CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – For the sixth time at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, the Islanders have a former player signing with a team in the National Basketball Association. Undaunted by not hearing his name among the 60 picks of the NBA Draft on Thursday night, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi standout Rashawn Thomas took the first step in his professional basketball career when his hometown Oklahoma City Thunder called to offer Thomas a spot in their organization.
"Rashawn is more than deserving of an opportunity to play in the NBA," Islanders head coach Willis Wilson said. "It's a special time and a special situation for him. He really has put himself in a position for that opportunity. Sometimes it's a reflection of the numbers game and where do you fit in, but the great news is that he only needs one. The feedback has been very positive. Everyone that I've had an opportunity to speak with believes that Rashawn Thomas is an NBA-caliber talent."
Thomas joins John Jordan, Chris Daniels, Kevin Palmer, Michael Hicks and Justin Reynolds as former Islanders that have signed with an NBA organization.
The next stop for the three-time All-Southland selection and 2015-16 Southland Defensive Player of the Year will be the NBA Summer League with OKC in Orlando, where the best up-and-coming talent in the professional ranks go face-to-face beginning July 1 and finishing on July 5.
Thomas' was unstoppable during his senior season on the Island, ranking sixth in total points, fifth in field goals made and third in free throws made, aided by a school-record 14-for-14 performance. The Oklahoma City, Okla., native rewrote the record books at A&M-Corpus Christi, amassing 18 different program bests, including career points (2,033), rebounds (961), blocks (217) and double-doubles (34).
The Islanders' big man finished his career averaging 16.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 119 steals per game, while shooting 54.6-percent. Thomas joined Tim Duncan as one of seven athletes since 1993 that averaged more than 19 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, while swatting 140 shots during his junior and senior seasons.
Each and every one of the NBA Summer League games will be presented for viewing by ESPN family of networks and NBA TV. For a full schedule of the NBA Summer League games, please click
here.