TicketsCINCINNATI – University of Cincinnati senior forward IImar'I Thomas (first name pronounced ee-MAR-ee) was named a Senior CLASS Award Second Team selection.
The award, chosen by a nationwide vote of Division I women's basketball coaches, national basketball media, and fans, is given annually to the most outstanding student-athlete in Division I women's basketball.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: classroom, community, character, and competition.
Thomas was the first UC women's basketball player selected as a finalist for the award since its inception in 2002.
Thomas, a native of Oakland, California, who has earned American Athletic Conference All-Academic team selection and Dean's List honors as a Bearcat, is on pace to earn her sports administration degree from the UC this summer.
Thomas has volunteered numerous hours of her time to help better serve Greater Cincinnati communities during her collegiate career. She has interacted with and encouraged Cincinnati youth during visits to area Boys and Girls Clubs, a nearby Ronald McDonald House and local YMCA youth clinics. Also a favorite among youth attending the annual UC women's basketball summer camps, Thomas quickly creates a mentoring relationship with younger children thanks in part to her warm and engaging personality.
Following the departure of veterans Antoinette Miller, Angel Rizor and Sam Rodgers, Thomas has grown into a vocal leader and mentor to younger players during the 2020-21 campaign. Despite off-season limitations due to the outbreak of COVID-19, Thomas spearheaded efforts to help organize zoom calls and lead team meetings to foster team unity, facilitate the integration of newcomers with returning players and communicate preseason training and team goals and expectations for the 2020-21 season. Thomas also met with team members and led discussions to help craft the team's statement on the nation's social injustice issue.
A strong work ethic, belief in herself and strong character have been evident since Thomas' arrival to UC as a freshman at the age of 16. Despite her young age, she developed throughout the season, earning AAC Freshman of the Year accolades and unanimous selection to the AAC's All-Freshman Team.
During her senior season, Thomas was named a WBCA All-America Regional Finalist, a Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Finalist and the American Athletic Conference Player of the Year.
A three-time First-Team All-AAC selection, Thomas is the only player in school history to achieve more than 1,900 career points and 800 career rebounds. She ranks among the program's best in multiple career categories, including field goal percentage (first at .581), blocks (second at 131), field goals made (second at 761), points (third at 1,925), rebounds (fourth at 873) and rebound average (tied for eighth at 7.1).
As a senior, Thomas ranked among the nation's Top-30 leaders in eight categories, including minutes played per game (first at 39.43), points per game (ninth at 23.7), field goals made (ninth at 210), free throws made (ninth at 139), total points (13th at 569), free throws attempted (16th at 167), field goal percentage (21st at .543) and total minutes played (22nd at 946). She was named the USBWA National Player of the Week after setting the UC women's basketball record and the AAC record for most points in a game, pouring in 51 points to go with 12 rebounds at East Carolina (2/24). She went 20 of 27 from the field and 11 of 13 from the free-throw line. The effort ranked as the most points in a Division I men's or women's basketball game in 2020-21. She joined Oscar Robertson as the only two player in UC history to score 50 or points in a game. Robertson accomplished the feat six times, the last coming via a school-record 62-point performance against North Texas in 1960.
2020-21 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SENIOR CLASS AWARD RESULTS
WINNER
Rennia Davis, Tennessee
FIRST TEAM
Dana Evans, Louisville
Blanca Millan, Maine
Michaela Onyenwere, UCLA
Jill Townsend, Gonzaga
SECOND TEAM
Arella Guirantes, Rutgers
Nancy Mulkey, Rice
IImar'I Thomas, Cincinnati
Unique Thompson, Auburn
Mariah White, Cleveland State
-GoBearcats.com-
The award, chosen by a nationwide vote of Division I women's basketball coaches, national basketball media, and fans, is given annually to the most outstanding student-athlete in Division I women's basketball.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: classroom, community, character, and competition.
Thomas was the first UC women's basketball player selected as a finalist for the award since its inception in 2002.
Thomas, a native of Oakland, California, who has earned American Athletic Conference All-Academic team selection and Dean's List honors as a Bearcat, is on pace to earn her sports administration degree from the UC this summer.
Thomas has volunteered numerous hours of her time to help better serve Greater Cincinnati communities during her collegiate career. She has interacted with and encouraged Cincinnati youth during visits to area Boys and Girls Clubs, a nearby Ronald McDonald House and local YMCA youth clinics. Also a favorite among youth attending the annual UC women's basketball summer camps, Thomas quickly creates a mentoring relationship with younger children thanks in part to her warm and engaging personality.
Following the departure of veterans Antoinette Miller, Angel Rizor and Sam Rodgers, Thomas has grown into a vocal leader and mentor to younger players during the 2020-21 campaign. Despite off-season limitations due to the outbreak of COVID-19, Thomas spearheaded efforts to help organize zoom calls and lead team meetings to foster team unity, facilitate the integration of newcomers with returning players and communicate preseason training and team goals and expectations for the 2020-21 season. Thomas also met with team members and led discussions to help craft the team's statement on the nation's social injustice issue.
A strong work ethic, belief in herself and strong character have been evident since Thomas' arrival to UC as a freshman at the age of 16. Despite her young age, she developed throughout the season, earning AAC Freshman of the Year accolades and unanimous selection to the AAC's All-Freshman Team.
During her senior season, Thomas was named a WBCA All-America Regional Finalist, a Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Finalist and the American Athletic Conference Player of the Year.
A three-time First-Team All-AAC selection, Thomas is the only player in school history to achieve more than 1,900 career points and 800 career rebounds. She ranks among the program's best in multiple career categories, including field goal percentage (first at .581), blocks (second at 131), field goals made (second at 761), points (third at 1,925), rebounds (fourth at 873) and rebound average (tied for eighth at 7.1).
As a senior, Thomas ranked among the nation's Top-30 leaders in eight categories, including minutes played per game (first at 39.43), points per game (ninth at 23.7), field goals made (ninth at 210), free throws made (ninth at 139), total points (13th at 569), free throws attempted (16th at 167), field goal percentage (21st at .543) and total minutes played (22nd at 946). She was named the USBWA National Player of the Week after setting the UC women's basketball record and the AAC record for most points in a game, pouring in 51 points to go with 12 rebounds at East Carolina (2/24). She went 20 of 27 from the field and 11 of 13 from the free-throw line. The effort ranked as the most points in a Division I men's or women's basketball game in 2020-21. She joined Oscar Robertson as the only two player in UC history to score 50 or points in a game. Robertson accomplished the feat six times, the last coming via a school-record 62-point performance against North Texas in 1960.
2020-21 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SENIOR CLASS AWARD RESULTS
WINNER
Rennia Davis, Tennessee
FIRST TEAM
Dana Evans, Louisville
Blanca Millan, Maine
Michaela Onyenwere, UCLA
Jill Townsend, Gonzaga
SECOND TEAM
Arella Guirantes, Rutgers
Nancy Mulkey, Rice
IImar'I Thomas, Cincinnati
Unique Thompson, Auburn
Mariah White, Cleveland State
-GoBearcats.com-