now Chris Thomas being our first top 10 recruit. Big time recruits from all over are now taking notice.

It is incredible the level of success X has gotten, and if Mack and company keep this up, the rewards could get even higher...

[XUFan09]

Again, you're an idiot. The vast majority of shooting guards currently playing college basketball could not do what he does in those videos against the same level of competition.

Although I agree that regardless of competition, what he's able to do is NBA-level ridiculous, there's no need to be an #$%^&* to someone who just has some measured skepticism. It's not that hard to disagree with a fellow Xavier fan in a non-disparaging way.

[Charlesbt4]

Although I agree that regardless of competition, what he's able to do is NBA-level ridiculous, there's no need to be an #$%^&* to someone who just has some measured skepticism. It's not that hard to disagree with a fellow Xavier fan in a non-disparaging way.

Your calling me an "#$%^&*" in the first sentence certainly calls into question the validity of your claim in the second sentence

[smileyy]

The Wall mixtape was a good contrast. I mean, the two aren't directly comparable -- Wall is a PG, Thomas is a SG, and they have different skillsets.

What I'm not seeing out of Thomas that I do see in good NBA players (and Wall, in his video) is explosiveness to the rim, and length/reach. That's mostly what I was looking for when I said that I wasn't all that impressed _by his videos_. I am impressed by Thomas's shooting, though. Of course, we only see makes, and nothing else with respect to his shot selection.

I'm not doubting that Rivals has him rated #5 for a reason. On the other hand, if you saw those videos, and didn't already know he was #5 in the country, would everyone still be popping boners? What if he were ranked #75 instead? Would you know that he was massively underrated by the videos?