By Staff
There are several great reasons for Chris Thomas to return to Notre Dame next season.
The phenomenal point guard, who has decided to make himself eligible for the upcoming National Basketball Association draft instead of returning to the Golden Dome for his junior season, still has the option of returning to Notre Dame because he has not hired an agent.
Thomas was the Big East Conference Freshman of the Year in 2001 and a Second Team All-Big East selection in 2002. He'll likely be a frontrunner for the Big East Player of the Year in 2003 if he returns for his junior season.
That possibility is just one of the many reasons Thomas should come back to Notre Dame.
Another reason is his word. When Thomas announced he would declare for the NBA draft, he stated if he is not one of the top 20 players in that draft he would return to Notre Dame. Well, nobody is picking Thomas to even be selected in the first round which includes 29 picks. Other point guards like T.J. Ford, Kirk Hinrich and Luke Ridnour are all predicted to be selected in the first round. Thomas should keep his word and return to Notre Dame because he's evidently not one of the top 20 players in the draft.
Still another reason for Thomas to come back to the South Bend, Ind., campus, is the prospect of what would happen to the Irish if he left. With the graduation of guard Matt Carroll and small forward Dan Miller, Notre Dame's basketball team is already left with little experience. The departure of Thomas would change everything for the Irish.
If he returns next year, Thomas will be the leader of the team. He will have the most game experience of any player on the Irish squad and will have a chance to lead the team to a fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance.
Still another great reason for Thomas to return to Notre Dame is the recent hiring of Martin Ingelsby as the coordinator of basketball operations. Ingelsby graduated the year before Thomas arrived at Notre Dame and was Thomas' predecessor at the point guard position.
If Thomas stays he would have the chance to work with and learn from Ingelsby. The elder point guard surely would have plenty of advice for Thomas and could be a mentor for him.
If Thomas is true to himself and to his word, he will see that he is not ready to make the jump to the NBA and return to do great things at Notre Dame.
Dan Weiss is sports editor of the Niles Daily Star. He can be reached at dan.weiss @leaderpub.com