UNIVERSITY PLACE – University of Washington men’s basketball coach Lorenzo Romar hit another home run by securing a commitment from Curtis High star Isaiah Thomas, but that simple homer may turn into a grand slam.
Jennifer Buchanan / The Herald
After officially announcing his intention to play for the Huskies in a press conference Thursday in the Curtis High gymnasium, Thomas indicated that this year’s top recruit – Seattle Prep center Spencer Hawes – told Thomas that he would play at Washington for at least two years if Thomas were to become a Husky.
If that’s the case, three of the state’s top recruits over the last three years (Snohomish’s Jon Brockman is the third) would play together for at least one season at Hec Edmundson Pavilion.
“He tells me ever since he committed, ‘I’m trying to get you down there, whatever it takes, I’ll get you down there,’ ” Thomas said of Hawes. “He said most likely he’s going to stay two years at least. I just hope he stays that second year so I can play at least one year with him.”
It has been assumed that the 7-foot Hawes, one of the nation’s top seniors, would spend just one season at Washington. But Thomas said he believes that he, Hawes and Brockman – all products of AAU power Friends of Hoop – will spend at least one season playing together, and Thomas is confident that they will form the nucleus of a national championship contender.
“These next coming years, there’s going to be a national championship at Washington,” said Thomas, who added that he talks to Hawes “three-to-four times a week.”
It was reported earlier this week that Thomas had picked Washington over Georgetown, Kentucky and UCLA, and the 5-foot-9 guard – considered the best junior in the state – made it official in front of a group of family and friends.
He said he decided to go to Washington in early February after Indiana coach Mike Davis announced that he would resign at the end of the season. To that point, Thomas was prepared to follow in the more famous Isiah Thomas and become a Hoosier. When Davis said he would be leaving, Thomas knew he’d be a Husky.
“The day (Davis) told me, I knew I would be a Husky,” Thomas said. “I just had to think it over with my family and friends.”
“He was headed that way,” Isaiah’s father James said of Indiana. “We trusted Mike Davis like we do Romar. He fit the program with the name and everything. But why fly away when you can just walk into it? It’s a blessing. I wished he would stay at Washington and it happened. It’s every parent’s dream to see their son play close to home.”
Thomas’ commitment is not binding until he signs a letter of intent in November. However he said he has no intention of breaking the commitment. He did not take any official recruiting visits and said he does not plan to take any, adding that he’s just relieved to have the recruiting process over before his senior year.
Thomas becomes the third-straight player regarded as the state’s best to commit to Washington. Two years ago, it was Brockman and Seattle Prep’s Martell Webster (who went straight to the NBA), and this year it was Hawes. Thomas said the relationship he formed with Romar and assistant coach Cameron Dollar convinced him that Washington was the place for him.
Thomas is viewed as a Nate Robinson-type player, both because of his height and ability. Thomas averaged 26 points a game as a sophomore at Curtis, and 31.6 as a junior, including a state Class 4A tournament record 51 points in a semifinal loss to Franklin. The Seattle Times named Thomas its Class 4A Player of the Year.
Thomas said Robinson, the former Husky star now with the New York Knicks, was a role model he knows and has played against.
“He used to watch Nate a lot and then got to play against him,” James Thomas said. “Nate’s just an ideal kid for Isaiah to watch. It was nice to have someone like him around to show Isaiah what can be done if you just put in the work.”
Thomas will join what should be a crowded and talented Washington backcourt. When he enrolls in 2007, Justin Dentmon likely will be entering his third season as a starter, and Ryan Appleby will be a senior. Also in the group will be Harvey Perry and 2006 freshman Anthony Oliver. But Thomas said he’s not worried about finding minutes.
“Coach Romar told me no one has a starting spot, and everybody’s equal,” Thomas said. “He said if I work hard enough to get the starting spot, then I will. If I don’t, I’ll come off the bench.”
For now, though, the thought of Dentmon and Thomas leading a fastbreak with Brockman and Hawes filling the lanes likely has Romar sleeping with a big smile.
“Coach Romar has something huge going at Washington, and I’m anxious to be a part of it.”
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