NCAA Grants Waiver for WCC Leading Scorer Malik Thomas, Expected to Transfer to Top Program
Thomas played just nine games as a freshman at USC in the 2021-22 season, and while he was not injured the NCAA will reward him a fourth full year after he played 27 games as a sophomore before transferring to San Francisco and playing 67 games the past two years.
Advertisement
Gonzaga will be happy to not have to face Thomas in the WCC anymore, and would no doubt love to bring him to Spokane to suit up alongside Braeden Smith, Jalen Warley, and fellow newcomer Adam Miller in a new look Zag backcourt.
However, reporting from Jeff Goodman of the Field of 68 indicates Thomas is heavily expected to land at Virginia under new head coach Ryan Odom.
Thomas was among the best players in the conference last year, leading the WCC with 19.9 points per game while shooting 39.4% from deep and 85.1% from the free throw line, tacking on 3.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.6 steals per contest.
Advertisement
The 6'4 guard began his career at USC but struggled to find playing time in two seasons, but really broke out during his two seasons with the Dons. His ability to get downhill and convert at the line and strong outside shooting makes him a blend of Nolan Hickman and Khalif Battle - a near perfect addition to this Zag roster.
Virginia is now led by Odum, who went 52-21 at VCU after going 44-25 at Utah State before that, and the Cavs have done well for themselves in the transfer portal, bringing in guards Dallin Hall (BYU), Jacari White (North Dakota State), and Sam Lewis (Toledo), forward Devin Tillis (UC Irvine), and center Ugonna Onyenso (Kansas State).
Thomas would be the lead man in a dynamic offensive system, and the ACC against Duke and North Carolina holds some allure, but he'd no doubt fit smoothly in Spokane where the interior scoring of Braden Huff and Graham Ike will pull attention away from him as a shooter, giving him plenty of open looks and chances to attack closeouts and get to the rim - not to mention extensive fastbreak opportunities.
Whether Gonzaga can snag him away from the Cavs remains to be seen, but both teams are also competing with the professional ranks, where Thomas is working out with NBA teams and hoping to get attention internationally as well.
Advertisement
Gonzaga has five open scholarships after the addition of Adam Miller and commitment from Parker Jefferson, and they are known to be in the market for more backcourt help - recently contacting Desmond Claude and Duke Miles, who coincidentally decommitted from Virginia last month.
Related: Top Ranked Recruit in 2026 Class Has Plans to Visit Gonzaga
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Cowboys sign TE Jake Ferguson to $52M deal as Micah Parsons continues without extension
The Dallas Cowboys got a deal done at training camp, but not the one fans are looking for. The Cowboys announced Sunday morning that they have signed tight end Tony Ferguson to a four-year, $52 million extension. All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons, meanwhile, remains without a deal as he seeks an extension entering the final year of his rookie contract. The deal for Ferguson makes him the highest-paid tight end in Cowboys history and the seventh-highest paid tight end in the NFL, according to the Cowboys. He signed the extension with one year remaining on his four-year rookie contract that scheduled to pay him $3.4 million in 2025. A fourth-round selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, Ferguson was a part-time starter as a rookie and has been Dallas' No. 1 tight end in the two seasons since. He emerged as one of quarterback Dak Prescott's favorite targets in 2023 with 71 catches for 761 yards and five touchdowns. Ferguson's production dropped last season as he tallied 59 catches for 494 yards without a touchdown. That still led Cowboys tight ends and was the good for the third-highest production among all Cowboys pass catchers behind CeeDee Lamb and Jalen Tolbert. The Cowboys bolstered their receiving corps with the addition of former Pittsburgh Steeler George Pickens in the offseason. Ferguson projects to remain as a top target for Prescott. Jerry Jones jeered by fans over lack of Parsons progress Parsons, meanwhile remains without a contract extension as the Cowboys prepare to practice in pads for the first time on Sunday. The absence of his extension remains the top story at Cowboys camp and one of the biggest training camp stories in the NFL. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was greeted with boos and calls from fans to "pay Micah" as he addressed fans during a public training camp session on Saturday. Jones' address to fans took place days after his Monday news conference in which he swiped at the availability of both Parsons and quarterback Dak Prescott while addressing Parsons' contract status at the start of training camp. Just because we sign him doesn't mean we're going to have him," Jones said of Parsons. "He was hurt six games last year. Seriously. I remember signing a player for the highest-paid at the position in the league and he got knocked out two-thirds of the year — Dak Prescott. "So there's a lot of things you can think about, just as the player does, when you're thinking about committing and guaranteeing money.' Parsons was not "hurt six games last year." He missed four of 17 games with injury. In his previous three seasons, Parsons played in 50 of 51 regular-season Cowboys games. He's a three-time All-Pro and has made the Pro Bowl after each of his four seasons. Parsons is seeking a deal that will make him among the highest-paid defenders in football after fellow All-Pro pass rushers Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt signed contracts in the offseason paying them $40-plus million per season. Watt signed a three-year, $123 million extension ahead of Steelers training camp that set the new bar. Parsons reported to training camp without his extension, but has been a limited participant since practices started on Tuesday. He watched Wednesday's session from the sideline with back tightness, but declined to call himself a hold-in. Training camp escalates in intensity starting Sunday as the Cowboys practice in pads for the first time.
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Rashawn Slater agrees to four-year, $114-million deal with the Chargers
Rashawn Slater, a former first-round draft pick and one of the leaders on the Chargers offensive line, is staying in L.A. for the long haul. Slater has agreed to a four-year, $114-million contract extension, according to a person with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly, making him the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history. Slater, a two-time Pro Bowl selection and a second-team All-Pro in 2021, will be paid out $92 million guaranteed, ESPN and NFL Media reported. Read more: Is Tuli Tuipulotu the next Joey Bosa for the Chargers? Edge rusher 'does it all' Working as Justin Herbert's blindside protector, Slater started every game last season and played a valuable role in helping the Chargers set a franchise record for the fewest offensive turnovers (eight) in a season. He finished last season with the second-best overall grade and the third-best pass-blocking grade at offensive tackle, per Pro Football Focus. Slater's tireless efforts certainly won over Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh, who has Slater in his exclusive "Elite Nine" club on the team that includes stars Khalil Mack, Derwin James Jr. and Herbert, among others. 'Speaking on behalf of everyone in the organization, fully support Rashawn and what he's trying to accomplish for himself and his family,' said Harbaugh last month about Slater's push for a contract extension. 'We're all in support.' Times staff writers Sam Farmer and Thuc Nhi Nguyen contributed to this report. Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Sabres avoid arbitration by signing defenseman Connor Timmins to 2-year, $4.4 million contract
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Sabres avoided a salary arbitration hearing with Conor Timmins by signing the newly acquired defenseman to a two-year, $4.4 million contract on Sunday. The 26-year-old Timmins was a restricted free agent and acquired with defenseman Isaac Beliveau in a trade that sent blue-liner Connor Clifton to the Pittsburgh Penguins on June 28. The Sabres are Timmins' fifth team in six NHL seasons since the 2017 second-round draft pick broke into the league with Colorado in 2019-20. He finished last season with a career-high three goals and 15 points in 68 games split between Pittsburgh and Toronto. Overall, he has six goals and 46 points in 159 games. Timmins' signing leaves the Sabres with goalie Devon Levi as their only unsigned restricted free agent. ___ AP NHL:
