Isiah Thomas: The Bad Boy of Recruiting

When two time NBA Champion Isiah Thomas, became the head coach at Florida International University back in April of ‘09, most of us scratched our heads at the NBA Hall of Famer’s most recent move to make headlines. After being dismissed from the NY Knicks organization in ‘08, amid sexual harassment, racism, and horrible basketball decisions, few gave Thomas a chance to succeed at the FIU. Amazingly, in an attempt to both help the university in these tough economic times and make headlines, he even agreed to forego his salary for the first year.

In only four months, Thomas is starting to make his mark on the college basketball landscape by landing 3, top 100 recruits to play at FIU in the upcoming seasons. Most notable is Dominique Ferguson, the #8 ranked player in the country for 2010, as rated by ESPN. Ferguson is a 6′8 power forward from Lawrence, Indiana. He averaged 15 points and 9 rebounds last season while playing many positions. He will attend Hargrove Military Academy for one season before joining FIU in’10. Ferguson chose FIU after decommiting from Kentucky after coaching changes and over other highly touted schools like Arizona, Florida, Duke, UCONN, and Alabama. Joining Ferguson in 2010 is guard Phil Taylor, the #37 ranked player, who turned down USC and NC State. The #5 center in 2011 Chris Coleman, has also given verbal commitment to play for Thomas in two seasons.

Two top 25 players in the 2009 class, Lance Stephenson, the NY HS legend and Eric Bledsoe, one of the top point guards in the nation, flirted with playing at FIU after meeting with Thomas, before signing with Cincinnati and Kentucky respectively.

FIU may have a chance to make it to the NCAA Tourney in the coming years since they play in the Sun Belt Conference. Only hardcore NCAA fans may know of Western Kentucky, South Alabama, and Arkansas-Little Rock, who are annual conference contenders in the Sun Belt. Since most highly recruited HS players envision being one and done players en route to the NBA, it appears that Thomas and FIU definitely have an advantage over these other schools in recruiting because of his track record for success in the NBA.

Has Isiah found lightning in a bottle at FIU, or is he using the school as a stepping stone to coach at bigger school, or to get back to the NBA? I hope he realizes he is guiding and mentoring young, impressional kids of the NCAA and not babysitting pampered millionaires of the NBA. With his issues in the past, I’m not sure I would want my son under his guidance. As a player, Thomas was dynamite……one of the all time greats. As a coach and general Manager………not so much. Which Isiah will emerge in South Florida?