May 5, 2008

CHICAGO - Marcus Thomas, a 6-foot-2 guard, most recently of Danville Area Community College in Danville, Ill., has signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball at Loyola University Chicago, head coach Jim Whitesell announced today. Prior to attending Danville Area Community College, Thomas prepped at Warren Central High School in Indianapolis.

"Marcus has worked hard to become a Division I player and defines the term gym rat," Whitesell said. He will help us from three-point range and perimeter shooting is one area we wanted to improve on this spring."

Last season, Thomas averaged 16.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists and shot 43 percent (172 for 404) from the field, 37 percent (83 for 222) from three-point territory and 84 percent (105 for 125) from the foul line during the regular season for DACC. The long-range shooter helped the Jaguars to a 23-10 regular-season mark and was the leading scorer on a team that wound up finishing fourth in the national tournament. Thanks to his standout season in 2007-08, Thomas earned National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II Second Team All-America and first team all-region honors.

As a freshman at DACC, Thomas established a school record by shooting a sizzling 48 percent from three-point territory and this season, set a new school standard with 83 triples.

Loyola won 12 games last season and returns six of its top seven scorers from 2007-08.