Texas A&M freshman forward Elijah Thomas has informed the Aggies' coaching staff he intends to transfer, a source close to the program told CBS Sports' Gary Parrish.
Thomas is a former top recruit that ended up finishing his high school career as the No. 44 overall player in the country, according to 247Sports' composite ranking. In an interview with ESPN regarding the decision, Thomas said that he feels "as though it's best for me to get a fresh start somewhere else."
It's a bit surprising that Thomas would decide to get a fresh start so early in the year. He is a 6-9, 240-pound brusier whose brief career with Texas A&M was marred by injuries that likely set back his early-season playing time. During the team's foreign tour, he missed a couple of games after stepping on a sea urchin. Then in the preseason, he suffered a concussion which forced him to miss some further time. He still ended up playing 63 minutes in the team's first four games of the year, but in the following six he's only played 16 total.
“I’m disappointed in Elijah’s decision to transfer," Texas A&M coach Billy Kennedy said in a statement. "He’s struggled with injuries and missed several weeks of practice. Unfortunately, sometimes young people have a hard time working through the process. I wish Elijah the best.”
In his recruitment, Thomas also considered UNLV, Oklahoma State and Illinois, among others. Any team looking for a big-bodied, low-post player with good hands and touch will likely come calling on this transfer.
