Senior center Jovan Thomas is a throwback type of post player for Shepard.
The 6-foot-9 Thomas is a heady philosopher who likes to influence the game at the point of attack.
“The whole plan is I have to force guards to come to me instead of letting them get free and shoot open 3-pointers,” he said. “I have to contest those layups, defend the rim and block shots.
“I really love getting rebounds.”
Thomas got plenty of rebounds with 15 and posted a double-double with 17 points and four blocked shots Friday night as the Astros rallied for a 51-49 South Suburban Red win over Argo.
Junior guard Marcus Monteclaro hit three 3-pointers and scored 11 points for Shepard (8-13, 1-7). Sophomore forward Kamil Mietus scored all eight of his points in the decisive fourth quarter.
Despite suffering a foot injury that forced him to miss the final four minutes, junior forward Darron Greer Jr. scored 20 points and had nine rebounds for the host Argonauts (9-11, 1-7) in Summit.
Thomas’s two-way play, meanwhile, sparked Shepard’s comeback from an 11-point deficit in the third quarter. In his second varsity season, he has made significant progress for the Astros.
Part of that is from a newfound, sensible approach to the game. He also made the necessary sacrifices last summer, shedding 50 pounds and getting down to his current weight of 260.
By the end of last season, he had tipped the scales at over 300 pounds.
“It was bad last year,” Thomas said. “I couldn’t even get through a whole quarter. I knew coming into this season the biggest thing I had to change was getting into shape.
“I changed my eating habits and spent a lot of time working out.”
Even so, Argo led by as many as 11 points late in the third before Thomas made his move.
His rim protection and ability to change or alter shots changed the flow of the game, limiting the Argonauts to just 10 points in the final 11 minutes.
Junior guard Danny McGovern was quick to credit Thomas for Shepard’s reversal of fortune.
“Having a big guy means we’re able to pick up full court and trap because we know Jovan’s down there,” McGovern said. “There are a lot of things people don’t see that he does for us.
“He gives up a lot for us to do the things we do on offense.”
Monteclaro said Thomas’ physical presence is the X-factor, the wall that prevents other teams from getting to the rim unobstructed.
“His height is something other teams can’t really match, and he does so much at both ends of the court,” Monteclaro said. “He’s just a great player to have on your team.
“He’s very personable, and he’s the kind of guy who always wants to be around and help out.”
Thomas is the classic late bloomer who did not really take the sport seriously until the start of his freshman year. His height comes from his mother’s side. His maternal grandfather was 6-4.
“I’m the oldest of my siblings, and my father, he’s a police officer and not that tall,” Thomas said. “I was 6-4, the biggest freshman on the team. I played football until I was a sophomore, but I kept getting hurt. Basketball was my sport.”
After acclimating to the speed of the varsity during an eye-opening junior year, Thomas set out to make improvements.
At a time when many inside players want to show off perimeter games, he makes a point of staying close to the basket.
“I’m the type, if it’s not broken, don’t fix it,” Thomas said. “Why would I go outside if I can get position down low? That’s what the other teams want.
“Now, I’m a captain. I’m a senior. It’s my time to lead.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
