In an announcement Tuesday evening, four-star Orono, Minn. power forward Jarvis Thomas committed to the Gophers. Thomas, a 6-foot-7, 225-pound big man, is the fifth ranked player in the state, according to 24/7 Sports. He averaged 15.8 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.8 blocks during his junior season. Thomas recently played in the Nike EYBL circuit and has been gaining momentum in recruiting circles.
He chose the Gophers over offers from Marquette, Arizona State, Iowa State and others. Thomas is a very explosive player who is known for his strong dunks and putbacks around the rim. He plays with high energy and has a developing mid-range jumper. On the defensive end, he’s a skilled shot blocker and will pair nicely down low with fellow 2018 commit, Daniel Oturu. Thomas has yet to reach his full potential as a player and will continue to develop at the next level. He certainly provides Minnesota with an exciting, athletic playmaker in their front court. More importantly, the Gophers have now secured two of the top-five players in Minnesota for 2018.