THOMAS LANDS ON ALL-SLC FIRST TEAM
3/8/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 8, 2005
PLANO, Texas - Junior forward Steven Thomas was never the "go-to" player in high school or his first two seasons at UTA.
But after the loss of four seniors, Thomas took the reigns to lead the Mavs in scoring (17.4) and rebounding (8.0). He has been ranked in the top 50 nationally and scoring, rebounding and field-goal percentage for much of the season. Thomas is on track to become the first Maverick to lead the SLC in rebounding since Sam Norton averaged 10.9 rebounds per game in 1984.
For his efforts, Thomas was named to the 2005 All-Southland Conference Men's Basketball First-Team.
Thomas becomes the eighth UTA men's basketball player to be named to the first-team squad. Last season, Derrick Obasohan was named to the list. The list inlcudes: Willie Brand, Mike Nau,. Johnny McDowell, Eddie Stallings, Sherman Evans, Ralph McPherson, Damon Johnson, Albert Culton and Sam Norton.
Thomas is joined on the first team by Sam Houston State Joe Thompson, Alan Daniels of Lamar and Southeastern Louisiana tandem Nate Lofton and Ricky Woods.
"I am happy for him, it is a great honor anytime to can be recognized by the league," said UTA Men's Head Basketball Coach Eddie McCarter. "He has come a long way in his first three seasons. In high school he was not the go to man, but he has done a lot of things we asked him to do this season. He is well deserving of the honor."
This season, Thomas set a school record for most free throws made in a single season (165), most free throws made in a conference season (94) and is trying to become the 14 th player to score 500 or more points in a season.
He recorded 10 double-doubles during the season, including a 32-points, 11-rebound effort against Texas-Tyler on Dec. 22.
The Fort Worth Dunbar High School product needs one rebound to become the eighth player in school history to record 1,000 points and 500 rebounds in his career. He is 16th on the all-time scoring list with 1,017 career points. He also ranks in the top 10 in career blocks (49) and is second in career free throws made (349).
