A perfect fit for his role, senior point guard Jamari Thomas likes to take control for Hillcrest.
The 5-foot-7 Thomas has always been a selfless talent. He doesn’t worry about scoring or producing offense by himself. He just continually seeks out how to best set up his teammates.
“The game’s not rocket science,” Thomas said about running the show. “I’ve been a facilitator ever since I was little. I started playing when I was 4 and I’ve always been that playmaker.
“I enjoyed setting others up and helped them get theirs.”
Thomas provided that helping hand again Tuesday night, scoring eight points to go with six assists and four steals for the host Hawks in a 70-40 South Suburban Blue victory over Bremen.
Senior guard Jamir Ratliff picked up 25 points, five rebounds, three steals and a blocked shot for Hillcrest (15-7, 9-0), which had nine different players reach the scoresheet with points.
Senior guard Kishawn Gantt made a pair of 3-pointers and scored a team-high 14 points for Bremen (11-16, 6-5). Senior guard Josh Johnson added 11 points.
The combination of Thomas’ ball pressure and that ability to create shots for his teammates, meanwhile, ignited the Hawks’ two-way attack.
“I’ve been playing with Jamari for a long time and he’s a very good facilitator and creator,” Ratliff said. “He doesn’t say much and he’s kind of nonchalant sometimes.
“But he definitely knows how to look for you and find me in great spots.”
Thomas exemplifies one of the first rules of being a point guard — acting as an extension on the floor of coach Don Houston.
”He’s a pure point guard,” Houston said of Thomas. “He’s our engine who gets us into what we need to get into. He finds not only the first man but the second and even the third man.
“He controls the tempo and he plays tough defense, so he plays well on both ends.”
Thomas created the perfect early storm with two 3-pointers while adding three assists and two steals as Hillcrest raced out to a 14-point lead in the first quarter.
The Roosevelt football recruit shows the same energy, toughness and conviction while playing running back for Hillcrest.
“Football improves my skill, intensity and conditioning and helps with my speed and quickness,” he said. “I love to compete and play really hard no matter the sport.”
In basketball, Thomas remains a force of energy who loves to get into the passing lanes and take away what the other team does best.
“I think I’m really disruptive and a great on-the-ball defender,” he said.
Houston believes that opposing teams make a big mistake underestimating Thomas because of his height.
“I’ve coached a lot of small guards and seen them do a lot of good things,” Houston said. “He’s very good at his size because he makes great decisions and doesn’t turn the ball over.”
Thomas is atypical in another regard as the floor leader, given his naturally quiet, self-effacing manner.
“I let my game do the talking,” he said. “I get hyped and motivated in other ways like listening to music. Lil Durk is my favorite artist. I listen to him and he gives me inspiration.
“I take what he says, go out and visualize it, and make it happen on the floor.”
Thomas has been doing that since taking over the starting point guard spot halfway through his sophomore year.
“He’s so underrated and the key to what we do,” Houston said. “I’m going to miss him.”
But for now, Thomas loves being an option quarterback on the basketball court.
”I never feel any pressure or anything,” Thomas said. “My role has pretty much been the same, even if the players around me have changed. Having the ball is what I was meant to do.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
