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Commitment from Corey Thomas

Corey Thomas was the preferred big man by Coach Wardle and the staff, probably because he has played against high level junior college competition at Cowley County CC, he is not just a post player, but can shoot from outside (see stats below), and because, unlike many of the transfer big men, he has 2 seasons of eligibility left. He helped lead Cowley to a 28-6 record
We first mentioned Thomas on March 27 - https://www.bradleyfans.com/forum/s...-2023-and-beyond-recruits?p=518511#post518511

As mentioned, he is a legitimate 6'10", and has a strong 215 lb body.
In 2022-23 as a freshman, he didn't play much, and his season stats were - 4.9 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 52.% FG%, and 37.5% (9-24) from three.
But as his bio shows, he came on strong at the end of the 2022-23 season and averaged 9.1 points and 3.6 rebounds over Cowley County CC's final eight games.
He gained 18 pounds, got stronger, and improved between 2022-23 and 2023-24.
In 2023-24- he started every game he played in, and averaged 12.2 ppg, 10.1 rpg, shot 59.3% overall, and 36.6% (15-41) from three. And he averaged almost 2 blocks per game, including 8 blocks in one game
2023-24 stats- https://www.njcaa.org/sports/mbkb/2023-24/div1/players/coreythomaswkax?view=gamelog&pos=sh

He is originally from the Atlanta area (Buford, GA)
Video from high school - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfBp8O84cQ8
Video- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYqIrTmDkGQ (#4 in purple)
 
Dave Eminian is quick to post an article about Corey Thomas committing - https://www.pjstar.com/story/sports...portal-corey-thomas-brian-wardle/73320132007/

According to JUCOrecruiting.com , Corey Thomas is not listed among the Top 100 juco players in the class of 2024, however, he is listed in the short Honorable Mention section just outside the Top 100. - https://www.jucorecruiting.com/2024-junior-college-basketball-top-100-player-rankings

Note that the coaches told Corey he was "the missing piece" for next year's team.
Coach Wardle also said, "Thomas fits the needs and wants we have at that 5 position. He can hit a 3, he'll go down low and his skill set fits us."
"He's long, athletic, and a skilled 5 who has improved every year," Bradley coach Brian Wardle said. "I love his work ethic. He comes from a very good juco coach, a coach from whom we recruited Lundy from.
 
Wow- impressed…
I see no question marks on this guy!
12.2ppg, but he didn’t shoot all that much, while hitting a high pct -
(he scored 400 points this season on 248 shots- that’s amazing efficiency!). - almost 60% overall, 37% from 3-pt and 70% on FTs
But I also like the 2 asst/game & 2 blocks/ gm
he’s good defensively & not selfish, and his team was 28-5 against the top juco competition & went deep into the Nationals before losing to NW Florida State who lost in the Championship game to Barton
 
I watched this guy play in a Cowley game on ESPN +. He is very, very good. He is very athletic, passes very well, is very mobile, moves very well. He will fit in very well with Wardle's motion offense. He can pass inside out. Great for our 3 point shooters. I think he is just what we need to take us the extra step
 
bradleyfan124 said:
I watched this guy play in a Cowley game on ESPN +. He is very, very good. He is very athletic, passes very well, is very mobile, moves very well. He will fit in very well with Wardle's motion offense. He can pass inside out. Great for our 3 point shooters. I think he is just what we need to take us the extra step
Click to expand...

Some might look at his scoring average of 12.2 points per game, which is not eye-popping. But as yoda said, he did not shoot a lot. He only averaged a little over 7 shot attempts per game, making 59.3% of them.
Cowley had 2 other players who between them took over 40% of the team's shots. One averaged 12 shots per game, and the other averaged over 13 shots per game.
And it looks like he has good hands. He plays a lot of minutes in an offense that is fast tempo and high scoring (81.1 ppg), yet he averaged only 1.5 turnovers per game. His other stats- 2.8 personal fouls per game, 1.9 assists/game, 0.5 steals/game, and 1.8 blocks/game.
If he can contribute even a fraction of those kinds of stats for Bradley, the fans are going to love him.
 
Da Coach said:
Some might look at his scoring average of 12.2 points per game, which is not eye-popping. But as yoda said, he did not shoot a lot. He only averaged a little over 7 shot attempts per game, making 59.3% of them.
Cowley had 2 other players who between them took over 40% of the team's shots. One averaged 12 shots per game, and the other averaged over 13 shots per game.
And it looks like he has good hands. He plays a lot of minutes in an offense that is fast tempo and high scoring (81.1 ppg), yet he averaged only 1.5 turnovers per game. His other stats- 2.8 personal fouls per game, 1.9 assists/game, 0.5 steals/game, and 1.8 blocks/game.
If he can contribute even a fraction of those kinds of stats for Bradley, the fans are going to love him.
Click to expand...

In their offense he was like the facilitator. They passed the ball to him and he would look to take it himself or pass it back out to the guards or forwards for a shot or drive. Their offense seemed to go thru him. He made good decisions on his passing.
 
one more thing - if he chooses to wear #24, then the NIL shop & apparel shop won't have to print new jerseys- they can use the ones they already have

so this spring, we lose a Connor (Hickman) & a (Kyle) Thomas, and replace them with a Connor (Dillon) & a (Corey) Thomas
 
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yoda said:
one more thing - if he chooses to wear #24, then the NIL shop & apparel shop won't have to print new jerseys- they can use the ones they already have

so this spring, we lose a Connor (Hickman) & a (Kyle) Thomas, and replace them with a Connor (Dillon) & a (Corey) Thomas
Click to expand...

Lol!..
 
We should start a thread on this year recruiting group. The way it is shaping up this could be one of Wardle's best recruiting years. But probably better wait to make sure they all sign.
 
In the game against NW Florida State,
Corey Thomas led Cowley with 20 points on 8-13 shooting and 9 rebounds, 7 of those rebounds on the offensive end.
 
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