LJWorld.com / Ex-Jayhawk Thomas headed to Greece

Archive for Monday, September 15, 2008

September 15, 2008

Former Kansas University basketball shooting guard Billy Thomas, who has played professionally in Argentina, Italy and Serbia, now is giving Greece a try.

Thomas, 32, on Sept. 7 signed a contract with Kavala/Panorama of Greece's top pro league.

Thomas last year played for the NBA's New Jersey Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers. The News-Herald of Northern Ohio reported Sunday that Thomas had a contract worth $826,269 from the Cavaliers for the upcoming season, but it was contingent on his making the team.

The Cavs made it clear they didn't want the 6-foot-5, 220-pound Thomas by signing shooting guard Tarence Kinsey on Aug. 4.

"Everybody knows about my travels," Thomas told the Journal-World last summer. "My heart will always be here."

KU now will have at least three players in Greece this season. Aaron Miles plays for Panionios Athens and Kenny Gregory for Paok.

¢ Recruiting: KU basketball coach Bill Self covered a lot of miles in recruiting last week.

Self, who had an in-home visit with 6-4 shooting guard Michael Snaer in Moreno Valley, Calif., on Thursday, headed 3,057 miles in the opposite direction for Saturday night's visit with Thomas Robinson, a 6-8 forward from Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H.

Robinson, the No. 17-ranked player in the Class of 2009, will visit KU this weekend. Brewster coach Jason Smith told Rivals.com Robinson has a final list of KU, Memphis and Southern California.

Tonight, Self will visit the home of Dominik Cheek, a 6-5 shooting guard from Jersey City, N.J.