Well, we can’t really say this is a huge shock, but Deshaun Thomas made it official today and announced that he would forgo his Senior year and make the jump to the NBA draft.
“My three years at Ohio State have been the best years of my life,” Thomas said. “I have grown tremendously as an individual and as a basketball player. I intend to return to finish my degree, but I believe that now is the best opportunity to pursue my dream and begin my career as a professional basketball player. I will always be a Buckeye and am blessed to be a part of the Ohio State University family.”
This is one of those things that happens when you have top-tier talent. It’s kind of the negative that goes along with success. Hopefully, the offensive development witnessed for the majority of the tournament will carry over into next year. Because, well, that’s a pretty darn huge hole to fill.
How huge? Well, here’s a list of Thomas’ accomplishments, including awards for the 2012-2013 season
2012-13 SEASON HONORS
• 2013 John R. Wooden Award All-America
• 2013 Associated Press Third Team All-America
• 2013 NCAA West Regional All-Tournament Team
• 2013 Big Ten All-Tournament Team
• 2013 Sporting News Second Team All-America
• 2013 USBWA All-District V Team
• 2013 First Team All-Big Ten, coaches/media
• 2013 Oscar Robertson Trophy finalist
• 2013 Naismith Award Midseason Top 30
• 2013 Oscar Robertson Trophy Midseason Watch List
• 2012-13 Big Ten Player of the Week (Nov. 19, Jan. 14)
• Hall of Fame Tipoff All-Tournament Team (MVP)
• 2012-13 Wooden Award Preseason Top 50
• 2012-13 Naismith Award Preseason Top 50
• 2012-13 Preseason All-America
Noting Deshaun Thomas’ Ohio State Career
62-Career NCAA tournament rebounds, 4th all-time
72-Made 3s, No. 10 all-time, season (2012-13)
83.4-FT pct. (.834/141-169), No. 6 all-time, season (2012-13)
94-Aaron Craft, Lenzelle Smith Jr., Deshaun Thomas career wins
143-Career made 3s, No. 8 all-time
205-Ohio State career NCAA tournament points, 2nd all-time
260-Thomas made FGs, No. 8 all-time, season (2012-13)
584-Thomas FGA, No. 2 all-time, season (2012-13)
733-Thomas season pts., No. 3 all-time, season (2012-13)
1,630-Career points for Deshaun Thomas, No. 9 all-time
Best of luck, Deshaun! Buckeye Nation will be rooting for you at the next level! Unless, of course, you go to some team someone hates. Then, it’s more like a “gosh, I hope you do fine and your team sucks” kind of support.
