UNLV’S DEDAN THOMAS JR. NAMED MOUNTAIN WEST PRESEASON FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Las Vegas native recognized prior to league’s Men’s Basketball Media Day at Resorts World
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UNLV men’s basketball’s Dedan Thomas Jr. was named the Mountain West Preseason Freshman of the Year for the 2023-24 season as the league announced its preseason awards prior to the start of Men’s Basketball Media Day at Resorts World.
Thomas Jr. was a five-star recruit and ranked as the 22nd-best prospect in the class of 2024 by 247 Sports. Also known as D.J. Thomas, he is the son of former Runnin’ Rebel Dedan Thomas Sr. who played for UNLV from 1991-94 and earned honorable mention All-America honors.
Thomas Jr., a Las Vegas native and a 6-foot-1-inch point guard, averaged 22.8 points and 5.1 assists per game as a junior last season at Liberty High School, leading the Patriots to the state championship final for a second straight year. He was named the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Nevada, before reclassifying and joining the Runnin’ Rebels this summer.
As a sophomore in 2021-22, Thomas Jr. led his school to the 5A state championship, averaging 13.3 points per game that season.
Thomas Jr. is UNLV’s first MW Preseason Freshman of the Year honoree since Keshon Gilbert earned the same accolade prior to the start of the 2021-22 campaign.
The awards were voted on by members of the media and also included Preseason Player of the Year (Isaiah Stevens, Sr., G, Colorado State), Preseason Newcomer of the Year (Reese Waters, Jr., G, San Diego State) and a five-player Preseason All-MW Team (Tyson Degenhart, Jr., F, Boise State; Stevens; Jaelen House, Sr., G, New Mexico; Jamal Mashburn Jr., Sr., G, New Mexico; Lamont Butler, Sr., G, San Diego State).
The Runnin’ Rebels will open the 2023-24 season with two home games at the Thomas & Mack Center on Nov. 8 and Nov. 11 against Southern and Stetson, respectively. Click here for the full season schedule.
Tickets may be purchased at UNLVtickets.com, by calling 702-739-3267 or by visiting the TMC Box Office.
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