02/25/2011
Lately life has been like a giant loop roller coaster ride for the young Chris Thomas, ESPN’s top five prospect in the class of 2013. After completing an exciting trip to Alaska and returning back to Maryland on Sunday, January 23, 2011, his very tired Princeton Day Academy Basketball Team turned around the very next day and drove four hours to North Carolina, laced them up again only to lose to ESPN’s 2012 top ranked Rodney Purvis’ Upper Room Team that evening. Who knew then that Chris’ beloved Coach Van would be hospitalized with pneumonia in both lungs, just two short days later.
Chris lived in the team house owned by Coach Van Whitfield, his Princeton Day Academy Coach. When Chris was asked if he was okay after Coach Van was admitted to the hospital he stated, ‘If Coach Van is not okay, then I’m not okay’. Never were truer words spoken. A month later Coach Van is still in the hospital fighting for his life. It became clear that Coach Van would not be able to coach the rest of this year and maybe the next year as well. Chris would not be able to live at Coach Van’s house any longer.
Chris’ family made several inquires to several different high schools and coaches looking for the best possible place for Chris to transfer to. Of course Chris did not want to transfer or leave Coach Van and his Princeton Day Academy family and every effort was made to allow him to stay. Unfortunately, it was decided that he would have to transfer. As Chris is maturing, he is learning to take more responsibility for his future. This transfer will not work if Chris doesn’t buy into the new school and their system. The choices were narrowed down by his family to just two schools, South Kent in Connecticut and Westwind Prep in Arizona but it would be left up Chris alone to decide which school to pick.
Chris says, “My family didn’t want me to have to live with anyone again for school so they were looking at some boarding schools where I could live in a dorm room close to the school.” With a huge decision to make, Chris spoke to both of the schools Coaches by phone. He really liked what both Coaches had to say about their schools and their basketball teams. He spoke to his Colorado HAWKS AAU Coach Greg Willis and got his opinion. He then spoke with his family, who told him that he would have to finish his high school days at whichever school he finally chose. “I started thinking about all the flights I missed trying to get back home from the East Coast,” remembered Chris while shaking his head deep in thought,“ I thought about Coach Van sitting right there at the airport with me when I was trying to get home for the holidays or Spring Break and the flights were full or the weather was bad. I thought about the three almost four hour flight from Princeton Day Academy to Denver and back every time I wanted to see my family and friends at home. I want my family to be able to see me play more often. Oh yeah and I need to find the time to help my little brothers with their crossovers, believe me that is going to take some time” he said with a huge grin. “After thinking about all of that, my choice was easy to make and I chose Westwind in Arizona because it is closer to home.”
On Wednesday, February 23, 2011, Chris and his Dad flew into Phoenix, AZ and were met at the airport by the Westwind Coaching Staff were they welcomed him into their Westwind family. Chris loves his new school. He likes the teachers and coaching staff. He is making new friends already and he feels that he does belong. He will be able to visit his family and friends in Denver at least once or twice a month. His family can also visit him more often and see more of his basketball games. Chris will also visit his beloved Coach Van in Maryland when he does get better and out of the hospital. It has been said on the ESPN website that Chris Thomas needs to mature more on and off the court. Chris has made a mature decision which will impact his future and he is happy with it. The ever present smile is back on his charismatic face. There is a noticeable bounce in his step and the charismatic Chris Thomas is back in the game once again.
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