August 17, 2009

Rivals.com
Rivals.com College Basketball Staff

Last week, new Florida International coach Isiah Thomas received a commitment from top-25 prospect Dominique Ferguson, who once had been a Kentucky commitment.

Two elite players from the most recent recruiting cycle, Lance Stephenson and Eric Bledsoe, also considered playing for Thomas at FIU.

Getting a commitment from a former Kentucky prospect? Being in the mix for two top-25 talents? What is going on? Has FIU caught lightning in a bottle?

We asked writers Jason King and Mike Huguenin for their opinions on how Thomas will fare at FIU – and how long he will be there.

JASON KING SAYS …

As much as I hated the hire, it wouldn't shock me to see Thomas have some marginal success at FIU.

He's already forced the school onto the radar of a few top-tier high school prospects who would've laughed at the thought of signing with the school if Thomas weren't the coach.

Thomas is lucky that FIU competes in the Sun Belt Conference. Western Kentucky always is solid, and South Alabama and Arkansas-Little Rock have done some nice things. But it's not as if anyone has a stranglehold on the conference. If Thomas signs a few good players, he'll win – especially if his presence draws a crowd big enough to give his team a home-court advantage.

An upset victory here or a postseason berth there, and Thomas will be offered another job – either as an assistant at a top-flight college or in the NBA. When that happens, he'll be gone, and once that happens, all those recruits he lured to FIU will feel duped.

MIKE HUGUENIN SAYS …

Athletic director Pete Garcia's hiring of Thomas got FIU some needed attention, but I don't think Thomas is going to have a successful tenure.

Ask 100 people nationally about FIU, and I'd bet none of them know FIU is in Miami. Heck, ask 100 people in Florida about FIU, and I'd bet you get 75 blank stares. In that regard, Thomas' hiring will help. But beyond the initial spike in interest, I don't think there will be much staying power.

FIU traditionally has been poor in basketball. The Golden Panthers have made one NCAA tournament appearance, and that was when they were the surprise winner of the old Trans America Athletic Conference's automatic bid and entered the NCAA tourney at 11-18 under Bob Weltlich in 1995.

They're a middling program in the Sun Belt, and while Thomas likely will reel in some much bigger fish than FIU is used to landing, I don't think he's a good enough coach to lead the Golden Panthers to the league title. I also think he'll get bored after three or so seasons and want to move on.

Ultimately, he'll be remembered as an interesting hire who didn't pan out.