Like Sonics guard Ronald "Flip" Murray, Thomas is a product of Strawberry Mansion High School in North Philadelphia. Thomas started his college career at Panola Junior College and Texas, where he put up video-game numbers - 34.3 points and 19.1 rebounds per game as a freshman, 36.1 and 17.1 as a sophomore - and became the all-time leading scorer in the history of JC basketball. Thomas moved on to UTEP, where he thrived in the paint despite being just 6-5. Thomas averaged 20.5 points and 6.7 rebounds as a senior, leading the Miners to the WAC Tournament Championship and a spot in the NCAA Tournament (where he scored 24 points in a loss to Utah and top NBA pick Andrew Bogut). Thomas averaged an even seven free throws per game as a senior and is described as willing his way to the basket.
