Mundelein junior guard LaQuan Thomas probably didn’t expect to score points in bunches this season.
The fact that the 5-foot-7 Thomas has actually done that in recent games doesn’t change his view of his experience.
“As the season has progressed, it’s been really fun being around these guys,” he said. “I feel like we’ve built a good brotherhood, and as the point guard, I feel like knowing them off the court helps on the court too.”
Indeed, Thomas has been front and center as the Mustangs have strengthened a teamwide rapport.
“He’s one of the glue pieces to us having a good culture in our program,” Mundelein coach Matt Badgley said. “Teammates see him as a brother, and he’s a big piece of us as a whole.”
In the weeks since star senior guard Derek Bishop suffered a sprained knee on Dec. 14, Thomas has been even more impactful on the court. He scored a career-high 22 points during the Mustangs’ 70-60 win against Addison Trail on Saturday and scored 17 points during their 56-48 North Suburban Conference loss to first-place Waukegan.
Thomas is averaging 11.8 points while shooting 53.8% in the past five games for the Mustangs (7-11, 1-4).
“In that 22-point game, I had a couple of layups here and there and got to the free throw line a little, and it actually started on the defensive end,” he said.
Thomas also sets the stage for senior guard Evan Salvador and senior forward Nathan Hauf, who have stepped up in Bishop’s absence as well.
“As a point guard, I love getting my teammates the ball, and I like using my mind to pick their brains about what they like and don’t like,” Thomas said. “But someone also needs to put the ball in the basket, and I’ve been able to do that a little more lately.”
Thomas’ career-best scoring output came four days after he struggled during Mundelein’s 74-60 conference loss to Warren.
“I knew I had a rough game, but playing the game of basketball, I’ve learned that you have to forget about it,” he said. “One of my teammates came up to me and said, ‘You’ve got to stop turning the ball over,’ and he was right.
“I like to take accountability when I mess up. I know I can talk to my teammates, and they can do the same to me.”
Thomas had a similar exchange with a teammate during the second of Mundelein’s four games at a holiday tournament in downstate Collinsville in late December.
“I came out a little sluggish, and Evan came to me and told me I had to turn things up,” Thomas said. “Once he said that, I locked in.”
When Thomas is locked in, he plays with a zest that makes it clear he’s enjoying himself. He traces his love for basketball to his upbringing on Chicago’s West Side, where he lived until his family moved to the northern suburbs when he was in eighth grade.
“When I’m in games where there’s a lot of contact, or in a loud gym, it’s no big deal because I’m used to it,” he said. “I used to sleep with a basketball when I was a little kid and was bouncing a ball down the aisles at the grocery store. I just try to have fun playing.”
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter.
