Cleveland Thomas Explained

Cleveland Thomas
Position:Shooting guard
Height Ft:6
Height In:4
Weight Lbs:195
League:CIBACOPA
Team:Halcones de Ciudad Obregón
Nationality:American
Birth Date:2 December 1993
Birth Place:Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Highschool:Scotlandville Magnet
(Baton Rouge, Louisiana)
College:
Draft Year:2017
Career Start:2017
Years1:2017–2019
Team1:Zlatorog Laško
Years2:2019–2021
Team2:KTE-Duna Aszfalt
Years3:2021–2022
Team3:Apollon Patras
Years4:2022
Team4:REG
Years5:2022
Team5:Al-Ahli Benghazi
Years6:2022–2023
Team6:Beirut Club
Highlights:
Years7:2023
Team7:REG
Years8:2023
Team8:Dorados de Chihuahua
Years9:2023
Team9:Pazi
Years10:2024–present
Team10:Halcones de Ciudad Obregón

Cleveland Joseph "Pancake" Thomas Jr. (born December 2, 1993) is an American professional basketball player for the Halcones de Ciudad Obregón.

High school career

Thomas attended Scotlandville Magnet High School. As a senior, he averaged 18 points, eight rebounds, three steals and two assists per game, earning Class 5A All-State honors. Thomas posted 21 points and 11 rebounds in a 82-48 victory over McKinley High School in the state title game.[1]

College career

Thomas began his college basketball career with New Mexico, helping the Lobos reach the NCAA Tournament as a freshman. He averaged 3.9 points per game as a sophomore and saw his minutes dwindle as the season progressed. Thomas opted to transfer following the season, but tore his ACL three days later. He opted to come to Hartford, one of the few schools to show interest despite the injury. As a junior, he averaged 19 points and 6.4 rebounds per game and had four 30-point performances.[2] Thomas transferred to Western Kentucky for his redshirt senior season.

Professional career

Thomas played for KTE-Duna Aszfalt during the 2020-21 season and averaged 14.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. On September 6, 2021, Thomas signed with Apollon Patras of the Greek Basket League.[3] He averaged 8.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game. On February 4, 2022, Thomas parted ways with the team.[4]

In March 2022, Thomas was added to the roster of Rwandan club REG for the 2022 BAL season, the second season of the Basketball Africa League.[5] On March 6, he scored a game-high 26 points in his league debut to help REG win the first game over AS Salé.[6] He also went on to win the Rwanda Basketball League championship in 2022.

In October 2022, Thomas played for Al-Ahli Benghazi in the 2022 Arab Club Basketball Championship. He later joined Beirut Club of the Lebanese Basketball League (LBL) and West Asia Super League (WASL).[7]

On February 15, 2023, Thomas re-joined REG.[8] He played in the 2023 BAL season with REG.

In July 2023, he joined Mexican side Dorados de Chihuahua.[9]

In November 2023, Thomas joined Pazi BBC in Tanzania.[10]

Personal life

Thomas gained the nickname "Pancake" from his grandmother, who remarked that his mother's stomach was flat as a pancake during her pregnancy with him. He is a pescatarian and is an advocate for depression awareness

BAL career statistics

|-|-|style="text-align:left;"|2022|style="text-align:left;"|REG| 6 || 6 || 35.2 || .419 || .375 || .813 || 5.3 || 4.8 || 1.5 || 0.3 || 20.3

Awards and accomplishments

Club

REG

(2022)

Zlatorog Laško

Individual

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Bishop . Chad . More to WKU's Pancake Thomas than a nickname . December 7, 2021 . WBKO . January 24, 2017.
  2. News: Conner . Desmond . UHart's 'Pancake' Thomas Leaving Team . December 7, 2021 . . August 16, 2016.
  3. News: AS Apollon Patras land Cleveland Thomas, ex KTE-Duna. November 9, 2017. Eurobasket.com. September 6, 2021.
  4. Web site: Mammides . Chris . Obradovic . Igor . Thomas left AS Apollon Patras . Eurobasket . February 4, 2022 . February 4, 2022.
  5. Web site: Rwanda Energy Group BBC (RWANDA) . The BAL . 8 March 2022 .
  6. News: BAL debutant REG upset former African champions AS Salé . 8 March 2022 . The BAL .
  7. Web site: Cleveland Joseph THOMAS JR at the WASL - West Asia League 2023 . 2023-02-28 . FIBA.basketball .
  8. Web site: Sikubwabo . Damas . 2023-02-15 . Cleveland rejoins REG ahead of BAL 2023 . 2023-02-28 . The New Times .
  9. Web site: Sikubwabo . Damas . 2023-08-09 . Cleveland Thomas joins Mexican side Dorados de Chihuahua . 2023-08-12 . The New Times .
  10. News: Tanzanian champions Pazi steps into the unknown in the Joburg Elite 16. FIBA. November 19, 2023. February 25, 2024.