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A former 4-star recruit is in the portal despite his team gearing up for a March Madness run. LJ Thomas of NC State intends to transfer, and he’s not wasting any time in finding a new home.
Even if sticking around a few more days could mean getting the Wolfpack a step closer to a national championship.
Thomas came to Raleigh as the third-best player in the Tar Heel State and the 22nd-ranked point guard in the nation according to ESPN. His four-star status provided a major boost to head coach Kevin Keatts’ 2022 class.
“I feel like it’s a great situation for me,” he said upon making that commitment. “I also like the way Coach Keatts lets his guards play, so I really like the playstyle. I feel like it fits me…It’s definitely a dream come true. I’ve been working my whole life to play at a high level, especially in the ACC.”
A few years later, though, he’s gone – ditching the chance to play on college basketball’s biggest stage.
On Monday, news of a transfer surfaced as he reportedly failed to make the trip to Pittsburgh for the Wolfpack’s opening round matchup with Texas Tech.
LJ Thomas entering the transfer portal should come as no surprise
Just simply didn’t fit into our rotation and will be a valuable asset wherever he chooses to take his talents next
Wish LJ and his family all the best in his future endeavors
— Wolfpack Station – 2024 ACC CHAMPIONS (@wolfpackstation) March 18, 2024
Over two seasons with the program, LJ Thomas averaged 2.5 points and 8.9 minutes per game. He appeared in 12 contests this past campaign, most of which came in the non-conference portion of the schedule.
Seeing the writing on the wall in terms of playing time, he’s opted to leave the team.
That won’t come as a major shock to NC State basketball fans as he was also away from the squad during an improbable ACC Tournament run in which they took down Duke and UNC to land a bid to the Big Dance.
Still, it presents an interesting dynamic that will only become more prevalent in college hoops.
LJ Thomas headlines a list of postseason opt outs…
Though most of those early transfers are members of teams who aren’t competing for a national title.
With the transfer portal window opening the day after Selection Sunday, coaches and players now have decisions to make in regard to postseason play.
Is it worth competing as a team in a tournament like the NIT? Many have already answered, “No,” this March.
We’ve seen notable programs turn down NIT invites with coaches looking to get a head start on recruiting and players hoping to secure NIL deals before the market becomes too crowded.
This is the new norm in college basketball, comparable to football’s bowl season. Until something changes with the recruiting schedule, expect more postseason transfers – even if that means missing out on a trip to the Big Dance!