BEFORE BETHUNE-COOKMAN: Played his first two years of collegiate baseball under Tim Touma for the Falcons at nearby Daytona Beach Community College • Named as an All-Conference performer on the mound in 2005 and 2006 • Helped the Falcons to two (2) conference titles in his stint with DBCC • Selected to the All-Star team in 2006, as well as being a Scholar Athlete from 2005-07 • Named as Pitcher of the year for the 2006-07 season • Lettered four seasons under head coach Bob Smith at Bucholz High School in Gainesville, Fla. • Helped the team to earn four District titles, as well as reaching the second round of the playoffs all four seasons • Played three seasons of golf, as well as two years of football for the Bobcats of Bucholz

PERSONAL: The son of Larone and Tara Thomas ... birth date is October 8, 1986 ... His father attended Florida A&M, while his mother attended the University of Florida ... his brother, Lamar, played professional football for both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Miami Dolphins ... his first cousin is Jason Williams of the Chicago Bulls in the NBA ... also made an official visit to the University of Florida before deciding on Bethune-Cookman University ... says his family has been the biggest athletic influence in his life because have always pushed him to be the best he can be.

AROUND THE HORN w/ ERIC THOMAS...

Favorite Sports Team ... New York Yankees

Favorite Athlete ... Pedro Martinez

Favorite Sports Moment ... Playing in the Babe Ruth World Series

Favorite Class at B-CU ... Psychology

Favorite Musician ... Lil' Wayne

Hobbies ... Fishing and playing golf

Favorite Movies ... Friday, Next Friday, Friday After Next