Doug Gottlieb and his Inexperienced Bay Phoenix on Sunday reportedly landed a big-name participant — one named LeBron.
No, he has no relation to LeBron James, however the addition of LeBron Thomas ought to present Gottlieb’s program a promising younger prospect round which to assist set up backcourt depth for the 2025-26 season.
Thomas spent final season in junior school enjoying for Vincennes the place he averaged 15.9 factors and 4.4 assists per sport. He was a First Workforce NJCAA All-American for a staff that completed 30-4.
Gottlieb is coming off a making an attempt first yr at Inexperienced Bay the place the staff completed 4-28 in a season that included public sparring with the opposite LeBron, an early-season damage to the staff’s finest participant and much (and much) of dropping. The staff completed with 25 losses in its remaining 27 video games, together with a 72-70 dwelling loss in December to Division II Michigan Tech.
There have been indicators of life from Inexperienced Bay down the stretch of the season even when the ultimate report does not mirror as a lot. They defeated Wright State simply after Valentines Day after which beat Detroit Mercy lower than two weeks later. Within the common season finale, they took Oakland to extra time earlier than falling 87-84.
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The expertise gathered by Gottlieb and his employees after taking the job final spring because the final rent of the carousel season might solely get them to date. That has been high of thoughts for the teaching employees this offseason as they appear to ascertain momentum coming into the second season, and the addition of Thomas — a flexible scorer and confirmed winner — ought to assist.
He is the second signee for this system this offseason after including Justin Allen from Carnegie Mellon earlier this month. Allen averaged 25.4 factors per sport final season.
The staff can also be anticipated to convey again second-leading scorer Marcus Corridor and assists chief Preston Ruedinger. Main scorer Anthony Roy transferred earlier this offseason to Oklahoma State, and rebounding chief Yonatan Levy entered the switch portal earlier this month after becoming a member of this system mid-season.