Biggest question dogging Orange Nation right now: Is Food.com, Newhouse’s cafeteria, big enough to handle two Shaqs?
Shaquille O’Neal is on campus to¬†partake in Sportscaster U (wonder how they’ll work with him on monotone mumbling?).
Shaquille Thomas is one of Boeheim and co.’s newest targets.
Before you ask, is Team Fizz cool with Newhouse being the newest romper room for Shaq, Paulus and other camera-mugging athletes thinking a two-day sportscasting camp will make them the next Collinsworth?
Answer: Uh no. Can’t you do this at some¬†Connecticut School of Broadcasting in White Plains? Does it really have to be at Newhouse? Argh.
Meantime, always on the recruiting trail, The Fizz has the juice on New Jersey-native and West Virginia-transplant Shaquille Thomas.
Shaq Baby is the 6’7″ 190-pound nephew of current Chicago Bull¬†Tim Thomas and used to play at Paterson (N.J) Catholic High School.
According to this story Thomas left the school for academic and logistical reasons.
Right.
It also mentions Thomas did not start on the Paterson Catholic team his sophomore year. Interesting.
Most intriguing is Thomas was not granted a hardship waiver and couldn’t continue playing in New Jersey.
So where did he end up? Among the gorgeous coal mines and Luv’s Truck Stops of¬†West Virginia.
Why? He says he didn’t have any options in the tri-state area of¬†“New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.”.
How’s SU’s geography department?
Anyway, Scout.com ranks Thomas as its #39 prospect overall in the Class of 2010. Rivals.com lists Thomas at #73.
As for the moniker, Shaq says¬†“It’s just the name my mother picked out.”
And it’s probably safe to say he won’t be doing this anytime soon.
Thomas says his favorite school is Syracuse for now.
The Fizz bets after another year in West Virginia, he’d be willing to walk to the Dome to get away from all the roadkill.
