CSUN Mourns the Loss of Former Men's Basketball Forward J.J. Thomas
3/20/2018 1:00:00 PM | General, Men's Basketball
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NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Athletics is mourning the loss of former men's basketball student-athlete J.J. Thomas. A 6-foot-6 forward from Opelousas, La., Thomas played three collegiate seasons including his junior campaign with the Matadors in 2013-14.Â
Thomas transferred to the Matadors from Louisiana in 2012. After sitting out the 2012-13 season, Thomas suited up for the Matadors a year later, competing in 28 games while making nine starts. Thomas averaged 2.8 points per game and 2.2 rebounds in 11.5 minutes on the floor for the Matadors.Â
Thomas helped CSUNÂ
advance to the 2014
Big West Final
With Thomas in the starting lineup, the Matadors advanced to the Big West Tournament Final in 2014. Thomas averaged 4.0 points per game during the Matadors' tournament run including registering seven points and five rebounds in the championship game against Cal Poly. Starting the final nine games of the season, Thomas helped the upstart Matadors make the championship game as a No. 5 seed with thrilling wins over Hawai'i and Long Beach State.Â
Before joining the Matadors, Thomas played two seasons at Louisiana from 2010-12 where he averaged 10.0 points and 5.8 rebounds per game in 49 appearances. Thomas would have perhaps his best season as a freshman at UL where he posted 11.3 points and 6.2 rebounds.
Following his freshman season, Thomas was named All-Sun Belt Second Team and Louisiana Sports Writers Association Freshman of the Year.Â
Thomas prepped at Scotlandville Magnet High School in Baton Rouge, where he was named Class 5A Most Outstanding Player as a senior. He also participated on the school's track & field team.Â
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