Rutgers-Newark Athletics

By Jim Hague

Mark Thomas was a standout high school basketball player at Marist in Bayonne. He had the entire package, a 6-foot-5 frame with a wide wingspan, the ability to run the floor, rebound and defend with a decent shooting touch to boot.
 
In fact, Thomas was such a talented high school player that he received some interest from NCAA Division I programs like Loyola of Maryland and Wagner.
 
"I had a bunch of Division IIs like Dominican, Felician and St. Thomas Aquinas as well,"
 
Thomas said. "The Division I teams wanted me to do an extra year at a prep school and I wasn't interested in that."
 
So then there was the school in literally Thomas' backyard, namely Rutgers-Newark.
 
"I really did want to leave the state," Thomas said. "But I thought about it and I didn't mind being in a place that I knew. Coach (Joe) Loughran came to see me and talked to me. He kept it real with me."
 
"I thought he would be a pretty good player for us and get better as he went along," Loughran said. "We kept our fingers crossed. We knew he was getting looks (elsewhere). Most of the good ones we get fall to us."
 
In fact, Loughran had a lofty plan in mind. The veteran Scarlet Raider coach believed that Thomas could develop in the same fashion as all-time R-N great Jordan McDaniel did during his career, eventually becoming the New Jersey Athletic Conference Player of the Year and an NCAA Division III All-American. McDaniel eventually signed a professional contract to play in Luxembourg.
 
"I wanted Mark to develop his game the way that Jordan did," Loughran said. "I saw some of the things that Jordan did."
 
That was a compliment that Thomas embraced.
 
"I like the confidence that Coach Loughran has in me," Thomas said. "Jordan is an amazing player and a good friend. I respect him to this very day. I talk to him all the time and he tells me what to do. I always listen to what he has to say."
 
Thomas had somewhat of a tough freshman year getting accustomed to the physical play in the NJAC.
 
"He did struggle somewhat as a freshman, especially with his shot," Loughran said. "He was just inconsistent. We had to mix his game up a little and diversify his game."
 
In fact, Thomas was so disgruntled after his freshman year that he considered transferring to another NJAC school where his friends were.
 
"I wanted to leave," Thomas said. "But I sat down and talked to Coach (Loughran) and he said that he didn't want me to do something I'd regret. He asked me to give it an extra year."
 
Thomas worked hard during the offseason to get ready for his sophomore year.
 
"I spent a lot of hours in the gym," Thomas said. "I was always in the gym all summer. I noticed I was getting better with my shot. I always want to attack the basket first."
 
 He also bonded more with his R-N teammates.
 
"I got close with my teammates like Tyler (Ofray), Kenya (Brown) and Dave (Lunsford)," Thomas said. "They kept me focused and basically kept me here."
 
Thomas had a solid sophomore year, averaging 13.5 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. But the Scarlet Raiders struggled to their worst season in recent memory, posting a 7-18 mark.
 
"I wanted to win," Thomas said. "I was the only returning starter on the court, so I basically had to lead this team. Coach (Loughran) said he was looking for someone to lead the team."
 
"No question, we needed someone to step up and take some ownership of the team," Loughran said. "He had to become more of a leader. He plays a very important position for us."
 
Loughran knew that Thomas had the ability.
 
"He can put the ball on the floor and go to the basket," Loughran said. "He's doing a better job of getting the ball at the post."
 
Thomas displayed a lot of that talent in a recent 80-73 win over Stevens Institute of Technology, scoring a career-high 30 points and grabbing eight rebounds.
 
"He brings a lot of energy and a lot of passion to the game," Loughran said. "He's good in practice. He's very outgoing and personable. He gets along well with his teammates. He's leading and the other guys are feeding off that. He has to do a little bit of everything for us. We know he's not going to get 30 a night, but he does bring a lot to the table. He's also pretty good defensively. He's a good help defender and is willing to take a charge."
 
"I didn't want to be limited," Thomas said. "I didn't want to always play with my back to the basket. I worked on my outside shot and now I get to face up a lot. I can put the ball on the ground and go. Coach Loughran didn't want me to take threes and now he lets me take the shot."
Thomas is majoring in public administration and journalism at R-N, but he has aspirations like his friend McDaniel.
"I really want to play pro ball," Thomas said. "But I would love to work with a non-profit (organization) to help the city of Newark."
 
Loughran believes that Thomas has turned the corner and will have a bright junior season.
"I think he can be an All-Conference player," Loughran said. "The key is consistency. If he can play at that level (the game vs. Stevens), then we have something special. He has to stay out of foul trouble, but he has the ability to be a special player."
 
Needless to say, Mark Thomas has traveled a tough road - albeit one that was literally blocks from his front door.
 
"I would say it's worked out amazingly," Thomas said. "I don't regret a single step."