The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
James Thomas to receive Sam Perkins Sportsmanship Award
05.19.2018 | Men's Basketball, T-Association
Former Longhorn will be honored by the Upstate New York Basketball Hall of Fame on Sunday.
TROY, N.Y. — Former University of Texas men's basketball player James Thomas will receive the Sam Perkins Sportsmanship Award by the Upstate New York Basketball Hall of Fame. Thomas will be honored during the Hall's annual awards ceremony on Sunday, May 20 at the Hilton Hotel in Troy, N.Y.
"We are thrilled to honor James Thomas with the Sam Perkins Sportsmanship Award," said Rene LeRoux, Executive Director of the Upstate New York Basketball Hall of Fame. "JT has had a unique story of hard work, accomplishment and success leading to realizing his dream of playing in the NBA. Sam and James, both from upstate New York, are basketball success stories at the highest level."
A four-year starter at center for the Longhorns (2000-04), Thomas was a tenacious inside presence who finished his career as the all-time leading rebounder in UT history (1,077 rebounds, ranks second currently in school history behind the 1,318 by Damion James). He became just the second player in school history to record both 1,000 career points (1,149) and 1,000 career rebounds, joining LaSalle Thompson (1980-82; 1,463 points and 1,027 rebounds; James became the third to accomplish the milestone with 1,917 points and 1,318 rebounds). Thomas led the Longhorns to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including trips to the "Sweet 16" in 2002 and 2004 and a run to the Final Four in 2003.
Following his time at UT, Thomas went on to play for four NBA organizations (Portland Trail Blazers, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers and Chicago Bulls) during the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons. He played professionally overseas for an additional nine years before beginning his coaching career. Thomas served as an assistant coach for the Maine Red Claws (Boston Celtics G League affiliate) for one season (2015-16), then moved into his current role as the head girls' basketball coach at Schenectady High School in his hometown of Schenectady, N.Y.