When utilized final month for a waiver from the NCAA for a fifth season of eligibility, the ahead figured he had a compelling case. As a sophomore at Loyola Chicago, he’d fallen right into a despair so deep that he thought-about suicide. Unable to search out the assistance he wanted, he left college halfway by means of the season to handle his psychological well being, uncertain if he’d ever play basketball once more.
Two years after that darkish stretch, Thomas hoped the NCAA may assist him get that misplaced season again. After an up-and-down senior yr with USC, he needed one other probability to show himself earlier than going professional. USC officers, he says, informed him a medical waiver can be a positive factor.
However final week Thomas’ request for a waiver for psychological well being causes was denied by the NCAA.
“My head was form of far and wide,” Thomas mentioned. “I’m not a child that’s simply saying they’ve a psychological well being downside, or a child that’s simply asking for an additional yr to play faculty basketball. I really feel like I actually deserve it. I’m an actual advocate of psychological well being now. I communicate on it in interviews. I’m open about it. I believe I is usually a serving to hand.”
Thomas is considered one of many faculty basketball gamers with no remaining eligibility who’ve entered the switch portal in current days, hoping that both the NCAA grants them a waiver or a possible court docket ruling in considered one of a number of circumstances upends the NCAA’s five-year eligibility guidelines.
Fellow USC ahead , who adopted Thomas into the switch portal Tuesday, was amongst these additionally conserving his choices open, hoping the courts would clear the best way — in his case, for a seventh yr on the faculty stage. His case for an additional yr of eligibility facilities across the season he spent at Casper Faculty, a junior faculty in Wyoming.
Thomas has since filed an attraction that he says offered extra solutions about his psychological well being struggles.
“I’m simply actually hoping they really feel some sympathy for me,” he mentioned.
The door may very well be open for a return to USC for Thomas or Agee if both is ready to safe a waiver for an additional season. Although that door received’t keep open ceaselessly.
Thomas mentioned he nonetheless hopes USC will pursue him however understands coach Eric Musselman can’t maintain spots on the roster out of hope that he’ll get a waiver. Thomas is also conscious of the gamers who’ve been added to the workforce, a lot of whom play roles much like his. Simply considered one of USC’s scholarship gamers from final season — ahead Terrance Williams — is slated to return, whereas seven transfers have dedicated to the Trojans.
“I simply need all of my choices open,” Thomas mentioned. “I talked to the coaches about it, they usually nonetheless mentioned they’d need me again on the workforce.”
Agee, within the aftermath of USC’s Large Ten match loss, made clear that he additionally hoped to return.
“Hopefully all of it works out for me,” Agee mentioned then.
As lawsuits proceed to pile up difficult the NCAA’s five-year eligibility guidelines, it’s not out of the query that the courts may ship for gamers like Agee who’re crossing their fingers for an additional season. In New Jersey, a federal decide is believed to be contemplating a preliminary injunction in a case that challenges the NCAA’s guidelines concerning athletes finishing their eligibility inside a five-year window. That’s the first situation holding Agee again from one other season.
For Thomas, any hope of enjoying once more at USC lies with the NCAA. And its monitor file with granting waivers for psychological well being causes is blended.
“I’m simply attempting to be as hopeful as I can,” Thomas mentioned. “However I do know there’s 100 different children going by means of the method I’m. It’s simply this huge grey cloud over all the pieces proper now.”
The switch portal closed Tuesday evening, however the Trojans’ roster state of affairs stays fluid. Musselman has 10 gamers for 15 roster spots, and with these 5 openings, it’s unclear how a lot USC can be prepared to supply Thomas in a reputation, picture and likeness package deal.
So in the interim, Thomas is left in limbo, lingering within the portal like many others with out eligibility, left to attend on phrase from the NCAA or cross their fingers for the courts, questioning the place their basketball careers may take them subsequent.
