#55
Freshman • HS
Forward
6-6 • 235
New York, N.Y.
South Kent (Conn.)
On Thomas: A powerful and dynamic athlete with
an inside-outside game … a dynamic scorer who provides “instant
offense” … has the ability to hit from the perimeter or bang down
low for buckets … an energetic rebounder and defender … has
been rated as high as the No. 32 prospect at power forward by
recruiting services … was ruled a partial qualifier by the NCAA …
will arrive on campus and begin taking classes during the January
of 2007 … will spend a year-in-residence, concentrating on
academics, and will not be able to suit up for the Red Storm until
January 2008.
Norm Roberts on Thomas: “Rob is a perimeter
four-man that can step out, but he also has a very good power game
around the basket. He is a guy that can score in multiple of ways,
inside and out. He just has a knack to score the basketball. He
brings a New York City toughness that I think will help our team as
well. He is a tough match-up for other teams. If they try to play a
big guy on him or they try to play small, Rob can score in so many
different ways. He’s more of an inside guy now, but he can step out
and score from the perimeter.”
At South Kent: Averaged 20 points per game with
11 rebounds before being slowed by an ankle injury as a senior in
2005-06 … scored nearly 25 ppg as a junior in 2004-05, leading
South Kent to the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council
(NEPSAC) Class A Finals … selected to the Jordan All-American
Classic regional game at Madison Square Garden … prep school coach
was Raphael Chillious … named the MVP of ABCD Camp during the
summer of 2004.
Personal: Robert Der Shawn Thomas … born May
28, 1986 in New York City … guardians are Sanayi Beckles and Sean
Arnold … son of Janice Thomas … has three brothers, including John
Farmer (27), Christopher Farmer (26), Scott Thomas (18), and four
adopted brothers, including Norvell Beckles (16), Sean Johnson
(10), Jordan Arnold (4) and Shamir Canton (2) … has two sisters,
Tamika Farmer (24) and Janet Thomas (13) … chose St. John’s so he
could stay close to home and spend time with his family … will
enroll in classes in January 2007 … interested in studying public
administration/public service.
Thomas Up Close…
Few people know that I: Love to watch The History
Channel.
Favorite Book: The Good Life by Jay
Mcinerney.
After St. John’s, I’d like to: Play professional
basketball and open a school for children with dyslexia and other
learning disabilities.
Favorite Quote: “If you don’t stand for something,
you will fall for nothing.”
If I could have dinner with any three people (in history or
today): Rosa Parks, Bill Clinton and Martin Luther King
Jr.