Eastern Kentucky University men’s basketball head coach A.W. Hamilton announced today that Pierce Thomas, a former ESPN four-star recruit and Butler University player, will join the team for the 2023-24 season. Thomas, a 6-foot-5 forward hailing from Brownsburg, Indiana, will have three seasons of eligibility remaining.
Before his time at Butler, Thomas was rated as the sixth-best player in Indiana and the 29th-best small forward in the nation. ESPN ranked him among the top-140 players in the country. Hamilton is excited about the addition of Thomas, stating, “Pierce is a dynamic player who brings a great basketball IQ, athleticism and length. He fits our style perfectly on both ends of the floor. He is a phenomenal young man with high character that will represent our university in a first-class manner.”
During his redshirt freshman season at Butler, Thomas played in 23 out of 32 games, averaging 14 minutes per game. His contributions included 2.2 points and 2.3 rebounds per game while shooting 42 percent from the field. Thomas ranked fifth on the team in steals and recorded a season-high of six rebounds in three separate games.
Thomas’s high school career at Brownsburg High School is equally impressive. In 2021, he was an Indiana All-Star and averaged 22 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals per game as a senior. He shot 38 percent from the 3-point range and was named to the First Team All-USA Central Indiana Super Team by the Indianapolis Star. During his junior season, Thomas averaged 14 points, six rebounds, five assists, and one steal per game, leading his team to a 21-4 record and a sectional championship.
Additionally, Thomas showcased his athletic prowess as a member of the BHS track team, winning the state championship in the long jump and placing eighth in the 200m in 2019.
The EKU team completed the 2022-23 season with a 23-14 record and advanced to the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) championship. With 23 wins, it was the third-most successful season in program history. EKU has received two national postseason tournament invitations in the last four years and placed third in the ASUN Conference with a 12-6 mark.
The Colonels aim to turn their CBI experience into an NCAA Tournament run in 2023-24. The team’s core, including Michael Moreno, Devontae Blanton, Isaiah Cozart, Tayshawn Comer, and Leland Walker, will return next season. This group accounted for 77 percent of the team’s assists, 70 percent of its points, 66 percent of its blocks, 62 percent of its rebounds, and 55 percent of its steals in the 2022-23 season. With the addition of Pierce Thomas, the EKU men’s basketball team is looking forward to a promising 2023-24 season.
