TaShawn Thomas

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = TaShawn Thomas

| image = TaShawn Thomas.jpg

| caption = Thomas with the Perth Wildcats in 2022

| position = Power forward / center

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 8

| weight_lb = 240

| league = LBA

| team = Le Mans

| number = 35

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|2|27}}

| birth_place = Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.

| high_school = Killeen (Killeen, Texas)

| college =

Houston (2011–2014)
Oklahoma (2014–2015)

| draft_year = 2015

| career_start = 2015

| years1 = 2015–2016

| team1 = Mitteldeutscher BC

| years2 = 2016–2017

| team2 = Vanoli Cremona

| years3 = 2017–2018

| team3 = Hapoel Holon

| years4 = 2018–2021

| team4 = Hapoel Jerusalem

| years5 = 2021–2022

| team5 = Le Mans

| years6 = 2022–2023

| team6 = Perth Wildcats

| years7 = 2023

| team7 = Metropolitans 92

| years8 = 2023–2024

| team8 = Derthona Basket

| years9 = 2024–present

| team9 = Le Mans

| highlights =

LNB Pro A All-First Team (2022)
LNB All-Star (2022)
3× Israeli State Cup winner (2018–2020)
Israeli League Cup winner (2019)
Israeli State Cup MVP (2019)
Israeli League Defensive Player of the Year (2019)
All-Champions League First Team (2020)
Third-team All-Big 12 (2015)
Big 12 Newcomer of the Year (2015)
Big 12 All-Newcomer Team (2015)
Second-team All-AAC (2014)
First-team All-C-USA (2013)
C-USA All-Defensive Team (2013)
C-USA All-Freshman Team (2012)

}}

TaShawn Thomas (born February 27, 1993) is an American professional basketball player for Le Mans of the LNB Pro A. He played college basketball for the University of Houston and the University of Oklahoma before playing professionally in Germany, Italy, Israel, France and Australia. In 2019, he was named the Israeli State Cup MVP and the Israeli League Defensive Player of the Year.

College career

A {{height|ft=6|in=8}} forward from Las Vegas, Nevada, Thomas played three seasons at Houston. As a junior, he averaged 15.4 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. He opted to transfer to Oklahoma for his senior season.{{cite news|last1=Aber|first1=Ryan|title=Oklahoma basketball: Houston transfer TaShawn Thomas finds a perfect fit at the school he never thought he'd attend|url=http://newsok.com/article/4986474|accessdate=October 6, 2016|work=The Oklahoman|date=July 7, 2014}} As a senior, Thomas was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and a Third Team All-Big 12 selection. He scored in double figures 17 times and had 42 blocked shots, shooting 51.4 percent for the season.{{cite web|title=Sooners' Hield Leads All-Big 12 Men's Basketball Honors|url=http://www.big12sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=209934691|website=Big 12 Conference|accessdate=May 17, 2015|date=March 8, 2015}} In his senior year, he averaged 11.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.{{cite news|title=OU's TaShawn Thomas will play with the Orlando Magic at Summer League|url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/ousportsextra/ou-s-tashawn-thomas-will-play-with-the-orlando-magic/article_2652ced4-9af4-5797-9e58-1eb466472c2e.html|accessdate=October 6, 2016|work=Tulsa World|date=June 29, 2015}}

Professional career

=Mitteldeutscher (2015–2016)=

After going undrafted in the 2015 NBA draft, Thomas played with the Orlando Magic in the Summer League. On July 29, 2015, Thomas signed with the German club Mitteldeutscher BC.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportando.com/it/europa/germania/170906/mbc-firmato-il-rookie-tashawn-thomas.html|title=MBC: firmato il rookie TaShawn Thomas|work=Sportando.com|date=July 29, 2015|accessdate=October 6, 2016|language=Italian}}

=Vanoli Cremona (2016–2017)=

On June 26, 2016, Thomas joined the Los Angeles Clippers for the 2016 NBA Summer League.{{cite web|title=Summer League 2016: TaShawn Thomas to Join Clippers in Orlando|url=https://www.clipsnation.com/2016/6/26/12032908/summer-league-2016-tashawn-thomas-to-join-clippers-in-orlando|work=clipsnation.com|date=June 26, 2016|accessdate=November 16, 2018}} On July 9, 2016, Thomas sign with the Italian club Vanoli Cremona.{{cite web|url=http://www.vanolibasket.com/tashawn-thomas-e-la-nuova-ala-forte-della-vanoli-basket/|title=TaShawn Thomas è la nuova ala forte della Vanoli Basket|work=Vanoli Cremona|date=July 9, 2016|accessdate=October 6, 2016|language=Italian|archive-date=August 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160827211554/http://www.vanolibasket.com/tashawn-thomas-e-la-nuova-ala-forte-della-vanoli-basket/|url-status=dead}} On January 2, 2017, Thomas recorded a career-high 25 points, shooting 9-of-14 from the field, along with six rebounds and four blocks in an 85–71 win over Varese.{{cite web|url=https://basketball.realgm.com/international/boxscore/2017-01-02/OpenJobMetis-Varese-at-Vanoli-Cremona/250668|title=OpenJobMetis Varese 71 at Vanoli Cremona 85|work=RealGM.com|date=January 2, 2017|accessdate=November 16, 2018}}

=Hapoel Holon (2017–2018)=

On July 19, 2017, Thomas signed with the Israeli team Hapoel Holon for the 2017–18 season.{{cite web|url=http://basket.co.il/news.asp?id=15787|title=זר ראשון לסגולים: טיישון תומאס|work=basket.co.il|date=July 19, 2017|accessdate=July 19, 2017|language=Hebrew}} Thomas helped Holon to win the 2018 Israeli State Cup, as well as reaching the 2018 Israeli League Final, where they eventually lost to Maccabi Tel Aviv. In 55 games played during the 2017–18 season (both in the Israeli League and the Champions League), Thomas averaged 10.8 points, 5 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.1 blocks per game.

=Hapoel Jerusalem (2018–2021)=

On July 2, 2018, Thomas signed a two-year deal with Hapoel Jerusalem.{{cite web|url=http://basket.co.il/news.asp?id=19121|title=מסגול לאדום: טיישון תומאס עולה לבירה|work=basket.co.il|date=July 2, 2018|accessdate=July 2, 2018|language=Hebrew}} In September 2018, Thomas was suspended by the Israeli anti-doping agency for three months after he tested positive to Cannabis use during the Israeli League playoffs.{{cite web|title=Richard Howell, TaShawn Thomas suspended by the Israeli anti-doping agency|url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/others/732758/richard-howell-tashawn-thomas-suspended-by-the-israeli-anti-doping-agency/|work=eurohoops.net|date=September 2, 2018|accessdate=September 6, 2018}} On February 14, 2019, Thomas recorded a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds, leading Jerusalem to win their fifth Israeli State Cup title after an 82–67 win over Maccabi Rishon LeZion. He was subsequently named the Final MVP.{{cite web|title=הארון מתמלא: גביע חמישי להפועל י-ם!|url=http://basket.co.il/news.asp?id=20854|work=basket.co.il|date=February 14, 2019|accessdate=February 14, 2019|language=he}} On June 7, 2019, Thomas was named the Israeli League Best Defender.{{cite web | title=גרשון תגלית העונה, תומאס שחקן ההגנה | url=http://basket.co.il/news.asp?id=21287 | work=basket.co.il | access-date=June 7, 2019 | date=June 7, 2019 | language=he}}

On June 24, 2019, Thomas signed a two-year contract extension with Jerusalem.{{cite news | title=Tashawn Thomas extends with Hapoel Jerusalem | url=https://sportando.basketball/en/tashawn-thomas-extends-with-hapoel-jerusalem/ | work=Sportando.basketball | access-date=June 24, 2019 | date=June 24, 2019}} On January 7, 2020, Thomas recorded a season-high 23 points without missing a single shot as he went 10 of 10 from the field, along with six rebounds in an 83–74 win over Rasta Vechta. Three days later, he was named the Champions League Game Day 10 MVP.{{cite web | title=TaShawn Thomas claims MVP of the Week accolade | url=http://www.championsleague.basketball/19-20/news/tashawn-thomas-claims-mvp-of-the-week-accolade | work=ChampionsLeague.basketball | access-date=January 10, 2020 | date=January 10, 2020}} Thomas re-signed with the team on August 12.{{cite news |title=Tashawn Thomas officially stays in Jerusalem |url=https://sportando.basketball/en/tashawn-thomas-officially-stays-in-jerusalem/ |website=Sportando |accessdate=August 12, 2020 |date=August 12, 2020}} In October 2020, Thomas was named to the All-BCL First Team of the 2019–20 season.{{Cite web|url=http://www.championsleague.basketball/19-20/news/star-lineup-revealed-alocen-best-young-player|title=Star Lineup revealed, Alocen Best Young Player|date=29 September 2020|accessdate=8 October 2020|work=Basketball Champions League}}

=Le Mans (2021–2022)=

On July 19, 2021, Thomas signed a one-year deal with the French team Le Mans of the LNB Pro A.{{cite web|url=https://www.msb.fr/index.php/component/content/article/119-equipes/pros/recrutement/5254-tashawn-thomas-un-premier-de-cordee-pour-la-raquette?Itemid=101|title=TaShawn Thomas, un premier de cordée pour la raquette|website=msb.fr|date=July 19, 2021|accessdate=July 19, 2021|language=Fr}} He was named to the All-League First-Team after the regular season.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-18 |title=Trophées LNB : les lauréats en Betclic ELITE ! |url=https://www.lnb.fr/elite/trophees-lnb-les-laureats-en-betclic-elite/ |access-date=2022-06-26 |website=Betclic ELITE |language=fr}}

=Perth Wildcats (2022–2023)=

On July 26, 2022, Thomas signed with the Perth Wildcats in Australia for the 2022–23 NBL season.{{cite web|url=https://www.wildcats.com.au/news/wildcats-sign-american-forward-tashawn-thomas|title=Wildcats sign American forward TaShawn Thomas|work=Wildcats.com.au|date=July 26, 2022|access-date=July 26, 2022}}

=Metropolitans 92 (2023)=

On February 17, 2023, Thomas signed with Metropolitans 92 of the LNB Pro A for the rest of the 2022–23 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.metropolitans92.com/fr/actualites/2023-02-17/tashawn-thomas-rejoint-les-mets-92-pour-son-retour-en-betclic-elite|title=TaShawn Thomas rejoint les Mets 92 pour son retour en Betclic Elite|work=metropolitans92.com|date=February 17, 2023|access-date=February 19, 2023|language=French}}

=Derthona Basket (2023–2024)=

On July 21, 2023, he signed with Derthona Basket of the Italian LBA.{{Cite web|url=https://www.derthonabasket.it/il-derthona-si-completa-in-bianconero-arriva-tashawn-thomas/|title=Il Derthona si completa: in bianconero arriva TaShawn Thomas|last=|first=|date=July 21, 2023|website=derthonabasket.it|publisher=|language=it|access-date=July 30, 2023}}

=Return to Le Mans (2024–present)=

On June 3, 2024, he signed with Le Mans of the LNB Pro A for a second stint.{{Cite web|url=https://www.msb.fr/index.php/component/content/article/119-equipes/pros/recrutement/6071-tashawn-thomas-est-de-retour-au-msb?Itemid=101|title=TaShawn Thomas est de retour au MSB|last=|first=|date=June 3, 2024|website=msb.fr|publisher=|language=fr|access-date=June 5, 2024}}

Career statistics

=College=

| style="text-align:left;"|2011–12

| style="text-align:left;"|Houston

| 30 || 30 || 28.2 || .577 || .000 || .542 || 8.2 || 1.1 || .8 || 2.1 || 10.7

| style="text-align:left;"|2012–13

| style="text-align:left;"|Houston

| 33 || 33 || 32.5 || .552 || .111 || .638 || 9.8 || 2.4 || 1.0 || 1.7 || 16.9

| style="text-align:left;"|2013–14

| style="text-align:left;"|Houston

| 33 || 33 || 31.6 || .591 || .167 || .595 || 8.1 || 1.9 || 1.2 || 2.7 || 15.4

| style="text-align:left;"|2014–15

| style="text-align:left;"|Oklahoma

| 35 || 35 || 29.7 || .519 || .000 || .691 || 6.5 || 1.5 || .6 || 1.5 || 11.6

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career

| 131 || 131 || 30.5 || .559 || .100 || .622 || 8.1 || 1.7 || .9 || 2.0 || 13.7

References

External links

[https://basketball.realgm.com/player/TaShawn-Thomas/Summary/30741 RealGM Profile]
[http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/TaShawn-Thomas-41333/ DraftExpress Profile]

{{Israeli Basketball Super League Defensive Players of the Year}}

Category:1993 births

Category:Living people

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Australia

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Germany

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Israel

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Italy

Category:American men's basketball players

Category:Basketball players from Las Vegas

Category:Basketball players from Texas

Category:Derthona Basket players

Category:Doping cases in basketball