Stock Report: Logan Thomazin (2018)
Baseball or basketball… that is the question for Walnut Grove’s Logan Thomazin.
The 6’2 junior is one of Missouri’s best on the diamond, hitting .462 with 3 HR and 28 RBI as a sophomore. He also rocked a 1.29 ERA on the mound with 46 Ks in just 29 IP. Those numbers and his play with the nationally renowned Midwest Nationals have helped generate interest from D-1s Missouri State, Utah and Dartmouth, as well as numerous D-2s.
But it has been Thomazin’s play on the hardwood this winter – and over the last two and a half years – that has forced basketball coaches to also come calling.
On Friday Thomazin became Walnut Grove’s all-time leading scorer just 20 games into his junior campaign. Even more fittingly, it came on a night in which he scored 40 points and knocked down seven 3s in an 89-70 win over Fordland in the semifinals of the Sparta Classic.
“It means a lot honestly,” said Thomazin. “Especially when you think of some of the great athletes who have came through Walnut Grove.”
Thomazin is averaging 24.1 PPG and has buried 77 3s at a better than 40% clip. He’s not only on pace to break into Missouri’s top 20 all-time scoring list, but he should shatter the unofficial MSHSAA record of 355 career triples. Thomazin’s 139 3s last year was the third-highest single-season total in Missouri history. He’s sitting at 297 for his career with upwards of 40 games remaining over the next two years.
Take this kid to the emergency room…@Logan_Thomazin pic.twitter.com/9jSgJfUJ61
— Cameron Davis (@_CDavis31) January 31, 2016
While the individual awards and honors continue to come in, Thomazin is focused on getting Walnut Grove back to the Final Four.
Last year the Tigers finished as the Class 1 runner-up following a 69-49 loss to Stanberry. It was also the worst game of Thomazin’s career. He went 0-for-16 from the field – including 0-for-11 from 3 – and finished with a season-low six points.
That game continues to serve as his motivation for this season.
“It was extremely tough,” said Thomazin. “I’m an extreme competitor and I hate losing; especially when I know it was my fault. It was really tough for me to fail in that big of a spot in front of so many people. We got there and I wasn’t able to finish. The feeling of letting my team and community down bothers me to this day.
“I still think about it sometimes during practice or even laying down on the couch. But I honestly think it was for a reason. It motivates me everyday to get back to Columbia and where we were last March. We definitely have some unfinished business. We aren’t looking past anyone, but our goal is to get back to Columbia.”
Walnut Grove coach Darin Meinders says there’s no question that Thomazin can help someone at the next level as a catch-and-shoot guy with the possibility of adding even more to his game. Meinders – who also coached MSHSAA all-time girls’ 3-point record-holder Maddie Hursh at Chadwick – believes that Thomazin is the best natural shooter he’s ever coached. Hursh owns the Missouri single-season (149) and career (367) 3-point marks.
As for Thomazin’s future, he remains noncommittal to baseball over basketball or vice versa, opting to keep his options open. Several schools have thrown their name in the hat with dual baseball and basketball interest which, something that has become increasing more intriguing to Thomazin.
“Hopefully this summer will be the time where I really break out and start getting a few big offers,” said Thomazin. “I have no timeframe for making a decision or any criteria for deciding between the two sports. I’m keeping my options open for anyone and hopefully the right school will offer me.”