Staten is a former Marshall standout who attended Oak Hill Academy for his senior high school season before playing for the University of Dayton and transferring to West Virginia, where he will sit out this season. Thomasson, with few Dayton City League-to-WSU predecessors to ask, turned to Staten for advice.
“I said, ‘What do you think about Wright State? I’m thinking about committing,’ ” Thomasson said. “He said, ‘I like them, they were looking at me, they’re a good school. Don’t let anybody get in your ear about playing on TV or none of that because it’s a good school and they’re a good program.’ ”
Thomasson made his commitment official when he signed his letter of intent on Thursday during a ceremony at his school. He will not play basketball next season while attending classes at WSU and join the team for the 2013-14 season, he said.
Thomasson said he enjoyed a visit to WSU last weekend, appreciated the coaches offering him the opportunity to go to school for a year and then join the team and wanted to stay close to home to be near his son, Joseph Thomasson III, who was born Oct. 12.
A 6-foot-4, 150-pound guard, Thomasson helped Marshall reach the Division II state championship game last season while averaging 12 points and 5.7 rebounds. He said he hopes to grow stronger during his year away from basketball.
“I need to bulk up, get more physical,” Thomasson said. “I’m about 150 (pounds), so by my freshman year on the court I hope to be about 175.”
Vest not in uniform: Matt Vest, the sophomore guard who sprained his left ankle while trying to grab a rebound in last weekend's exhibition game against Central State, was in street clothes and walking with the help of one crutch on Friday as the Raiders faced No. 3 Ohio State.
Cole Darling, who was the only Raider not in uniform for the exhibition game while recovering from a dislocated left shoulder, was in uniform Friday but did not play. A.J. Pacher, who spent much of the preseason practices recovering from a high ankle sprain, started.
Against the ranked: WSU dropped to 1-11 against ranked nonconference opponents with Friday's loss. The Raiders beat No. 6 Michigan State at home on Dec. 30, 1999 before losing four straight to No. 1 Michigan State (88-61 in 2000), No. 10 Arizona (83-66 in 2004), No. 11 Wake Forest (66-53 in 2008) and No. 3 Ohio State on Friday.
Etc.: WSU went bigger in its starting lineup with three forwards, sophomore Pacher (6-10), senior Johann Mpondo (6-8) and junior Armond Battle (6-7) along with sophomore guard Vance Hall (6-3) and freshman guard Reggie Arceneaux (5-9). ... WSU coach Billy Donlon was called for the third technical foul of his career with 6:53 left in the game and WSU trailing 62-35.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7389 or knagel@DaytonDailyNews.com.
About the Author
