University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
‘A Dream Come True’ – Ahmad Thomas Signs Professional Contract With the Esh Group Newcastle Eagles
08.15.2018 | Men's Basketball
NEWCASTLE, England – It is what he has been working for, and he knows that it is the culmination of a lot of hard work.
At the same time though, UNC Asheville men's basketball great Ahmad Thomas knows that it is just the beginning of the next journey in his basketball career.
"I am very excited to be able to continue to take my basketball talent forward," Thomas said. "It's a dream come true to become a professional basketball player."
Thomas will begin his professional basketball journey with the Esh Group Newcastle Eagles of the British Basketball League.
Obviously used to winning as a part of UNC Asheville men's basketball, Thomas chose the opportunity with Newcastle among his many options because of the winning tradition with the Eagles, who are the most successful team in the history of the British Basketball League.
"What really sold me was when I looked up the team and how much they had been winning and the coach plus the style they play," Thomas said.
Thomas officially reports to Newcastle on Sunday, Aug. 26, and then just a couple of days later on Tuesday, Aug. 28, Thomas and the Eagles will then travel to Belgium for preseason training camp.
The Danville, Va. native starts his professional basketball career after putting together one of the best careers in UNC Asheville and Big South men's basketball history.
Thomas concluded his UNC Asheville career as the only player in Big South men's basketball history with over 1,500 points (1,626), 700 rebounds (705), 250 steals (251) and 250 assists (256).
Thomas' 251 steals are a UNC Asheville program-best.
Thomas was a two-time first-team All-Big South Conference and NABC District 3 selection. Thomas ended his career with back-to-back Big South Conference Defensive Player of the Year awards.
Thomas was a part of a special UNC Asheville 2017-18 senior class that also included Alec Wnuk, Kevin Vannatta and Raekwon Miller. The four Bulldogs had the most wins over a four-year stretch in program history with 81 victories.
The Bulldog senior class had three championships with the 2016-17 and 2017-18 Big South regular-season titles and the 2016 Big South Tournament title. The Bulldogs also played in the 2016 NCAA Tournament, the 2017 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament and the 2018 National Invitation Tournament.
Thomas is also the latest Bulldog to sign a professional contract, joining Miller, who inked a professional contract with the Dragons Rhöndorf of the 2. Basketball-Bundesliga/ProB league in Germany in early July and has already reported for preseason camp.
The UNC Asheville men's basketball program is coming off its second straight regular-season Big South Conference championship and third straight postseason appearance with the Bulldogs playing in the 2018 NIT.
UNC Asheville men's basketball picked up its seventh Big South Conference regular-season title (1996-97, 1997-98, 2001-02, 2007-08, 2011-12, 2016-17 and 2017-18) this past season.
The Bulldogs continued to set the standard in the Big South this past season by becoming the first program in league history to win 15 games or more for 11 straight seasons.
The Bulldogs have also now won 10 or more league games in a season in a Big South men's basketball record 11 straight seasons.
To learn more about the Esh Group Newcastle Eagles, please visit HERE. You can learn more about the British Basketball League HERE. To learn more about UNC Asheville men's basketball, please visit HERE.
At the same time though, UNC Asheville men's basketball great Ahmad Thomas knows that it is just the beginning of the next journey in his basketball career.
"I am very excited to be able to continue to take my basketball talent forward," Thomas said. "It's a dream come true to become a professional basketball player."
Thomas will begin his professional basketball journey with the Esh Group Newcastle Eagles of the British Basketball League.
Obviously used to winning as a part of UNC Asheville men's basketball, Thomas chose the opportunity with Newcastle among his many options because of the winning tradition with the Eagles, who are the most successful team in the history of the British Basketball League.
"What really sold me was when I looked up the team and how much they had been winning and the coach plus the style they play," Thomas said.
Thomas officially reports to Newcastle on Sunday, Aug. 26, and then just a couple of days later on Tuesday, Aug. 28, Thomas and the Eagles will then travel to Belgium for preseason training camp.
The Danville, Va. native starts his professional basketball career after putting together one of the best careers in UNC Asheville and Big South men's basketball history.
Thomas concluded his UNC Asheville career as the only player in Big South men's basketball history with over 1,500 points (1,626), 700 rebounds (705), 250 steals (251) and 250 assists (256).
Thomas' 251 steals are a UNC Asheville program-best.
Thomas was a two-time first-team All-Big South Conference and NABC District 3 selection. Thomas ended his career with back-to-back Big South Conference Defensive Player of the Year awards.
Thomas was a part of a special UNC Asheville 2017-18 senior class that also included Alec Wnuk, Kevin Vannatta and Raekwon Miller. The four Bulldogs had the most wins over a four-year stretch in program history with 81 victories.
The Bulldog senior class had three championships with the 2016-17 and 2017-18 Big South regular-season titles and the 2016 Big South Tournament title. The Bulldogs also played in the 2016 NCAA Tournament, the 2017 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament and the 2018 National Invitation Tournament.
Thomas is also the latest Bulldog to sign a professional contract, joining Miller, who inked a professional contract with the Dragons Rhöndorf of the 2. Basketball-Bundesliga/ProB league in Germany in early July and has already reported for preseason camp.
The UNC Asheville men's basketball program is coming off its second straight regular-season Big South Conference championship and third straight postseason appearance with the Bulldogs playing in the 2018 NIT.
UNC Asheville men's basketball picked up its seventh Big South Conference regular-season title (1996-97, 1997-98, 2001-02, 2007-08, 2011-12, 2016-17 and 2017-18) this past season.
The Bulldogs continued to set the standard in the Big South this past season by becoming the first program in league history to win 15 games or more for 11 straight seasons.
The Bulldogs have also now won 10 or more league games in a season in a Big South men's basketball record 11 straight seasons.
To learn more about the Esh Group Newcastle Eagles, please visit HERE. You can learn more about the British Basketball League HERE. To learn more about UNC Asheville men's basketball, please visit HERE.
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