February 12, 2025
Cameron Thomas makes triumphant return from constitution faculty to assist Mount Carmel. Once more. ‘It looks like house.’

After spending his freshman yr at Mount Carmel, Cameron Thomas and his household determined to make a giant change. He headed to Legacy Early Faculty, a constitution faculty in South Carolina.

Issues by no means fairly clicked there for Thomas, who missed being part of the Caravan and determined to return final spring.

“It looks like house,” Thomas stated. “I’m actually glad that I got here again. I feel it was a fantastic resolution. The coaches love me, the group loves me, all people loves one another, and it’s a household atmosphere.”

Thomas has been a welcome re-addition for Mount Carmel.

The junior guard continued his main contributions Tuesday evening, scoring 11 factors and knocking down 10 rebounds because the visiting Caravan rallied from a nine-point halftime deficit for a 63-50 win over St. Laurence in a Catholic League crossover.

“That is his first yr actually taking part in varsity basketball as a result of his time was restricted final yr in South Carolina,” Mount Carmel coach Phil Segroves stated. “When Cameron Thomas goes downhill, he’s an issue.

“We’re attempting to show him that — form of take out a number of the (Allen) Iverson strikes, going facet to facet, and get him going downhill.”

Lee Marks had 18 factors and eight rebounds to guide Mount Carmel (22-3). Grant Greatest added 14 factors and 10 rebounds, whereas Christian Uremovich had 10 factors and 7 rebounds and Noah Mister managed 9 factors.

Zerrick Johnson scored 15 factors for St. Laurence (12-9). Bradley Stratton contributed 12 factors, Josh Pickett completed with 10 and Khalil Jones chipped in with eight.

Mount Carmel persevered with out Northwestern recruit Angelo Ciaravino, who sat out with what Segroves referred to as a “decrease physique harm.”

“Angelo’s superb,” Segroves stated. “He’s going to take a relaxation. He’s going to take the remainder of the week off. Like most highschool youngsters who’ve been taking part in lots of basketball, their our bodies are beat up.

“We expect it’s actually good for him to take a while off and prepare for the stretch run.”

Thomas, who felt able to step up with Ciaravino out, is beginning to slot in an increasing number of on Mount Carmel’s roster.

St. Laurence's Josh Pickett (1) tries to drive to the basket against Mount Carmel's Cameron Thomas (21) during a Catholic League crossover game in Burbank on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024.

“At first, I needed to discover ways to play my position and it was powerful, however I’ve adjusted to it,” Thomas stated. “I’m getting higher at it and I’m engaged on persevering with to get higher at it.

“It’s protection first. If my coaches want me to get a basket, I can get a basket for them, too.”

Thomas stated he went to South Carolina for “extra publicity,” however it by no means felt proper.

“They performed within the (Nationwide Interscholastic Basketball Convention) in opposition to Montverde and IMG and all the highest groups,” he stated. “But it surely wasn’t a very good match for me, so I made a decision to come back again and coach Segroves welcomed me with open arms.”

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Mount Carmel scored simply 4 factors within the second quarter Tuesday and trailed 28-19 at halftime however discovered its groove in a giant method with 25 factors within the third quarter.

Mount Carmel's Cameron Thomas (21) dives on the floor going after the ball against St. Laurence's Zerrick Johnson (4) during a Catholic League crossover game in Burbank on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024.

The Caravan led 44-38 after three and opened the fourth quarter on an 8-0 run to take management.

Marks, who Segroves stated had “the sport of his life,” powered the comeback.

“Coach within the locker room at halftime was getting us locked in,” Marks stated. “It was inspirational. He was yelling at us, however in a great way to get us going.”

Thomas additionally performed a giant half, flattening some key photographs and stepping up big on the boards.

He feels he’s again the place he belongs.

“It was primarily simply the household atmosphere and the coaches,” Thomas stated. “They’ve all the time been supportive of me, in order that’s what I used to be lacking.”