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Two future Big Ten basketball players, Bishop Luers’ Deshaun Thomas and Blackhawk Christian’s Russell Byrd, will be putting their skills on display over the next month at some of the most prestigious basketball camps in the nation.
Byrd, a Michigan State recruit, will attend the NBPA Top 100 camp and the LeBron James and Vince Carter skills academies in June and July. Thomas, who has committed to Ohio State, won’t be attending the Top 100 camp because of a conflict with the ACT test, according to GymRats director Todd Hensley. Thomas will be at the James and Carter camps.
“It is very busy, but a very good busy,” Byrd said of the summer schedule. “It’s going to be great. They teach you a lot of great things basketball-wise. That is the top 100 players, so you go against some good competition. I can’t wait to get out there and play against some of the best players and show them what I can do.”
After the camps, Thomas and Byrd will get back into the AAU tournament circuit as teammates on the Indy Spiece Heat at places such as Louisville, Ky., Atlanta and Spiece Fieldhouse.
“It is going to be a busy summer,” said Thomas, who will also fit in an invitation to play at the famed Rucker Park in Harlem. “I am just out here to compete and that’s what I have to do. I am just ready to have fun, play ball and get better.”
Thomas is ranked No. 14 in Rivals.com’s Top 100 players in the class of 2010, while Byrd is at No. 78. The NBPA camp also includes Brandon Knight (No. 1), Harrison Barnes (No. 2), Jared Sullinger (No. 3) and Tristian Thompson (No. 4), among others.
Thomas was the state’s leading scorer last season with 30.2 points and helped the Knights to a second straight Class 2A state championship. With 2,254 career points, Thomas is 880 away from Damon Bailey’s all-time mark of 3,134.
“I just want to bring my ‘A’ game and get my rep up there and just get ready for college competition,” Thomas said.
Byrd averaged 19.1 points and 8.3 rebounds as a junior with the Braves.
The camps by James (Cleveland Cavaliers) and Carter (New Jersey Nets) will also include some of the elite high school basketball players in the nation.
Both players have already started with their busy schedules in AAU and were also as part of the Junior All-Stars, Thomas as part of the Core team and Byrd as one of the North-only players.
“I am getting to be part of something special in Indiana basketball with the All-Stars,” Byrd said. “The way they set up the all-star games, everybody gets equal playing time. It was more of a team game.”
