Prospect Spotlight: Thomas Atkins (2019)
One of Kansas’ premier small school players 2019 guard Thomas Atkins is gearing up for a run in the state playoffs again this season as he has helped lead Hanover to a 19-1 record as he is averaging 15 points, six rebounds and six assists per game.
Here, Prep Hoops caught up with Arkins and asked him about his senior season.
Prep Hoops — For people who maybe haven’t seen you play. how would you describe your game.
Thomas — I consider my game to be fast paced and quick to score weather it is a pull up 3-pointer or I blow past my guy I like to get quick points then turn it up in a press to jump out to an early lead. But I also am I pass first guard if I occupy two defenders off of a dribble drive that means we have number on the inside or outside to where I can dish off to the post for an easy bucket or kick out to one of our shooter for an wide open shot.
Prep Hoops — Did you play summer ball, if so, who did you play with and what that experience was like. How do you feel it has prepared you for the high school season?
Thomas — I played a lot of summer ball traveling with my town team from Hanover we played in Topeka, Junction City and other places to play better teams to get better. The largest and best experience of summer ball for me was when I played at the national tourney in Wichita. I played with SSA Elite Team that’s who we were sponsored by but it was just a bunch of hoopers that we all knew about from towns around that would make a good team so we entered ourselves in and had success and ended up getting eighth I believe in a very good bracket.
Getting to play athletes from all over and getting that experience of playing kids that are older than me that are committed to large colleges who have the skills and potential really set the bar higher for myself. I felt like it drove me to do better and have the drive to not only beat my opponents that I will play in the school year but almost scare them to play me and to let them know that I got game.
Prep Hoops — Tell us about your high school team this season. Also, what kind of season are you having, throw some numbers in there if you know them, PPG, etc.
Thomas — My high school ( Hanover High School ) is having another successful year we’re sitting at 19-1 we dropped the first game by six to a very good Bishop Seabury team, our boys weren’t prepared for the basketball season yet after coming off a state football game the Saturday before that Tuesday game but other than that we’ve been able to excel on the defensive end and get open shot and convert buckets when needed on the offensive side.
As a quicker than most athlete on the basketball court I feel like I could blow past any defender that steps up to guard me, but I feel like I have such great shooters around me that if I take my defender and there’s with me to the basket I can kick out to one of my teams that I trust to shoot the ball. I’ll take my chances of kicking it out to my teammates over possibly going up with the ball and getting a changer or and over the back call if I do miss the shot and go for the rebound. Our starting five is so balanced right now I run a four guard and one post most of the time and all four of our guards can shoot, dribble, pass and lay it in at any time and even out post can step out if needed or unguarded so even though I feel like I could take the ball and score whenever I want to. I’m surrounded by weapons that that can score with ease as well.
Prep Hoops — Who has been the biggest influence on your basketball career and tell us why?
Thomas — My father no doubt he has taught me everything I’ve ever needed to know about the game to this day. He was a very skilled player himself in high school and college and he knows the ins and the outs of the game. He graduated from Garden City Hs and later went on the play at Washburn in Topeka. He was good enough to go to the next level but I was born into the world so it was either chase his dream or be with his family and as you can see he choose me.
He put what he had into me early into my life I remember dribbling a basketball was one of the first things I did as a child. In about every picture I have as a kid I’m holding some sort of ball I could dribble and shoot, knowing he gave up his dreams for me has only driven me to chase mine harder so I can give back what he gave up for me.
Prep Hoops — Who do you enjoy watching play basketball (professional, college, whoever) and why? Have you been able to take anything they do well and implement it in your own game?
Thomas — My favorite player to watch in the NBA is Russell Westbrook of the OKC Thunder. The intensity he brings to the court every game is outrageous and I strive to bring that same energy. Also the way he can find and open man and score when needed is the way I try and play every game. For college ball I like the new comer Ja Morant from Murray State, he’s a very underrated player out of high school and gets an offer from a smaller school then plays his heart out for the first half of the season then gets recognized. That is a story I see for myself. He plays with style, composure and a little bit of swag and that’s a deadly combo for an athlete as you can see. His draft stock went from unknown to a possible lottery pick and I love the players and the game they play.
My father from when I was young has been showing and preaching to me that the old moves will work more times and the new flashy moves will, like Tim Duncan for example. Mr. Fundamental never needed any fancy spin on the ball off the backboard or any fancy dribbling to get to the bucket just an easy pump fake or a little hesitation to get to the bucket will work 9 out of 10 times for an high school athlete at this age
Prep Hoops — Have you heard from any college basketball programs, and if so give us some details, what schools, offers, etc.
Thomas — A few coaches have (messaged) me asking a few questions but no major moves yet from any coaches or colleges. I’m still waiting for the time it does happen so I can prove that there are hidden gems out there they just got to give us a chance.