Florida State University Athletics
Tuesday, December 3
Baton Rouge, LA
9:00 p.m.
Florida State
at
Louisiana State University
A Baton Rouge Homecoming For Justin Thomas Against LSU
12/2/2024 9:28:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BATON ROUGE, La. – Justin Thomas has been to the Pete Maravich Assembly Center at Louisiana State University countless times. He's also played inside the historic arena a handful of times.
Most of the times he's gone to the campus, it was to see Mike the Tiger – Louisiana State University's live Tiger mascot.
"I can count on one hand how many times I've actually played in the arena," the Baton Rouge native said. "I have been to the Maravich Center, and it was mostly to see the tiger with my family when I was younger."
As Thomas and his Florida State teammates prepare to face LSU in the Second Annual ACC/SEC Challenge, the Seminoles' senior guard will play his first competitive game in the gymnasium named after the all-time leading scorer in NCAA history. Maravich (forever known as "Pistol Pete") scored 3,667 career points and averaged at least 43 points in each of his three varsity seasons at LSU. Even more incredible than his point total was that Maravich played on the LSU freshmen team his first year at LSU and there was no shot clock and no 3-point line during his career.
The Seminoles travel to play their first true road game of the 2024-25 season at the Maravich Center at 9:00 p.m. (ET) on Tuesday. The game can be seen on the SEC Network. The series between the Seminoles and the Tigers is tied at 3-3 with each of the last three meetings coming at neutral sites. Florida State first played at LSU on December 18, 1957, and most recently on December 1, 1959.
Florida State enters Tuesday's game with a 7-1 record and a season-high four-game winning streak. The Seminoles' most recent victory was as a 91-57 win over Western Carolina on November 26. The Tigers are 6-1 with a 77-53 win over Northwestern State on November 29.
"Our game on Tuesday will be the first time I've played a real game in the arena," said Thomas. "I've been to a number of camps at LSU so I know how big that arena is. It's going to be a tough place to play because they have very passionate fans."
Thomas, one of 10 newcomers on the Seminoles' roster, has quickly grown comfortable in his Seminole uniform. He enters Tuesday's game averaging 20.0 minutes of playing time in Florida State's first eight games. Thomas is Florida State's sixth-leading scorer with a 7.3 points per game average. He is Florida State's leader from the 3-point line, as he is averaging 1.3 3-point field goals made per game and is shooting .476 from long range. He has made 10 3-point shots and is one of three Florida State players who has hit the double figure mark for 3-point field goals made.
Thomas was born in Baton Rouge and lived in the capital city of the state of Louisiana until he was 14 years old.
Thomas' description of this hometown comes straight from his heart.
"Baton Rouge is one of the greatest cities in the world," said Thomas. "Our food is world-class and the people in the community are incredible. Once the community shows love, they show love forever.
His fondest memories of Baton Rouge include spending precious time with his family, including his older brothers and their friends.
"Although I was in middle school and they were in high school, we would spend time together all over the city. I was very fortunate that I grew up around the game of basketball," said Thomas.
The Seminoles, too, are fortunate Thomas grew up around the game of basketball.
Thomas began his collegiate career at Division II Queens College in North Carolina (2020-21) and played at Navarro Junior College in Texas (2021-22) for one season. He then transferred to the University of Milwaukee-Wisconsin of the Horizon League (2022-23) for one season and spent one year at the University of Texas at San Antonio (2023-24). Thomas entered his name into the NCAA Transfer Portal on April 17, 2024, and committed to Leonard Hamilton and his staff on May 12, 2024.
Leonard Hamilton is happy to have the Louisiana native on his roster for not only this season, but for next season, as well.
"Justin has displayed that he has the ability to be a very good shooter," said Hamilton. "He's also shown us that he can be a very good defender."
Following his four-steal performance in Florida State's victory over Hofstra at the Donald L. Tucker Center on November 19, Hamilton praised Thomas for his defensive effort.
"I thought Justin Thomas came in and gave us a great defensive presence," said Hamilton. "He really did an unbelievable job. He contained the dribble with tremendous effort. He was probably our best defensive player of the night."
In addition to his exceptional 3-point shooting in his first eight games as a Seminoles, Thomas has proven to be one of the Seminoles top defenders.
Thomas is one of four Seminoles who has earned double figure steals with 11. His play on the defensive end of the court has helped Florida State to rank No. 1 – in the ACC and the SEC – in team steals with 91 and an 11.4 steals per game average. His defensive play has also helped the Seminoles rank No. 1 in the ACC in turnover margin, No. 2 in 3-point field goal shooting percentage defense (.264), No. 4 in the ACC in scoring defense (64.0 ppg), and No. 4 in field goal percentage defense (.388).
With most of his immediate family, including his mother, Ronetta, his three brothers (Quinton, Joshua, and Julian), and countless friends living in Baton Rouge, Thomas' biggest challenge might not be defending the LSU Tigers and their 81.6 points per game scoring average.
Rather, it will be securing enough tickets for all of the requests he received with tip-off quickly approaching.
"I don't know how many tickets I'm going to need exactly, but I'm pretty sure I'll be working overtime to get all the tickets I can get."
While he's finding a way to fulfill all of his ticket requests, Thomas might just find a way to visit Mike the Tiger, just one more time.
Most of the times he's gone to the campus, it was to see Mike the Tiger – Louisiana State University's live Tiger mascot.
"I can count on one hand how many times I've actually played in the arena," the Baton Rouge native said. "I have been to the Maravich Center, and it was mostly to see the tiger with my family when I was younger."
As Thomas and his Florida State teammates prepare to face LSU in the Second Annual ACC/SEC Challenge, the Seminoles' senior guard will play his first competitive game in the gymnasium named after the all-time leading scorer in NCAA history. Maravich (forever known as "Pistol Pete") scored 3,667 career points and averaged at least 43 points in each of his three varsity seasons at LSU. Even more incredible than his point total was that Maravich played on the LSU freshmen team his first year at LSU and there was no shot clock and no 3-point line during his career.
The Seminoles travel to play their first true road game of the 2024-25 season at the Maravich Center at 9:00 p.m. (ET) on Tuesday. The game can be seen on the SEC Network. The series between the Seminoles and the Tigers is tied at 3-3 with each of the last three meetings coming at neutral sites. Florida State first played at LSU on December 18, 1957, and most recently on December 1, 1959.
Florida State enters Tuesday's game with a 7-1 record and a season-high four-game winning streak. The Seminoles' most recent victory was as a 91-57 win over Western Carolina on November 26. The Tigers are 6-1 with a 77-53 win over Northwestern State on November 29.
"Our game on Tuesday will be the first time I've played a real game in the arena," said Thomas. "I've been to a number of camps at LSU so I know how big that arena is. It's going to be a tough place to play because they have very passionate fans."
Thomas, one of 10 newcomers on the Seminoles' roster, has quickly grown comfortable in his Seminole uniform. He enters Tuesday's game averaging 20.0 minutes of playing time in Florida State's first eight games. Thomas is Florida State's sixth-leading scorer with a 7.3 points per game average. He is Florida State's leader from the 3-point line, as he is averaging 1.3 3-point field goals made per game and is shooting .476 from long range. He has made 10 3-point shots and is one of three Florida State players who has hit the double figure mark for 3-point field goals made.
Thomas was born in Baton Rouge and lived in the capital city of the state of Louisiana until he was 14 years old.
Thomas' description of this hometown comes straight from his heart.
"Baton Rouge is one of the greatest cities in the world," said Thomas. "Our food is world-class and the people in the community are incredible. Once the community shows love, they show love forever.
His fondest memories of Baton Rouge include spending precious time with his family, including his older brothers and their friends.
"Although I was in middle school and they were in high school, we would spend time together all over the city. I was very fortunate that I grew up around the game of basketball," said Thomas.
The Seminoles, too, are fortunate Thomas grew up around the game of basketball.
Thomas began his collegiate career at Division II Queens College in North Carolina (2020-21) and played at Navarro Junior College in Texas (2021-22) for one season. He then transferred to the University of Milwaukee-Wisconsin of the Horizon League (2022-23) for one season and spent one year at the University of Texas at San Antonio (2023-24). Thomas entered his name into the NCAA Transfer Portal on April 17, 2024, and committed to Leonard Hamilton and his staff on May 12, 2024.
Leonard Hamilton is happy to have the Louisiana native on his roster for not only this season, but for next season, as well.
"Justin has displayed that he has the ability to be a very good shooter," said Hamilton. "He's also shown us that he can be a very good defender."
Following his four-steal performance in Florida State's victory over Hofstra at the Donald L. Tucker Center on November 19, Hamilton praised Thomas for his defensive effort.
"I thought Justin Thomas came in and gave us a great defensive presence," said Hamilton. "He really did an unbelievable job. He contained the dribble with tremendous effort. He was probably our best defensive player of the night."
In addition to his exceptional 3-point shooting in his first eight games as a Seminoles, Thomas has proven to be one of the Seminoles top defenders.
Thomas is one of four Seminoles who has earned double figure steals with 11. His play on the defensive end of the court has helped Florida State to rank No. 1 – in the ACC and the SEC – in team steals with 91 and an 11.4 steals per game average. His defensive play has also helped the Seminoles rank No. 1 in the ACC in turnover margin, No. 2 in 3-point field goal shooting percentage defense (.264), No. 4 in the ACC in scoring defense (64.0 ppg), and No. 4 in field goal percentage defense (.388).
With most of his immediate family, including his mother, Ronetta, his three brothers (Quinton, Joshua, and Julian), and countless friends living in Baton Rouge, Thomas' biggest challenge might not be defending the LSU Tigers and their 81.6 points per game scoring average.
Rather, it will be securing enough tickets for all of the requests he received with tip-off quickly approaching.
"I don't know how many tickets I'm going to need exactly, but I'm pretty sure I'll be working overtime to get all the tickets I can get."
While he's finding a way to fulfill all of his ticket requests, Thomas might just find a way to visit Mike the Tiger, just one more time.
Players Mentioned
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