USD Men's Basketball 2003-2004 West Coast Conference

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troubles with coaching at the highest collegiate level these days. Many of the top players expect to spend less than four years on campus. But any coach who tries too hard to dissuade ayoung dreamer from leaving early risks earning a reputation as someone who can't handle the modern player. Brey had little choice but to indulge his point guard's wish. When spring term ended, Thomas began the dance. He played atthe Chicago camp. He set up camp at the !MG Academies in Bradenton, Fla., seeking to improve his strength, quickness and ball skills. He made the rounds to 10 different teams for individual workouts. And he consulted his parents, Frank and Tammy, along with Brey, about the decision. "I really had a chance to see what the NBA is looking for in apoint guard and to see how Iwould fare," Thomas says. "Going through everything this past summer will help me when I enter the draft nexttime." Thomas received just about the same message from each team for which he auditioned. They were impressed with his skills but believed he needed at f least another season at school. He admits it was a very stressful process, but one which provided insight into NBA life.

"He's the one guy on our team that can create some things," Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey says.

Thomas' dream has not waned one bit. To him, playing in the League remains the ultimate in sports, due to the small amount of players (435) who have the privilege. But he knows there is some work to do. "It's not about chang– ing; I have to upgrade and make better decisions," he says. "I have to continue to mature as a player. There will be some things to change, like my shot selection and my decision-making. But nobody said that I had to change. They just want me to get better as aplayer and mature." And there's no better place to do that than in college. ■ Michael Bradley is a freelance writer living in Broomall, Pa., and a regular contributor to College Hoops Illustrated.

Brey was happy then, that the message the NBA repre– sentatives gave Thomas was identical to the coach's hopes for his junior captain this year. Make better deci– sions. Take smarter shots. Run the team. "He's smart enough to know

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that he can't play for him– self this year, " Brey says."That works

against everything they told him he needs to do to be a pro." The process began last February, when Thomas came to Brey and expressed some interest in investigating his draft status. That's one ofthe

Program contents designed by Ferdinand Morton

Cover Photos: Left to right-Jameer Nelson (Getty Images/Doug Pensinger); Chris Thomas (Getty Images/Craig Jones)