Former Arizona forward Sam Thomas getting chance with Phoenix Mercury

Sam Thomas skilled quite a few recollections via her 5 seasons at Arizona, however one particular reminiscence to her current scenario as she goals for a roster spot with the Phoenix Mercury at coaching camp.  

Throughout Thomas’ freshman 12 months, Diana Taurasi got here to look at considered one of Arizona’s video games to assist her former UConn teammate after which Arizona assistant coach Morgan Valley. 

“She got here to considered one of our video games and sat courtside and I used to be so starstruck. I used to be like, Wow, she’s wonderful,” Thomas stated. “Who knew 5 years from now I’d be on the identical staff as her. It’s simply loopy how life works,” 

Thomas acquired the basketball equal to a glowing letter of advice when Taurasi thought extremely of signing the Arizona product to a coaching camp contract.  

“Diana’s the neatest basketball particular person I do know. She will be able to see issues I positively can’t see. She’s an enormous fan of the sport, she’s always watching. She was accustomed to Sam and he or she’s proper,” Mercury head coach Vanessa Nygaard stated. 

Thomas, a five-year captain at Arizona, jumped out to Nygaard for her management qualities amongst her many praises from Arizona coach Adia Barnes. Barnes and Nygaard have a earlier relationship that dates to their highschool days taking part in in opposition to one another. 

However a participant like Thomas flew below the radar. Thomas devoted most of her time to lecturers and needed to get so far as she may in schooling and took benefit of her fifth 12 months of eligibility to work on her grasp’s diploma. Thomas earned the last word honor from the Pac-12 when she named because the convention’s scholar-athlete of the 12 months in 2021.  

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The shift in plans to proceed her taking part in profession solely got here throughout Thomas’ junior. Thomas began viewing basketball otherwise from when she was youthful and grew a deeper relationship.  

“As soon as I acquired the coaching camp invite and with me being a brilliant senior and (my school profession) ending, I used to be like, I don’t wish to cease taking part in basketball. After getting this, I assumed this could possibly be a critical profession selection for me and I’ve been loving each second of it right here. I positively wish to keep so long as doable and proceed my basketball profession,” Thomas stated. 

Thomas spent her highschool years ingrained in a profitable tradition at Centennial Excessive College in Las Vegas the place she was named the USA At this time Participant of the Yr in 2016. Her first season at Arizona in 2017-18 wasn’t the identical deal. The Wildcats went 2-16 within the Pac-12 and completed second-to-last within the convention. As totally different of an adjustment because it was for Thomas, it formed her views on basketball and separating from making profitable her identification. 

“Coming in my freshman 12 months and never profitable quite a bit, I used to be like, do I actually wish to deal with wins and losses for the remainder of my life?” Thomas stated. “I believe via school, I developed extra and acquired extra assured and developed extra expertise via basketball. It’s not nearly wins and losses, you meet lifelong pals, you’re getting smarter, and also you get to fulfill so many individuals. It’s actually taking all the things that basketball has with it and utilizing that.” 

Thomas averaged averaging 8.97 factors with 4.09 rebounds over 5 seasons, whereas including 266 profession assists and 264 steals.  

The times of dropping early in her profession at Arizona fell behind as Thomas grew to become one of many veterans main Arizona to the nationwide championship sport in 2021. Thomas shared the staff lead in rebounding with seven and logged 37 minutes within the 54-53 loss to Stanford. 

“She’s very even keeled. She performs onerous constantly, however with out highs and lows. That impresses me from a younger participant. She’s an impressive 3-point shooter, I believe that’s an enormous asset. She actually has a really deep data of defensive ideas,” Nygaard stated. “Her basis is actually robust and he or she appears resilient it doesn’t matter what occurs, she retains urgent.” 

In her first skilled expertise, Thomas has added extra to each ends of her sport from the assistance of the veterans. Fourth-year guard Sophie Cunningham has been encouraging Thomas and the opposite rookies all through the camp, usually serving to with offensive situations. 

Thomas was identified for a deep defensive sport, however coaching camp has given her the hardest task of her profession with Taurasi. As an alternative of both of them having a entrance row seat, they lastly can see how their video games match up.  

“She’s an incredible particular person and I actually respect her opinion and worth it. Simply figuring out she’s saying nice issues about me, I’m actually grateful for that. She’s been serving to me quite a bit… She actually settles everyone down and you may inform she has this confidence about her and everybody desires to observe her,” Thomas stated. 

Notes

Mercury guard Shey Peddy returned to coaching camp Friday after taking part in abroad in Turkey. Peddy appeared in 32 video games with the Mercury final season and averaged a profession excessive 5.4 factors. Peddy signed a coaching camp contract in January.

The Mercury will play its first preseason sport April 28 at Footprint Middle in opposition to the Seattle Storm at 7 p.m. It can even be the primary shoe drive for BG’s Coronary heart and Sole Shoe Drive, a charity began by Brittney Griner in partnership with Phoenix Rescue Mission.

Attain the reporter at jenna.ortiz@arizonarepublic.com or 602-647-4122. Observe her on Twitter @jennarortiz. 

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