Ex-Curtis star Thomas set to join UW in fall

By DON RUIZ | The News Tribune • Published May 04, 2008

Former Curtis High School basketball star Isaiah Thomas has passed his ACT test, clearing the way to begin his career as a Washington Husky in the 2008-09 season.

"I feel so good," Thomas said Saturday. "This is the best I've felt in a long time. This was the biggest relief, getting this off my shoulders. Now I can just finish the school year strong."

Thomas received the word about his ACT score last week, and when he graduates from the South Kent prep school in Connecticut on May 31, he can turn full attention to his college career.

That moment seems a long way off back in 2006 when Thomas and his family decided that he would leave Curtis and try to improve his game and his grades over two academic years on the East Coast.

"It took a long time, but it was well worth it," said Keith Curtis of Tacoma, Isaiah's father. "It's like losing your kid at one time and then gaining him back in the end. He learned, and I think he learned what he needed to. In fact, I know he did. I just see the maturity from when he left to now. He's ready for the next level. (Fans) will see that. He's matured more than I've ever seen: Mentally, physically on the basketball court, he's grown as a basketball player. He's not a little kid no more."

Thomas averaged 31.2 points per game during his final season at Curtis, including two 50-point performances. He left holding nine Washington state tournament records, including most points in a game (51), most points in a tournament (162), and highest scoring average (40.5).

He continued scoring in bunches at South Kent - the same school attended by UW sophomore-to-be Matthew Bryan-Amaning. Thomas averaged around 32 points per game against lots of college-bound competition, but also used the time to work on other aspects of his game.

"I'm a better player, a more mature player," he said. "They said I couldn't play defense or whatnot, but I'm playing it now. I'll just be ready to put on a show when I get to the U-Dub."

Thomas is part of an incoming freshman class also featuring guards Scott Suggs of Missouri and Elston Turner Jr. of Texas and power forward Tyreese Breshers of Los Angeles.

Suggs capped his season by being named Mr. Show-Me State Basketball - in effect, the state player of the year.

That highly ranked class will join a UW team that returns three of its top four scorers from last season, when the Huskies went 16-17 and missed the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive season.

"Isaiah is a Damon Stoudamire-type that can score in bunches at 5-foot-8," UW coach Lorenzo Romar said on letter-of-intent signing day. "But he is not limited to just a guy that can score. He can pass the ball, and he can handle the ball. He really is a complete guard."

Thomas said he and sophomore Venoy Overton - UW's starting point guard last season - can fit comfortably into the same backcourt.

"I think we're going to do tremendously well," Thomas said. "Me and him are going to try to bring back the days like (Nate Robinson, Will Conroy, Brandon Roy) and all of them. We're going to try to get back at it."