By Chris Williams, CycloneFanatic.com PublisherFollow Chris on Twitter @ChrisMWilliams
Yeah I know…That headline is a bit much…
It’s never, ever, ever, fair to compare a junior in high school to one of, if not the most beloved student-athletes in the history of Iowa State athletics. So don’t worry Matt Thomas. The Cyclone Nation isn’t expecting that much out of you.
But there’s a little bit of truth to this whole 2.0 thing though…
“Coach Hoiberg has always told me how he sees himself in me,” Thomas told CycloneFanatic.com shortly after he committed to Iowa State on Thursday afternoon. “He says that when he was younger, we were very similar players.”
While I didn’t pay a whole lot of attention to Hoiberg’s Ames High School career (I was like four years old – give me a break), the above quote makes a lot of sense. Thomas’ body is similar to Hoiberg’s. Fred played the majority of his career in the NBA at around 6-foot-4 (or 6-foot-5 depending on where you look), 210-pounds. Heading into his senior season of high school ball, Thomas stands at around 6-foot-4, 185-pounds. Both men are lights out shooters who have more passion for the game than most. Both Hoiberg and Thomas led their high school programs to state championships.
“He’s (Hoiberg) played division one ball and in the NBA. He knows what it takes,” said Thomas. “That’s another reason why Iowa State is a good fit. That’s my ultimate goal, to play in the NBA. I know that Coach Hoiberg will do whatever it takes and what he can for me to get there.”
