CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Walters State sophomore forward Miles Thomas already had the Tennessee Community College Athletic Association's Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year, as well as All-TCCAA First Team honors to his credit this season, but he added an even bigger prize this week.
Thomas was named to the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I Men's Basketball All-America First Team following his stellar second campaign with the Senators.
The Knoxville native and graduate of South-Doyle High School averaged 21.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.8 assists and 1.6 steals per game this year while also eclipsing the 1,000-point mark for his two-year career in Morristown. He scored 663 points, pulled down 197 rebounds (51 on offense, 146 on defense), dished out 137 assists, had 50 steals and blocked 13 shots during the year.
In TCCAA play, he was even better, averaging 23.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.7 assists per conference tilt. He helped lead the Senators to a 23-8 record and a regular season TCCAA championship.
Joining Thomas on the First Team were Allegany Maryland's Demarcus Demonia, Northwest Florida State's Chris Duarte, Trinity Valley's Tyson Jolly, Wallace State-Hanceville's Demarkus Lampley, South Plains' Gaige Prim, Hutchinson's James Rojas, John A. Logan's Jayden Scrubb, Indian Hills' Tomas Woldetensae and Moberly Area's Alonzo Verge, Jr.
Roane State's DeMierre Black was honored on the Second Team, joining Casper's Isaac Bonton, USC-Salkehatchie's Vince Cole, Palm Beach State's Malik Curry, Western Nebraska's Jervay Green, Snow's Logan Hokanson, Harcum's Valdir Manuel, Pearl River's Brandon Rachal, Collin County's Tajzmel Sherman and Cochise's Chris Whitaker.
Third Team selections included Highland's Luka Barisic, Coffeyville's Tevin Brewer, Eastern Arizona's James Burn, Missouri State-West Plains' Eric Lovett, Williston State's James Jones, Jr., Florida SouthWestern State's Charles Manning, Jr., Redlands' AJ McNeil, Angelina's Kevin Norman, Odessa's James Reese and Andrew's Jalin Wimberly.
The All-America selections are made by the NJCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee.