Will Thomas (Mount St. Joseph) has never regretted his decision to pass up the prestige of the Atlantic Coast Conference and Big East to stay close to his Baltimore home at George Mason.
He and the Patriots received their share of national acclaim by making a trip to the Final Four two seasons ago. Mid-majors were the talk of the tournament, and Thomas was basking in the glow of four straight NCAA tournament wins.
"I had a good tournament, everybody was talking about our team, and I was suddenly being considered a bright player for the future," said the 6-foot-7, 230-pound senior who leads the team in scoring at 16.2 points a game and rebounding at 10.5 a game. "People were saying they would have to watch out for me for two years."
Thomas has gone on to surpass 900 rebounds and 1,000 points in his career that he hopes culminates in another NCAA tournament.
"It's no surprise to anybody," Thomas said of his success. "A lot of people expected me to do real good up here."
Joynes nears finish
Rutgers fifth-year senior center Byron Joynes (Towson Catholic) never lost his rebounding ability during an injury-marred career that is nearing a close.
Jones, 6-9 and 285 pounds, averaged 5.7 rebounds his sophomore season, when he started every game before suffering shoulder and foot injuries the next two seasons that required surgery.
The foot injury forced Joynes to sit out last season as a medical redshirt, but he has come back this season to average 5.2 rebounds and shoot 59 percent from the field while playing 19.1 minutes a game. Joynes has scored 2.5 points a game this season for the Scarlet Knights (10-17).
The Baltimorean fought through the shoulder woes his junior season to average 5.5 rebounds and 3.1 points.
Bumbry impresses
Sophomore Virginia Tech outfielder Steve Bumbry (Dulaney) has impressed the Hokies' coaching staff with a strong, short swing he hopes will improve his .271 batting average from last season.
Bumbry, the son of former Orioles outfielder Al Bumbry, started 32 games last season, scored 19 runs and had eight doubles, two triples and two home runs.
Two other Baltimore-area pitchers, redshirt sophomores Rob Waskiewicz (Calvert Hall) and Dave Zappacosta (Mount St. Joseph), will compete for positions as spot starters or in the bullpen.
Llano goes distance
Richmond sophomore distance runner Matt Llano (Broadneck) is expected to score important points this spring for the outdoor track team after contributing to the success of the indoor track squad.
As a freshman on the Spiders' cross country team, Llano was the top finisher for the team in three of six races.
Richmond freshman Phil Page (Westminster) is being counted on to make the Spiders stronger in the discus and shot put after a standout senior season in high school.
Contact Bill Free by e-mail at bfree7066@hotmail.com or by phone at 410-833-5349.