July 15, 2008

Bob McClellan
Rivals.com College Basketball Editor

DeAndre Thomas, a 6-foot-8, 295-pound forward who was dismissed from the Hoosiers after the season by new coach Tom Crean, has transferred to NAIA Robert Morris College in Chicago, coach Al Bruehl told Rivals.com Tuesday. By transferring to the NAIA level, Thomas can be eligible to play immediately.

Thomas is a Chicago native who played at Westinghouse High School. He averaged 3.6 points and 1.8 rebounds in his only season in Bloomington after playing his first two seasons at Chipola Junior College in Marianna, Fla.

"He brings size and a post presence for sure," Bruehl said. "He's down to 285 already, too.

"I think he's excited to be back in Chicago. He won two state championships at Westinghouse, and he came from a good JuCo program."

He will have one season of eligibility at RMC. Bruehl's Eagles went 28-4 last season and reached the NAIA Tournament quarterfinals before falling to undefeated Georgetown (Ky.).

Bob McClellan is the college basketball editor for Rivals.com. He can be reached at bmcclellan@rivals.com.